REGIONAL BODY

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30092, 28 March 1963, Page 14

REGIONAL BODY

Opposition By Counties No good could be achieved by the scheme for a regional authority proposed for Canterbury by the Local Government Commission, ward 11 of the Counties’ Association decided yesterday. “It's quite unacceptable in its present form.” said the chairman (Mr C. McKenzie) "To set it up you would get very little change out of £ 100,000. for what? —very very little except undue delay.” “I've never heard of anything so stupid." said Mr J. I. Colligan, the Waimairi County Council chairman "To imagine you could run a rabbit board, a hospital board and a milk board all under one authority is ridiculous. "People get on to these boards because they are interested in a particular board’s work and because they know something about it •“Hie Local Government Commission should be abolished, or it should bring down something sensible and •top wasting our money.” Mr A A. Macfarlane. (Amun County Council chairman) said he understood the regional authority •cheme was being forced into operation in the Bay of Plenty area at a rapid pace “Pressure should be brought to bear to stop it” he said. Mr McKenzie said the Counties’ Association executive was against the commission’s scheme. He believed the best interests ot the people would be served by •trengthening territorial local bodies.

The Rev. W. B. Watt will be inducted at a service in St Andrew’s Church. Wellington. this evening as director of home ministry for the Presbyterian Church. He succeeds the Very Rev. A D. Horwell, who is retiring.— • PA.)