“Too Much Emphasis On Larger Local Bodies”

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30936, 17 December 1965, Page 20

“Too Much Emphasis On Larger Local Bodies”

Too much emphasis was being placed on the need for larger local authorities in New Zealand, said the Clerk (Mr A. Maclachlan) in a report to the Waimairi County Council.

“In any reorganisation of local government in this country regard should be had to the substantial population increases which can be expected in the future, particularly in metropolitan areas,” said Mr Maclachlan. He based his views on his recent study of the local body administration of Melbourne, and of its metropolitan board or works, and drew attention to the recent decision to split the London County Council, the world’s biggest local authority, into 29 boroughs. “Regard must be had at ail times to the meaning of the term local government,’ and a more realistic and elastic attitude must be adopted to provide for future development in town-planning schemes,” he said. “A metropolitan board of works appeals to function in an efficient and economic manner where the representatives are appointed by the constituent local authorities, rather than by expensive elections, which would not appear to have the same public appeal as territorial local body elections. “By making appointments, the constituent local authorities are kept in touch with the proposals and co-opera-tion and coordination are more readily obtained.” Not Warranted But, said Mr Maclachlan, he did not think that the present population and area of metropolitan Christchurch were big enough to warrant the setting up of such a board.

Sewerage, town planning and transport, including airports, were spheres of ad-

ministration that could cover a wide area and were best served on a metropolitan basis, so long as there was delegation to retain the local government atmosphere. Melbourne’s metropolitan board spent £29m last year, was responsible for water, sewers, drainage and river improvements over 460 square miles, and for town-planning, main highways and bridges, parks and foreshores over 688 square miles. It represented 49 local authorities, the trend bring to' create new ones as population and valuation grew. The board bought land for recreational use, and sold it back to the controlling local authority, the basis being 71 acres for every 1000 of population.

This system, said Mr Maclachian, could with advantage be adopted in Christchurch and administered through the Regional Planning Authority. "Just as competition is necessary in private enterprise. so it is in local government," he continued. “Otherwise, the take-tt-or-leavett attitude would soon prevail. I accept that any individual iocat authority should be admtnistrativeiy and finandaHy sound." AU Melbourne territorial local authorities come under the one act. Since 1954 Waimairi county had tried to get a similar system in New Zealand. Though- the suggestion had been favourably received in Government quarters, very little progress had been made in the matter.