Local Bodies Criticised

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31125, 30 July 1966, Page 3

Local Bodies Criticised

(N.Z Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 29.

It was becoming abundantly clear that the reorganisation of the local government structure in New Zealand to provide a more efficient and economic administrative framework might take many years to accomplish, said the report of the Local Government

Commission tabled in Parliament today. The report said that Parliament had looked for a certain co-operation from the local authorities in this. However, the reluctance of some to co-operate in a conscious effort to improve local government in their regions had been one of the main reasons for the slow progress being made in worthwhile reorganisation on a large scale.

"This attitude has often caused the commission to accept a compromise of settling for something less than that which it considers to be desirable, in the hope that this will demonstrate the advantages to be gained and prove to be a step towards the ideal reform for the area.

“Most of the smaller local authorities are progressively losing ground in their efforts to provide the expensive modern services which the people in these times are demanding of them.

“In many districts too high a percentage of rate money is being diverted to meet administration costs and the result is that some local author-, ities are forced to rely on fin-

ancial assistance of one kind or another from the central Government

“A realistic approach by all parties concerned to the review of the local government system in many areas would benefit the ratepayer not only in his capacity as the main provider of local body fin ance, but also in his taxpayer capacity as well,” said the report. High Estimates Expenditure requested by hospital boards for 1966-67 had been cut by 2.2 per cent because the estimates of some boards had been “unduly high;” the Minister of Health (Mr McKay) said in Parliament today. Replying to Mr N. J. King (Opp., Waitemata), Mr McKay said provision for expenditure by hospital boards still represented an increase of £3,443,000 over last year. The Minister said he was sure hospitals could be efficiently run in spite of the cut in estimates. Deaths In Fir<

Twenty-eight lives were reported lost by fire during the 12 months ended December 31, said the annual report of the Fire Service Council, tabled today. Of these, six were children Two cases of multiple deaths were recorded. Fire brigades were called to 17 of the 24 fires where deaths occurred, the report said. The report said that for the 12 months insured fire loss payments made throughout New Zealand amounted to £2,931,425. This was a decrease on the previous year’s figures, but payments did not relate sole - ly to fires in the year 1965 To this should be added an|

estimate of the uninsured loss. Using an empirical assessment of 15 per cent, the total fire wastage for the year was about £3,371,000. Fire Calls

The number of calls attended by brigades decreased slightly to 19,626, said the report. This represented a decrease of 817 over the previous year’s figures. Of the calls received, 5220 were false alarms, including 1027 classed as malicious calls; 2376 were chimney fires; 4374 rubbish and herbage fires, 1119 covered special

services; and 6537 were property fires.

Training School

A total of 2114 students had passed through the Fire Training School since its was established in 1957, said the report. “The demand for courses at the training schools shows no signs of diminishing, particularly as far as application from volunteer firemen is concerned,” said the report. During the year ended March 31, 19 courses were held and 239 students passed through the school.