Amalgamated Counties Will Be ‘Strong Unit’

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31520, 7 November 1967, Page 18

Amalgamated Counties Will Be ‘Strong Unit’

A strong unit of local government would be formed by the amalgamation of Paparua and Halswell counties, said the chairman (Mr D. H. Warren) in his report to the annual meeting of the Paparua County Council last evening.

Although Halswell was considerably smaller, Paparua, with a population of nearly 20,000, was among the largest counties, and larger than threequarters of the municipalities, he said. The council operated a successful two-tier system of administration, by which Sockburn, Hornby and rural districts each separately controlled their own revenue, maintenance and development.

county towns,” said Mr Warren. He said the county’s finances were very sound, with working balances of $152,605 in the various accounts at March 31. Reporting on last week’s meeting of seven councils to consider boundary adjustments. Mr Warren said that Christchurch City was New Zealand's largest territorial local body in terms of population, yet the City Council

gave the impression that the city should be enlarged in spite of the effect on neighbouring councils. “If the strengthening of local government generally is the City Council's aim, It is difficult to understand its attitude, unless, perhaps, it has become envious of the progress and development of the areas administered by adjoining councils, and their close relationship with their people,” he said.

This system would be extended on amalgamation to Halswell by constituting its urban area as a county town, and bringing its rural area into the rural Paparua oistrict

"Under these circumstances. amalgamation will have little or no effect on the administration or finances of the Sockburn and Hornby