Ombudsman Extension

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31632, 19 March 1968, Page 18

Ombudsman Extension

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, March 17.

The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) assured the Constitutional Society in a statement that the Government would honour its election undertaking to extend the powers of the Ombudsman to cover the decisions of Gov-ernment-assisted local authorities.

This applies particularly to hospital and education boards. Mr Holyoake said the precise extent of the legislation to implement the proposal had been considered by the Government and would be discussed with the bodies concerned. Appropriate legislation arising out of these discussions would probably be introduced to Parliament during the next session. The Government had not yet consulted other local bodies about bringing them into the Ombudsman’s orbit, and Mr Holyoake did not think it would be worth while initiating discussions until tire precise terms of the legisla-

tion dealing with hospital and education boards had been decided upon. The president of the Constitutional Society (Sir Matthew Oram) said today it was gratifying that some progress was being made but he doubted whether the Government realised the extent of the public demand for local bodies generally to be brought within the scope of the Ombudsman.

“From the volume of correspondence the constitutional society has received it appears that more citizens are nursing grievances against the actions of local bodies than against the central Government,” said Sir Matthew Oram. “We have received complaints of injustices which, if substantiated, would cry out for investigation and redress.”