"Time of change in local bodies"

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32941, 13 June 1972, Page 22

"Time of change in local bodies"

If local bodies themselves did not take positive steps to reorganise local government, the Government might take them, said .the president of the New Zealand Counties’ Association (Mr C. N. Mackenzie), when he opened the annual conferences of the county clerks’ and county engineers’ institutes yesterday.

••We wouldn’t like that to happen, and we have some misgivings about some of the Local Government Commission's findings,” said Mr Mackenzie. Everyone considered there were too many local bodies, and he, to a certain extent, agreed that that was right Small boroughs should be included within counties, and the smaller counties should be amalgamated. The local bodies themselves had to adopt a more positive attitude to amalgamation, and clerks and engineers, as advisers to their councils, had a rv«7".:sibility. If amalgamations took place, there would be some losses in status, but that was all. No staff member had suffered by amalgamations, and that would remain so. Mr Mackenzie said that, as time went by, clerks and engineers would assume still more responsibilties. They had a great responsibility in advising their councils on streamlined procedures, and economies. ‘‘Councils are like a busines. with shareholders, and our shareholders are the ratepayers,” said Mr Mackenzie. "Councils must be; efficient so that they can pay' dividends to the share-. holders.”

i Mr Mackenzie said it was ■ a time of change in local gov- - emment, people wondering where it was heading. The local grouping scheme put forward by the Minister of i Local Government (Mr , Highet) had not made the , Counties’ Asociation particularly happy in some respects. 1 "We wonder whether that is enough, or whether we should suggest what we consider to be better alternatives,” he said. Mr Mackenzie suggested that district meet, ings of local bodies could well be called to consider the subject Mr D. E. Fleury (Kiwitea), president of the Institute of County Clerks, said that the future for local government held “shocks, and perhaps rude awakenings.” The changing pattern appeared to be taking two forms—the reorganisation proposals of the I Local Government Commission, and the amalgamation ; in new legislation of the acts governing counties and municipalities. Davis Cup.—Russia led Poland, 1-0. after the first day of their Davis Cup (European zone, Group >A) semi-final. A. Metfevell beat IT. Nowicki, 6-3, 6-3. 6-1. T. Kakulja (Russia) was leading W. Gasiorek. 8-6, 5-7. 6-3, when their match w us halted because of bad light.