Bill provides seven authorities for S.I.

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32945, 17 June 1972, Page 16

Bill provides seven authorities for S.I.

Seven South Island and 11 North Island united authorities would be created by legislation to givo force to the proposals outlined to the Counties’ Association conference this week by the Minister of Local Government (Mr Highet).

The North Canterbury authority would cover the same district as that recommended by the Local Government Commission in its scheme for local body reorganisation—from the Rakaia River to the northern boundaries of the Amuri and Cheviot counties. The South Canterbury authority is proposed for the district between the Rakaia and Waitaki rivers, and that for the West Coast would cover the Buller, Inangahua, Grey, and Westland counties. The Nelson authority would embrace all councils within the counties of Golden Bay and Waimea, and Marlborough would comprise the districts of the Marlborough, Awatere, and Kaikoura counties. NO INDICATION The Minister gave no indication as to when the Local Government (United Authorities) Bill would be introduced to Parliament, but the proposed operative date from April 1 next may be optimistic in view of the reservations of the Counties’ Association and the extensive discussions that must precede the passing of the bill. The bill, as thinking stands at present, would limit membership of each authority to 20, the actual number to be arrived at on the basis of one member for each 5 per cent of the mean of the population and valuation of each council district. No council can have more than six members, and smaller Councils will be grouped to appoint a member. Members will be appointed directly by their councils or groups, and after the initial period, will be appointed for three years after each triennial election. Wide responsibilities would be given to the authorities as of right, and other duties can be added if they are recom-

mended by the Local Government Commission. This could include harbour board duties, but the commission thinks that the Lyttelton Harbour Board should carty on. Also subject to the commission’s recommendation are pest destruction boards other than county boards and any other ad hoc body apart from hospital and education boards with districts extending beyond more than one council district. CATCHMENT BOARDS Regional water boards—catchment boards—can be taken over where their work is not -done by an ad hoc body dealing with urban drainage and bulk water sup-

ply, or where these services are carried out over more than one council district. In the context of the North Canterbury Catchment Board and the Christchurch Drainage Board, this means that the catchment board could be absorbed, but the Local Government Commission recommends that the board continue to administer its specialised duties. The commission recommends that the Drainage Board’s work that is not regional in character should be for the new City Council, and that its wider responsibilities should be transferred to the proposed North Canterbury regional authority. But the bill, in its “as of right” provisions for the authority, includes authorities such as the board. An authority would also automatically take over regional planning, the provision and administration of regional reserves, the coordination of civil defence, the functions of an urban public passenger transport authority, airport authority work where joint control exists or is proposed, any area scheme of reorganisation recommended by the Electricity Distribution Commission and the disposal and treatment of refuse, either for a group within the authority, or over the whole authority district. RAISING OF MONEY The Minister told the counties that the authority would raise money by levy on its member councils, but the Municipal Association, agreeing in principle with the proposals, favours direct rating powers. The Counties’ Association, while it does not see much need for the authorities, agreed with the municipalities that if they are established, they should have rating powers. The bill specifically excludes the Auckland Regional Authority, but provision will be made for the creation of multi-purpose authorities on its pattern where all the member bodies agree to this. In such cases, the authorities will be elected, and will rate directly.