Minister, counties president at issue

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33251, 14 June 1973, Page 1

Minister, counties president at issue

(Neu> Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 13. Criticism by the president of the Counties’ Association (Mr C. N. Mackenzie) of Government plans for the amalgamation of local bodies attracted the displeasure of the Minister of Local Government (Mr May), when he addressed the association’s conference today.

He said Mr Mackenzie’s “emotional words” could only have the effect of confusing the issue. Mr Mackenzie made his comments in his annual report to the conference.

He said association members had heard of the creation in the near future of “a profusion of organisations to takeover: regional authorities, regional councils, and what-have-you.” Although amalgamation might be practicable in certain areas, there were other areas of local Government in which co-operation, rather than amalgamation, would provide a better solution to problems. "Is it necessary to set up monoliths over existing community interests?” he asked. “Is John Citizen to be pushed aside in the interests of bureaucracy? Is local government to become another department of State?” “Should have known” Mr May said Mr Mackenzie should have been aware of the Government’s intentions on local-body amalgamation, both because of what he told the Municipal Association at its conference in April, and because of what he had told the Counties Association executive in confidential talks five or six weeks ago. He said the Government sought to reduce the number

of local bodies, not multiply them.

d “We are not creating a profusion of organisations or

attempting to set up monoliths over existing community interests,” he said. “And certainly, while we are the Government John Citizen will not be pushed aside in the interests of bureaucracy.” Written earlier Mr Mackenzie told the conference —and Mr May—that his comments had been written before the meeting between Mr May and the association executive. However, he said, there had been confusion about the regional council proposals. “The main purpose of this (the comments in his report) was to get as clear a definition as possible from the Government of what was intended. This we have now done. The important thing is for us to know what our duties and responsibilities will be.” Mr Mackenzie said counties would prefer “the carrot to the stick” in introducing amalgamations. “If we can get the incentives we think we should get, I am sure everything will be carried out on a pleasant and voluntary basis.” Mr May also criticised local bodies for not coordinating local-body functions. He said local bodies had had the powers for many years to co-operate with each other on matters within their competence, but beyond their territorial jurisdiction. Few voluntary moves “Yet, despite loud protests over the years that if left alone, local authorities would use these powers to co-operate with one another on a regional basis, there has been very little indication of any real intent to do so on a voluntary basis,” he said. Even airport control, which was a good example of cooperation in some places, had needed legislation and a policy of Government encouragement to spur action. "I would like to think that local authorities would act now to avoid the need for more empowering legislation,” Mr May said. He said most local bodies probably would co-operate with each other, but there were always a few who did not wish to do so. “The fact that they may be forcing the establishment of separate bodies, with all the costs they involve, doesn’t seem to enter into their deliberations,” he said. “It is this narrow-minded attitude which has constantly negated the attempts of many well-meaning people to bring about reform by voluntary action,” said Mr May.