Reorganisation in local govt

Press, 20 July 1977, Page 14

Reorganisation in local govt

PA Nelson Local Government reorganisation could favour a conservative government if representation is weighted in favour of area, the Mayor of Nelson (Mr R. A. McLennan) told delegates at the New Zealand. Country Women’s Institutes’ annual meeting in Nelson, yesterday. Speaking at the opening of the two-day meeting, Mr McLennan said one thing which worried him about the proposed reorganisation was if the Local Government Commission weighted representation on amalgamated local bodies in favour of area.

If this happened it would work in favour of a conservative government, he said. “I don’t think this was intended,” he added. However, the idea of amalgamated local government at local level was something to strive for.

The chairman of the Waimea County Council (Mr M. Thorn), who also spoke to delegates yesterday morning, said the reorganisation of local government was of

great significance to the rural community.

It was no longer a matter of whether to have it or not but which were the best ways to implement it. He emphasised the importance which had been given to the rural community in plans for local government reorganisation. He said the problem faced by the commission in bringing down a workable scheme was finding a compromise on the question of representation of two vastly different constituted areas.

The importance of the primary producing areas to the economy was well known and he said he believed that present and past Governments had recognised this in adding the compensating factor of area in calculating representation for regional government. “In doing so I also believe most sincerely the only possible door has been opened to the successful melding of town and country on a regional basis,” he said. The official opening included a special welcome to 96-year-old Miss Amy Kane, a former C.W.I. Dominion president, who arrived from Wellington for the meeting.