Regional govt this year, says local-body head

Press, 16 June 1978, Page 18

Regional govt this year, says local-body head

PA Dunedin. A system of regional Government is inevitable, and likely to take place this year, whichever political party is in power, according to Mr J. M. Somerville, president of the Counties’ Association.

In his report to the annual conference of the association in Dunedin, Mr Somerville said that many regional promoters “may in future find less ground for enthusiasm in their cause.”

“We are equally alert to avoiding an increased burden on ratepayers by the creation of an unpredictable new administrative creature,” he said. However, while admitting the reality of regionalism, the only sensible approach was to ensure that existing local bodies kept their identity and functions, he said. He said it was now probable that more than the previously designated 19 regions would emerge under the new system, and

most would have united councils.

Regional planning was likely to be the most important function of the united councils, said Mr Somerville.

ilt was essential that ere be formal regional organisations to allow planning obligations to be carried out as the Government wanted he said. “The sooner these regional organisations are created, the sooner local government can face up to its new obligations under the 1977 Town and Country Planning Act.”

The establishment of these regional councils under new legislation would stop the erosion of county government, said another speaker. Professor R. G. Lister, of the geography department. of Otago University.

The Town and Country Planning Act, which came into effect on April 1, was “an invitation to do something to reverse the centralist trend in New Zealand,” he said.

“We hAe been quietly accepting the steady erosion, if not demise, of county givernrnent, and watching ,our responsibility being handed over to central government in one way oranother.

“Is local government too sick or ill-equipped in resources ind skills to play its prefer part, said Professor Lifter.

“It does [iay a part of course, but it tends increasingly to be one of responding to tie initiatives of agencies of central government, commenting, opposing, often with confrontations.”

This was »n unsatisfactory way tof doing things, he said. ‘‘Local government should be in on the discussion from the beginning. But this meant that local government had to be well-informed, and adequately staffed and advised.” Professor Lister predicted a Local Bodies Reform Act this year.