LOCAL BODIES

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 102, 24 January 1933, Page 10

LOCAL BODIES

Move to Effect Cuts in Administrative Cost DELAY IN INVESTIGATION It is understood tliat in view of recent political events and the pressure of other work which Ims been forced upon Cabinet, the commission which it was intended to appoint to investigate local body government in New Zealand will not be set up for some time. Toward the end of last year, the Prime Minister said the Government intended to establish a commission, but since then the portfolio of Internal Affairs has changed bauds and, in addition, it is unlikely, that the Gpvernment will have time to devote itself to anything beyond the passing of purely policy legislation within the next few weeks. Significance is attached in Parliamentary circles to the fact that in three instances during the present session the Government has dealt with local body government in legislation already passed or introduced. The Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Amendment Bill, which was passed before the House adjourned, empowered the Government to appoint ij commission comprising a magistrate, or a magistrate and two other persons, to inquire whether "any two or more contiguous hospital districts should be reconstituted so as to form a smaller number of districts.” If the commission so recommends, the Government may then formally constitute the smaller number of districts. Similar procedure in respect of the amalgamation of boroughs and fire districts is authorised in the Municipal Corporations Bill,, which is still before the House, and the Fire Brigades Amendment Bill, also on the Order Paper. One of the reasons for which it was stated the local body commission was to be set up was to inquire into the question whether more efficient and economical local body government could not be secured by reducing the number of local authorities. A tentative scheme for dividing New Zealand into administrative zones has already been placed before the Government, and it is stated that by bringing down legislation for the reduction of the number of authorities, the Government might not see fit to appoint a commission to report on work that can be done by means of, legislation and in less time.