LOCAL BODIES

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 137, 6 March 1941, Page 9

LOCAL BODIES

Maintenance During The War ADDRESS BY MINISTER Share In Reconstruction Work The influence of the war on local body government in New Zealand was referred to by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Parry, in an address to the annual conference of the Municipal Association in Auckland. He said local government must be maintained to the fullest extent during this testing period, so that not only would it play its part in maintaining and preserving the homes . and amenities to keep the people fit to fight, but it would also be there to do its share of the important work of reconstruction after the conflict had ended. "Each and every one of us recognizes to the fullest extent our responsibilities and our anxieties in a period when we are faced not with the shadow of war, but with the stern realities of war,” said Mr. Parry. “I put it this way because when we last met, though the war had been in progress for some months, the actual progress of it up till that point had not really revealed to us the trials that were about to confront our people and the people of so inanv nations of the world. “We have to continue to plan so that the machinery of government will be kept going steadily during the war period, and that there will be a speedy, orderly and co-ordinated change-over of industry and transfer of resources from war production to restoration qnd re construction of our civil life. Slowing-Up Process.

“True it is that many of the things which we would otherwise have done will have to stand over during the war period. Even in the legislative machine there must be a slowing-up process in local government amendments. But on the general angle, we cannot allow local government to stagnate just because we have a major war on our hands. I have stated on several occasions that local government is half the government of this country. Therefore, local government in New Zealand ffiust continue to progress and prosper if we are to maintain our part in bringing the war to a successful conclusion, and it is from this foundation that we shall endeavour to cardy on.” Mr. Parry said he greatly appreciated the work which local authorities had done up to the present in relation to the war effort. He also referred to the tasks they had shouldered in connexion with the British Children Reception Scheme, the Home Guard, Emergency ■ Precautions Scheme anti the manpower committees. These new activities, he added, had brought new problems, and the fact that members of local bodies had so ably carried out the tasks allotted to them spoke well for the adaptability and fexibility of the present local government machine. The outbreak of war and New Zealand’s active participation in it ha made it necessary to seek the support of the people in providing coinforts and amenities for the members of the armed forces and other units. That support had once again been readily f° rth f ol Pj ing, and he wished to pay a tribute to all those who had given their time and energy to the organization.necessary to achieve the success of the patriotic effort of this country. Up to date an approximate total of £1,524,000 had been raised for patriotic purposes, lhe local authorities through and by whom the organization worked, had manifested their patriotism and worth when it came to essential matters “New Zealand people have the hiji reputation of being able to respond to difficulties in the good old colonial spirit of real sportsmanship, Mr. Parry concluded. “The spirit that has produced that reputation permeates deeplv the character of New Zealand and Australian life, and the people. will, with courage, devotion and manlines , vindicate the democratic rights ana privileges of the Commonewalth of Nations.” .