"A HOPELESS TANGLE"

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 130, 3 June 1932, Page 11

"A HOPELESS TANGLE"

LOCAL BODY SYSTEM

A COMMISSION SUGGESTED

"Lopal body government in Kew Zealand is in a hopeless tangle, and it is high time the muddle was straightened out," stated Mr. L. C. "Webb, speaking on local government to the Christchurch United Burgesses': Association, tha "Times" reports. "We have had in the past promises Of commissions to investigateloeal government, but it has been put off and put off, and now we are suddenly told that Parliament has scruples-over appointing any more commissions," said Mr. Webb. "Finally, we are told that the subject'will be one for a departmental inquiry. Local government is in such a tangle that it will not be straightoned out by any departmental inquiry.. It is associated in New Zealand with inefficiency, high rates, and all sorts of abuses. We have a feeling that members of local bodies should go round hanging their heads as if they were criminals." EXPERTS CALLED IN. A lot more than costs were involved. It had been well said that the system had apoplexy at the centre and anaemia at its extremities. Almost every country in the world was falling more ; and more into the pockets of the economists and:tne.practical administrators.,- Local government was valuable, as it ensured that all work would not be done.by paid men. Ho would lay down five canonsf or sueeessful government:— ■'.::.'■' (1) The; local government area should, as far as possible,-coincide with the areas of community life and effective service. . ..... ~_, (2) Each local- government area should be controlled by one local body, and only one, this having practically been brought about in England. (3) Central control of local body government should_ have the aim of bringing about a minimum standard of efficiency without interfering with initiative. ' (4) It was highly necessary that income should'be fixed and certain; (5) The burden Of local taxation should fall as evenly as possiblo over the whole community. INCREASE IN COUNTIES. Mr. Webb suggested the principle that the professional and clerical , staffs should bo organised and regarded us Civil servants. He spoke of tlio need for remodelling the counties. "It is absolutely deplorable .the way the counties have been increasing," he said. "The system was copied in 1870 from the English system, and a worse time could not possibly have been chosen. Since then there has ,beeu a complete reorganisation in England. We need to follow suit. \ ' "It is absolutely necessary for the appointment of a commission to investigate local government. That is the only way that good will bo done. I wish to emphasise the necessity of local government being overhauled periodically—say, every twenty years. ' England has the best system only /because that system has been revised from'timo to time. In any country there , will always be the necessity for overhaul as We. social life and scientific inventions require. "Wo in New Zealand have had'no inquiry since 1874, with the result that we are in an unholy mess and-need a serious. study of the whole systomi"