LOCAL BODY MERGERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 13, 15 July 1936, Page 7

LOCAL BODY MERGERS

DECISION AT THAMES

MINISTER'S SUCCESS

(By Telegraph—l'resa Association.)

THAMES, July 14,

The Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) ■ paid his first official visit ■to Thames today as a Minister of the Crown. He was met on arrival by Mr. J. Thorn. M.P. for Thames, and welcomed by the Mayor, Mr. S. Ensor.

During, the day. Mr. Parry received a. deputation arid attended a meeting of the borough advisory committee and members of the harbour board in connection with the proposed amalgamation of the borough and harbour board. ...

Replying to a . large deputation of ratepayers, led by Mr. C. S. Donovan, who assured the,, minister that the ratepayers were solidly behind him in his .efforts to bring about amalgamation of local bodies, Mb. Parry sa. a BUl.was.almost ready to bring before Cabinet for 'the amalgamation of local bodies. While at' Thames he would atterhpt.to bring about a settlement of the obvious difficulties of' the district. The present scheme of local body government might have been in order in 1846. but it was not fit for\the requirements .of 1936. There was need for reorganisation' and doing away with-an-obsolete method. The grouping of bodies would do away with endless expense. It-'was the policy of the Government to • reorganise and readjust these: matters, and do away with all useless duplication. The national income'of New Zealand was the national productivity of the country, and how could "that income be improved if xpenses and : costs which could be eliminated were continued. The Minister 'said he wanted the people to think" on these questions nationally: he wanted them to lift their ideas from the parochial view.

After meeting both the borough council and the harbour board in conference resolutions were carried by both bodies unanimously whereby the borough: council within three months will ', take over the functions of the harbour board. The resolution was moved-and seconded by the Mayor of the borough arid the chairman of he harbour board.

Mr.: Parry congratulated the members of both bodies for meeting his suggestions so amicably, stating it was the first amalgamation of local bodies in the Dominion.'- The merger would considerably help the Government. He hoped 'it : would assist the people of the town .and district.