FEWER LOCAL BODIES

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 13, 15 July 1936, Page 10

FEWER LOCAL BODIES

As an earnest of a similar move ment for the reform of local government throughout New Zealand the proposed amalgamation of ' the Thames Borough Council and Harbour Board, placed before the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr. Parry) yesterday, will be cordially welcomed by ratepayers and the general public everywhere. Equally welcome is the Minister's announcement that a Bill for the amalgamation of local bodies is almost ready to be brought before Cabinet. The position in New Zealand, with a world record of local bodies in proportion to population, has long called for reform, but when reform comes it should be thoroughgoing in regard to all features of local government, and not confined simply to the amalgamation of local bodies of a similar function. It should be vertical, that is to say, as well as horizontal. The proposed Thames amalgamation is an example of what is meant by reform in a vertical direction. The amalgamation of contiguous county or borough councils exemplifies the horizontal movement. On these lines the problem of local government reform assumes proportions beyond the power of hurried legislation to deal with satisfactorily and there is real need of a searching investigation before the formidable task of putting the house in order is tackled.. Mere amalgamation will not suffice for the long run. though it may lead to greater economy and efficiency. As local government comes closer to the lives of the people than some of the larger questions of national government it is worthy ol at least equal consideration. As the issue is on the lace of it a non-party one there is no reason why Parliament should not have full opportunity for discussing all its aspects and taking such steps for further inquiry as may seem necessary.