LOCAL BODY MERGERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 49, 27 February 1937, Page 10

LOCAL BODY MERGERS

MARLBOROUGH DISTRICT

CONFERENCE AT BLENHEIM

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) BLENHEIM, February 26.

Fourteen local bodies, comprising two county councils, two road boards, two harbour boards, six rabbit boards, a river board, and a town board,, met in conference today for the , purpose of considering to what extent the Government's proposed amalgamation legislation can' be applied in Marlborough. Already in recent years the merging of five road boards into the Marlborough county and the amalgamation of two hospital boards and four river boards have effected a marked reduction in the number of local bodies in this province.

However, the conference —which was of an amicable nature after the smoothing over of an early incident when the Awatere county delegates threatened to walk out on the question of voting power—indicated that some further reduction was still possible.

A series of recommendations was adopted unanimously which will be forwarded to the Minister of Internal Affairs after ratification by the bodies concerned. .

Owing to the special character of their work it was deemed inadvisable to attempt to concentrate the activities of several rabbit boards in one body.

It was 'announced .that' the Wairau River and Harbour Boards were agreeable to amalgamate, and the opinion was expressed that the function of land drainage be performed by the resultant body. It was decided that the Havelock Town Board be not absorbed by Marlborough County, but that the. Havelock Harbour Board should merge with the town board. The Marlborough and Awatere County Councils agreed not to amalgamate.

The position of three small road boards covering Marlborough Sounds, where there are more waterways than roadways, was regarded as unique. It was therefore resolved that the Kenepuru board remain unchanged, while the French Pass and Croixelles boards be left to decide their own status.