AMALGAMATION OF LOCAL BODIES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 108, 8 May 1937, Page 8

AMALGAMATION OF LOCAL BODIES

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Your--publication-, of Wednesday contained an extract from the Christchurch "Press" relating to copies of the minutes of the meeting of the Counties' Association handed to the members of, the Geraldine County Council, Mr. F. R. Flatman, a member of the Geraldine County Council and also a member of the Counties' Association, stated that about 95 per cent, of the counties were opposed to amalgamation. Naturally all counties throughout the country jwould be against such a move when a'radical change is proposed. We dearly love to cling to a procedure that' is more or less traditional. . For years now each county council has been, administering its own little affair, which was certainly sound iv the: earlyv. days when new works warranted,'.the staffs. The day of major works', .either with a county .council or an electric power'board, is done, and it must be fairly obvious to anyone, that amalgamation of local bodies will be.an infinite-blessing, not only parochially, but nationally...

.■ The report of the committee. to the executive of the Counties' Association stated that, the Minister-of Public Works in his policy of county reorganisation clearly indicates disintegration of the county system. The report stated that; the policies of the Minister .of Public . Works and .the Minister of Internal Affairs conflicted in relation to , local bodies and . the association.'-^ craves something definjte as to whose' policy the Government is going to pursue. The policies, do not; clash in the least nor will there be disintegration of county councils, but the reverse will happen when three or four local bodies are rolled into one thus giving better service and less overhead costs,—l am, etc.;\ ■.■ ■ -■'.!■ ■ .. '.- ■' V - - ' ■'.',

UNION IS STRENGTH.