LOCAL BODY REFORM^

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 61, 9 September 1937, Page 10

LOCAL BODY REFORM^

CAUCUS DISCUSSION

REPRODUCTION OF BILL

At the conclusion of the caucus of members of the Government Party last night the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) stated that the Local Government (Amalgamation Schemes) Bill had peen fully discussed, and there was unanimity on the need for local body reform in New Zealand. The Bill, which had been thoroughly discussed with local bodies during the recess, would be reintroduced shortly after Parliament met and would be sent to the Local Bills Committee, said Mr. Savage. That procedure would provide an opportunity for any persons or organisations interested to make representations to the Committee, and the attitude adopted, by the Committee would determine in large measure the next steps to be taken. • Referring to the Local Government Amalgamation Schemes Bill today, the TVlinister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) said that if local bodies could devise a better system of improvement than that provided by the measure, it was their duty to make a contribution, and not merely reply tn negative form. It had been suggested that a Commission should be set up for the purpose of inquiring into the whole scope of local government throughout New Zealand, but the Bill itself provided for d Commission of Inquiry and gave it complete powers to deal with the findings.