OVER-ADMINISTERED

Evening Star, Issue 21076, 13 April 1932, Page 3

OVER-ADMINISTERED

__ j. 687 LOCAL BODIES IN DOMINION * i INQUIRY SOUGHT \ S [Vm -United Press Association] ( WELLINGTON, April 12. 1 The following resolution was carried ' unanimously at a meeting to-day of the executive of the Associated Chambers of Commerce: —“That this association urges on the Government the necessity to delay no longer in setting ' up the promised commission to inquire J into the whole system of local body ' administration in order to relieve the f taxpayers of a considerable part of the J rating burden; alternatively, that the 1 Government retain the services of the | National Expenditure Commission for J the purpose of conducting that inves- < tigation and reporting to the Govern- 1 meut.” In a letter approved of for despatch to the Prime Minister the association commented on the fact that Mr Forbes had stated through the Press that he did not see much hope of a commission being appointed in the meantime. It was asked what circumstances had arisen that made the need for an investigation any less pressing than it was a year ago, when the Prime Minister gave a promise that a commission would be appointed. The only relief which the Prime Minister indicated might be given was immunity from the 10 per cent, penalty on unpaid rates, which was a mere bagatelle compared with the incalculable benefits to the i whole community that would result from an investigation of local body ad- ] ministration leading to a redistribution of local body districts, a readjust- ] meat of rating systems, and a coordination and amalgamation of staffs, | plant, and equipment. The association said that the Government was only contributing to the present position, as it had made financial provision for local bodies to the extent of £2,- ; 000,000 through the exchange credits pool, extended exemption from taxa- , tion to all trading public bodies, and, j I as recently as December last, authoriscd another £382,800 in loans for local bodies. The association expressed the hope that the Prime Minister would not bo ’ deterred by the criticism of some sec- i tions of the community against the em- < ployment of commissions, and said it . was not concerned with the machinery s employed so long as the imperative ( business of the country was performed in a proper manner. The 687 local i bodies in New Zealand were respon- ’ sible for an extraordinary condition of ; over-government with all the attend- J ant expense. Unless the Government took prompt action an upheaval of the ’ local body system would he forced on * the country by the rapidly-marching • circumstances of financial stress. =====