MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE

Evening Star, Issue 22895, 1 March 1938, Page 8

MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE

ADDRESS BY HON. P. G. WEBB THE AMALGAMATION PROPOSALS DESIGNED FOR GREATER EFFICIENCY IPzr United Press Association.] NEW PLYMOUTH, March L The New Zealand Municipal Association Conference was opened in New Plymouth this morning by Mr P. C. Webb, Acting Minister of Internal Affairs, who stressed that it needed the whole-hearted co-operation of local bodies and the Government for continued development of the country. “ I appreciate the value of the great work carried out by local bodies in this and every other country in the world,” said Mr Webb. The truest sense of democracy was when everybody, everywhere, was interested in the things that counted, and worked for the development of these things. The Central Government could only carry out the will of the people as a whole. It left it to local bodies to carry on the development of their particular areas. This work they did in a splendid manner. Mr W. E. Parry’s amalgamation proposals were aimed only at bringing about greater efficiency and the elimination of work. He wanted to assure that local bodies would have a full quota of time to give expression to things that were really worth whole. More business efficiency, and greater co-operation between local bodies and the Government was the aim of amalgamation. Just as the Government had a responsibility to the local bodies in the way of advice and assistance, so the local bodies had a responsibility to the Government for co-operation irrespective of politics. The one thought must bo the development of a sound, healthy New Zealand. The conference was welcomed to New Plymouth by the mayor, Mr E. (R. C. Giimour. Mr S. G. Smith, M.P., who joined in the welcome, said it was probable that this was the last big conference of municipalities that would he held in New Zealand in view of the Government’s amalgamation proposal. Mr Webb said he did not take the pessimistic view that this would he the last great conference. In fact, his hope was that future conferences would be even greater than the present one. The work done by local bodies was sb great that no country could afford not to have these roots of democracy scattered all over the country. The amalgamation proposals were only details to greater efficiency. Mr T. Jordan, president, said some of the remits were burning questions, and all were important. He hoped the Government would take notice of the conference, as it expected support in its effort to share in the government cf the country.