LOCAL BODIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 November 1944, Page 3

LOCAL BODIES

SPEECHES AT CONFERENCE

WELLINGTON, Nov. 1. Speaking of the rehabilitation tasks before local bodies, Mr. Appleipn, Mayor of Wellington, opening* the Municipal Association Conference, advised local authorities ’against the possibility of too much work being undertaken at one time, which would demand largely unskilled labour and create an undesirable surplus of unskilled men when conditions were again normal. They should look as lar as possible towards projects that would employ men with eith.er full qr partial trade qualifications. Therp were thousands of such ni.en in thp armed forces and war industries. He admitted a difficulty because of the nature of civic developmental works, but' the responsibility was upon local bodies to see as far as possible that better jobs than purely . unskilled labouring were available for returned servicemen. In the course of an address to the Municipal Conference, the Minister of* Internal Affairs (Mr. Parry) referred to the subject of decentralisation of industry. He said that through concentration of industry in urban areas, transport, housing, health and other problems were being created and at the same time the smaller towns were crying out for more population to fill up the empty spaces and bring about a greater use of the amenities that has been provided at great cost. He believed they must have decentralisation of industry on a property planned and co-ordinated basis. He was glad a sub-committee' had been set up to plan .for tjiis be done, and that the Municipal Assotion being directly concerned, had been asked to nominate a representative from the local government point of view. Such policy would go a long way towards solving many problems of to-day, which if not thus tapkled would assume increasing perplexity in future.

With regard to the appointment of a committee set up to investigate local government, he said, the order of reference as fixed by the House was to examine and report upon all phases of the local government system of the Dominion, including the questions of finance, elections and general structure of the system. By this investigation, the measuring rod would be put over the whole field of local government. This, was the opportunity for all local bodies in a proper way and wherever possible through their respective organisations. to make known their views as to what policy changes were necessary to make the system the best in the world.

HOSPITAL COSTS

WELLINGTON, November 1. An amendment of the law so that all hospital and charitable aid costs shall be paid for by the Government out of the social security fund and consolidated revenue, is asked for by the Municipal Association of New Zealand, in a remit carried at the conference to-day. “This is a remit which we believe will appeal to every ratepayer in the Dominion,” said Mr. R. L. Macalister (Wellington). In the seven years from 1937 to 1944 hospital taxation in Wellington had doubled. It had increased from £76,743 to £150,074, and now comprised 20 per cent, of the whole rates. “When a ratepayer is paying social security, he should not be taxed again for the same purpose,” said Mr. Macalister. The following amendment was moved by Mr. N. H. Bull, Mayor of Gisborne: “That the Government be asked to bring down legislation making hospital expenditure a charge on any social security fund or, as an alternative. to provide for the stabilising of local body contributions at a level not exceeding the product of Id in the £ on the unimproved value of the contributing body.” Mr. Bull said he thoroughly agreed with the motion, but felt at present that it would be merely beating the air, and that half a loaf would be better than no bl*P3d The president, Mr. T. Jordan (Masterton) said he thought it would be unwise to retract from the main prmciole set out in the motion, for which the association had always stood. He added that when the matter was discussed with a former Minister of Health an increase of only a little more than Id in the social security tax 'would have given all the extra money required. The amendment .was lost, and the motion carried. Other remits on the same subject were withdrawn.