Government And Local Body Amalgamation

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 October 1950, Page 4

Government And Local Body Amalgamation

WELLINGTON, This Day _ (P.A.).—No legislation will be introduced this session .0 enable polls to be held on local body amalgamation issues, although it is the Government’s policy to allow the people affected to decide amalgamation questions for themselves. Announcing this today, the Prime Minister, Mr Holland, said that after carefu consideration of all the relevant factors the Government had decided to hold the whole matter over for further consideration in the parliamentary recess. Mr Holland said that the Cabinet had given consideration to many representations made to the Government in connection with the legislation under which the Local Government Commission functions. Many proposals had been submitted and these were of a very conflicting nature. There was bound to be a consideraole volume of evidence that local bodies and othei interested parties would wish to give on any amendments proposed to the' present law. This would considerably delay the passage of legislation to enable polls to be held. Representations had already been made that in some cases the greatest difficulty would be experienced in preparing the various rolls of electors who would be entitled to vote on certain amalgamation proposals, especially those affecting Christchurch and neighbouring counties, in time for the polls to be taken on the same day as the municipal elections. Mr Holland said that, in the meantime, draft proposals for amendments to the existing law will be prepared and circulated amongst interested parties in the hope that a considerable measure of agreement can be obtained before the legislation is introduced into Parliament.