FIRST STEPS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22242, 30 January 1947, Page 6

FIRST STEPS

LOCAL BODIES ACT REORGANISATION AHEAD (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Jan. 29. The first step to bring into operation the Local Government Commission Act passed last session will be to call for nominations from the local body organisations of the Dominion of members who will represent them on the commission. “This ” stated the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr W. E. Parry to-day, “will shortly be done.” The legislation provides the method of reviewing the reorganisation of disricts and the functions of local authorities. There are nearly 700 of various kinds and it is considered likely as a result of a close examination of the position by the Select Committee of the House of Representatives, that great economies can be secured by amalgamations and widening of the powers of some authorities. Amalgamations of local bodies, according to the Act, are to be subject to the approval of the electors in those districts if a poll is demanded by a petition signed bv not less than 20 per cent of the electors. The chairman of the commission is to be a permanent officer having the statutes of a Supreme Court judge and it may be possible for a judge to act in this capacity. The remaining three members are to comprise one having special knowledge of local government and two appointed from a panel of persons nominated by the local government, organisations, one to have special knowledge of urban local government and the other to be experienced in rural local government. The term of appointment is three years.