THAMES CONTROL.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXV, Issue 12913, 15 July 1936, Page 7

THAMES CONTROL.

BOROUGH AND HARBOR BOARD MERGER. DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. (Press Association-*. " THAMES, July 14. Whilst, at Thames yesterday, MiParry (Minister for Internal. Affairs) met the borough advisory committee and members of the Harbor Board in connection with the proposed amalgamation of the borough and Harbor Board. Mr O. S. Donovan assured the Minister that, the ratepayers were solidly behind him in his efforts to bring about the amalgamation of local bodies. Mr Parry said a Bill bad almost been finalised to bring before Cabinet for the amalgamation of local bodies. While at Thames be would attempt to bring about a settlement of, the obvious difficulties of the district. The present scheme of local body government might have been in order in 1846 b but it was not lit for the requirements of 1936. There was need for reorganisation and the doing away with the obsolete method o* grouping of bodies would do away with endless expense. It was tho policy of the Government to reorganise and readjust these mutters and do away with all useless duplication. Tho national income of New Zealand, was the national productivity of tlie country and how could that income be improved if expenses and costs, which could he eliminated were involved. Me wanted tho people to think oil these questions nationally and wanted them to lift- their ideas from the parochial t iew. Mr Parry then met in conference tho borough advisory committee and then the Harbor Board. BOROUGH TO TAKE OYER HARBOR. After the meeting, both the Borough Council and the Harbor Board, in conference, passed resolutions unanimously. whereby the Borough Council within th-re? months takes over the functions ot the Flaiboi Board. The resolution wa.s moved by the Mayor of the Borough and the chairman of the Harbor Board. Mr Parry congratulated members of both bodies for meeting bis suggestions so amicably, stating it was the first amalgamation of local bodies in tlie Dominion. The merger would considerably help the Government and he hoped would assist the people of the town and district. Mr Coulter also thanked Mr Parry for bringing about such a successful issue to a difficulty.