LOCAL BODIES CO-OPERATION.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVI, Issue 211, 24 August 1926, Page 3

LOCAL BODIES CO-OPERATION.

FOR ECONOMY AND PROGRESS. MR A. HOBSON’S SUGGESTION. A suggestion to centralise the control of local bodies operating in various districts was made last night by Mr A. Hobson (president) of the Napier Chamber of Commerce. He point ed out that besides the Napier Borough Council there were five local bod, ies in Napier, with offices and staffs. Although they had a rating district of practically the same area they had conflicting interests and no co-ordina-tion of policy. To him it seemed that it would be a great advantage if they could get some form of central control for this district a local govern ing board covering the operations of all these bodies., It was most desirable not only for conomy in administration but largely because it would bring about a policy of co-ordina-tion which would readily ensure a greater rate of progress being attained. Many of the delays which occured in productive works were due to the fact that it was difficult for the different bodies - to operate together, and come to a unanimous opinion about things. Such control would eliminate the friction which existed among the different bodies) and thus would wipe out the bar to progressMr R. D. D. McLean in referring to the president’s suggestion for the central control of local bodies’ activities could not see in what way any combination of the different boards would effect an improvement on the present system. Local bodies especially county councils had full local knowledge of their districts which was of paramount importance in efficient and economic control. Ho did not believe in the bodies being too large so as to become unwield ly. In the old days they had provincial ’ councils who did excellent work, but the inception of such councils now might only lead to confusion. He thought that it would be far better to leave matters as they were, because local bodies required special local knowledge which, instead of standing in tile way, tended to foster progress.