LOCAL BODIES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXXII, Issue 2766, 24 August 1931, Page 7

LOCAL BODIES.

■QUESTION OF AMALGAMATION. DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE. In the course of a discussion in the House last week on the amalgamation . of. local bodies, ,Mr Polson made a good point when he interjected: “It would cut engineering cost considerably.” The most iserious item in the cost of local government in this country is the Unnecessary duplication Of administrative services, points out the “Dominion.” The Prime Minister drew pointed attention to this cause of waste in a statement made in February, and announced his intention of appointing a commission to go into the whole question. No action has been taken'as yet, but the scope for inquiry was fully exposed <by Mr Forbes. Speaking particularly of rural local bodies, he said that apart from harbour and power boards, there • were no fewer than 299 local authorities and that the administration of these authorities cost about £330,000 a year. That sum. represented 11 per -cent, of 'the total revenue or. alternatively, nearly ,15 per-cent, of receipts from rates. Apart from, the saving in administrative costs, larger districts would enable modern machinery, to be kept fully employed, which would mean cheaper construction and maintenance.