LOCAL BODIES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 201, 15 July 1936, Page 4

LOCAL BODIES.

MOVE FOR AMALGAMATION. MERGER AT THAMES. Per Press Association. THAMES, July 14. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. \V. E. Parry) paid his first official visit to Thames to-day as a Minister of the Crown. Ho was met on arrival bv Mr J. Thorn, M.P. for Thames, and welcomed by the Mayoi (Mr S. Ensor). . Huri.ng the day Mr Parry received a deputation and attended a meeting of the borough advisory committee and members of the Harbour Boaro in connection with the proposed amalgamation of the borough and the Harbour Board. . Replying to a large deputation ol ratepayers, led by Dir C. S. Donovan, who assured the Minister that the ratepayers were solidly behind him in his efforts to bring about amalgamation of local bodies, Mr Parry said a Bill was almost ready to bring before Cabinet for the amalgamation of local bodies. While at Thames he 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 older in 1816, but it was not lit tor the requirements of 1936. There was need for reorganisation and doing away with an obsolete method. The grouping of bodies would do a.\vaj’ with endless expense. It was the policy of the Government to reorganise and readjust those matters and do away with all useless duplication. The national income of Now Zealand was the national productivity of the country, and how could that income be improved if expenses and costs which could be eliminated were continued. The Minister said lie wanted the people to think on these questions nationally; he wanted them to lift their ideas from the parochial view. After meeting both the Borough Council and the Harbour Board in conference resolutions were carried by both bodies unanimously whereby the j Boiough Council within three months I will take over the functions of the I Harbour Board. The resolution was I moved and seconded by the Mayor of I the borough and the chairman of the I board.

Mr Parry congratulated the mem* hers of both bodies for meeting his suggestions so amicably, stating that it was the first amalgamation of local bodies in the Dominion. The merger would considerably help the Government. Ho hoped it would assist the people of the town and district. ■