Amalgamation of Local Bodies

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 60, 12 March 1937, Page 3

Amalgamation of Local Bodies

OROUA COUNTY COUNCIL DISCUSSION. While agreeing that there was room for the amalgamation of local bodies iu the Dominion tho Oroua County Council at its meeting yesterday was unable to agree that there was any jurisdiction for any action concerning the existence of the county. The chairman (Cr. A. Campbell) said that the Counties’ Association had requested an expression of opinion on the subject of tho local Bodies Amalgamation Bill. He had been waiting to see what decisions the committee set up by the Counties Association to deal with the question, would arrivo at, and it now appeared that tho opinions of the counties were being sought. As far as the Oroua County was concerned it had already expressed its belief that economy could be effected by the absorption of the Orou i Rabbit Board. He ' would be the last to suggest that the [Oroua County should absorb any other county unless, of course, another countymade application to be absorbed. However, there was no doubt that there was room for the amalgamation of counties in some parts of the Dominion. It was a question whether the Oroua County could absorb any other neighbouring county without adding to administrative costs and personally he could not sec where any saving would result. Bhould amalgamation of neighbouring counties bo brought about he considered that it would be necessary to maintain another office in some centro of the absorbed area.

Cr. T. Green said he had noted that tho Pohangiua County Council had turned the question down. All neighbouring counties, said the chairman had, with the exception of the Kiwitea County Council, considered the question and turned it down. Generally speaking the Oroua County couiU not turn tho principle down since it had agreed that the Rabbit Board could be absorbed with advantage. Buch an amalgamation would, he thought, requiro an amendment to the Rabbit board's Act.

It was a different matter, said Cr. AB. Shannon, to talk about the amalgamation of counties. It was quite alright to introduce amalgamation within the county but beyond this he favoured leaving the question alone. Cr. O. AlcElroy said that there were many small counties iu the Dominion which could be absorbed and ho mentioned the matter of road board’s as cases in point. Tho chairman agreed that road boards and town boards should be abolished by absorption in a county. "If other counties m the Dominion had done what the Oroua County had done, in making provision for an annual reduction in its debt, you would not have this question of amalgamation raised today," said Cr. Campbell. “We are certainly one of the most fortunate counties, due to adheranco to a policy of redeeming tho public debt by annual instalments. Tho troublo was the magnitude of local body debt but the Oroua County had done tho right thin£."

* ‘I think wo have reduced our debt by 50 per cent, over the last 10 years," said Cr. W. McLennan.

“Yes," said the chairman, "and quite irrespective of new loans." Tho chairman went on to say that the Counties Association should be advised that the opinion of the County was that counties should bo complete units to enable them to keep their road plants going. He had conferred with the chairman of the Manawatu County Council and suggested that counties should wait to see what decision the Counties Association Committee arrived at. His idea was that counties should deeide time of action.

Cr. McLennan remarked that even if Pohangina, Kiwitea and Oroua counties amalgamated and formed ono county, it would, only mean tho saving of the salary of one engineer.

The chairman questioned whether one engineer could efficiently contrSi such a large area.

That was tho only saving he could see, said Cr. McLennan, but that saving would be absorbed, ho thought, in increased costs in other directions.

“I think we aro going on very nicely as we are," said Cr. AlcElroy. “There is a danger ahead of us that the Government will probably bring down some scheme," said the chairman,

“and I think it would be better to wait and see what the Counties Association decides upon. At present the Minister himself is makiug enquiries and was recently in Blenheim where I understand that there is a feeling favouring amalgamation. A county should uot be expected to do moro than keep its plant iu operation." Continuing, Cr. Campbell expressed tho view that the Rangitikei County was too unweildy, and ho would not be surprised, if amalgamation was pressed by the Government, that some of that county would bo cut off. Buch action might even happen in the case of the Oroua County. Referring to tho Kairanga County the chairman said that this local authority had had three of its highways taken over by the Btate. It had even refused to agree to the merging of its ridings and ho felt that this county might bo ono which would be effected by amalgamation. It was finally decided to advise tho County on the lines of the chairman’s statement.

Under arrangement with the Public Health Department Nurse AlcDonald, of tho Feilding dental clinic, has been transferred to the Alarton clinic and will bo replaced in Feilding by Nursv Brers, of the Alarton clinic.

It is anticipated that by tho end of this week the last rivet will liawe been driven in tho actual construction of the giant viaduct spanning tho Moliaka Gorge, the largest and most difficult engineering job in the establishment of tho East Coast railway service.