Proposals for Local Body Reform

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 45, 22 February 1945, Page 4

Proposals for Local Body Reform

Counties Present Comprehensive Plan (Per Press Association.) WELLING HON, Feb. 21. Proposals for local body reform were submitted by the New Zealand Counties’ Association at to-day’s sitting of the Parliamentary Committee on Local Government. They dealt with tho amalgamation of local bodies, hospital control and expenditure, re-rating aud rates on Crowu properties and native lands. The association’s case was presented by its president (Mr. W: Morrison) and by Messrs. F. H. Hudson, G. A. Monk, W. G. Belton and W. A. Lee. The taking of evidence on behalf of the association which was interrupted by the adjournment for the clay will be continued to-morr<sw. Summarising its views on the question of the amalgamation of local bodies, the association urged that: (1) The internal amalgamation of all cognate rural organisations is necessary Avith the exception of hospital boards; (2) Some amalgamation among counties is necessary; (3) The strengthening of counties should not be carried out solely by making them too large and un wieldly; (4) Existing anomalies should bo unravelled before amalgamation is commenced; (5) The most obvious case for amalgamation should be tackled first; (0) No other amalgamation should be proceeded with till the first experiment has been successfully finalised; (7) Before any scheme of amalgamation is finalised a poll of ratepayers should be taken; (8) Without exception almost all county councils are opposed to the reintroduction of the lAical Government (Amalgamation Sclieftes) Bill 1937 especially in its present form. Section 2 of the Counties’ Amendment Act 1925 gives counties power to unite if the council of each of the counties proposing to unite has passed a recommendation to that effect or if a commission with the Commissioner of Crown Lands as chairman has recommended that certain counties should be United so as to form one county;(9) All adjustments should be finally made by a competent commission. Discussing local body finance, the association stated that generally speaking rating on capital value in counties seemed to be the most equitable, especially in counties adjacent centres of population though it placed a penalty on enterprise. As an alternative to de-rating the association recolnmonded: (1) Tho present method of hospital rating be completely abolished; (2) the whole of the petrol tax less departmental expenditure involved be utilised for (a) road improveuient on county roads on a basis equal to a £ for £ subsidy on the expenditure on roads other than .State and main highways, this subsidy to be in lieu of the present inequitable and complicated subsidy on rates; (b) increasing tile allocation to the Matin Highways Board by ’applying the remainder of the petrol tax to the board in order to carry out its normal functions. The association asked that the committee should give the fullest consideration to the following planks iu the policy of the organisation: (1) That the State as lessor or mortgagee should not be exempt from rate liability borne by private lessors or mortgagees; (2) that the Government departments lending on rural lands should be liable in the same manner as other mortgagees for rates on those lands; (3) that where farm lands originally paying rates are now acquire! by the Crown then the Crown should continue to pay both general and special rates; (4) that the Crown should pay full rates or a proportionate monetary grant on all lands under the jurisdiction of the CfOAvn utilised for tree-planting for commercial purposes and for flaxgrowing purposes. The association said a complete survey of the incidence of liative rating aud of the value of charging Orders should be made at ouce so as to relieve tho man Who had “to pay twice.”