The Northern Advocate Daily SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1936. AMALGAMATION IN THE NORTH

Northern Advocate, 28 November 1936, Page 6

The Northern Advocate Daily

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1936. AMALGAMATION IN THE NORTH

Resfctered for traniwnl»«lon through . the : put ai a Newspaper.

The scheme presented at the instigation of the North Auckland Counties’ Association by Mr H. C. Hemphill, clerk to the Whangarei County Council, setting out a proposed basis for amalgamation of Northland local bodies is one worthy not only, of the deepest consideration of Governmental and local authorities but also of the general ratepayers. A public desire has long been manifested for some movement towards amalgamation of the smaller local bodies throughout New Zealand, and possible remedies are hoped for from a local government reform scheme to be introduced by the Minister of Internal Affairs. In England a strong and efficient system of local government has been introduced by reducing the number of authorities within a specified area. If this plan were extended to New Zealand, the areas would be extended and the local body in a given area would be responsible for all works and services required. Under such a system there would be no conflict of rating authorities and the whole business of local government would be simplified. The possible benefits of such a scheme are sufficiently attractive to warrant its thorough investigation. Many advocates of amalgamation, however, do not possess an intimate knowledge of its effect. For instance, few members of chambers of commerce, who have been in the van of the movement, have any experience of local body administration/ it is particularly helpful to ,discuss the plan presented by | such an authority as Mr Hemphill, who has made a long study of the subject, has a thorough acquaintance with every aspect and problem of local body work, and is recognised as one of the most efficient officers ii the Dominion. His contribution forms a most valuable approach to the question, and is an attempt to secure voluntary acceptance by the districts concerned rather than intervention by a Governmental commission. The proposals are designed generally to reduce the seven county councils now functioning in the North info two administrative counties: Midland, which would embrace the counties of Otamatea, Hobson and Whangarei, with the inclusion of the coastal strip as'far as Cape Brett; and Northern, comprising Bay of Islands, Whangaroa, Hokianga and Mangonui. Each of the existing counties would be divided into one or more ridings, with representation according to capital value of the territory served. In this suggested grouping, Mr Hemphill has paid due regard to the first essential—community interest and inter-communication. For the whole of the province, north of Rodney, to have been included in one administrative area would make for nnwieldiness. COMPREHENSIVE SCHEME. 1

The suggestion is also made that each geographical county constitute a separate hospital and charitable aid district and harbour district, the administrators of which should be appointed by the contributory local bodies, not elected by ratepayers as at present. There is certainly a growing tendency these times for the elected representatives of the people to sit more in the capacity of j boards of directors, setting the policy which is carried out by technical experts. Such a proposal, as suggested, however, while it might constitute one of the greatest financial economies in any scheme of amalgamation, eliminating much duplicative work, would require the closest scrutiny. The abilities required of hospital and harbour board members are not always those associated with county councillors, mainly concerned with the administration of roads. To meet all the financial commitments of the two counties, so considerably widened in their scope, Mr Hemphill suggests the striking of a uniform annual general rate. A natural corollary of such a system would be the abolition of all loan and other special rates, otherwise the

j advantages of amalgamation jwould be greatly restricted. Some counties .are already moving .toiwards this end internally by the i abolition of riding accounts. However, even a partial introduction of such a system has its difficulties, as is exemplified in the case of Hokianga county, among the jfirst to give the lead in the North, j Indignation meetings of residents | are being held in ridings where rates have been low, but where jthey have been increased now the burden has been spread over the whole area. Some districts have paid for their reading as they go out of revenue and with Government assistance, whereas others have done it by raising loans, some of which have still a long term to run. '

ENGINEERING REQUIREMENTS. The virtues of any scheme of amalgamation are largely governed by the size of the territory and the local conditions. Particularly is this so in the North, where, as Mr Hemphill points out, development is somewhat backward and each component > district requires a large degree of decentralisation. In many southern districts, major works are complete, the administration of larger areas would be easier and more advantageous. The handing over of arterial highways to the State has facilitated the iuItroduetion of an amalgamation I scheme. Speaking from his wide | experience, Mr Hemphill believes that engineering staffs should i continue to be stationed at the jmain centres, but that there j should be a supervising engineer to co-ordinate activities and work in complete harmony with the Public Works Department. Under such a responsible officer, the allocation of grant moneys could be better distributed by the local bodies, than apportioned, as at present, by the Department. Any scheme for amalgamation will certainly have the effect of uprooting civic pride and sentiment to some extent. People in rural communities are so accustomed to making their county town their base for doing business that the removel of headquarter to a district centre, would meet with much resentment. This opposition, no doubt, will be mitigated as means of communication improve. Mr Hemphill does not advocate the inclusion of town boards and boroughs in his scheme. He has some justification for not including smaller local bodies'. For instance, the very real civic pride of progressive townships would be completely lost in a larger, impersonal organisation. This, argument can be extended to administration in a wider field. Any disturbance of the invalfiable local knowledge possessed by existing county staffs into the reading requirements of the outer areas of their districts, would be most regrettable. Those responsible for the collection of rate payments and revenue, also, would be placed somewhat on the same basis as the, State Commissioner of Taxes, losing touch with the individual ratepayer to a considerable extent. Not only would this tendency be likely among the staffs, but there would be the possibility of the larger organisation becoming pulseless in dealing with matters which, although of vital importance to individual groups of ratepayers, may, in the large scheme, seem practically negligible. 1

ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. Mr Hemphill does not believe the cost of administration generally under the scheme outlined would be less than the total existing cost of the individual governing bodies involved. In this connection it is interesting to remark that' the seven counties north of Rodney, the capital value of which is £14,000,000 are administered by 30 executive officers. This speaks well for the economic organisation of the existing units. Not only is opposition to any scheme for amalgamation likely to arise from parochial interests, but also from staffs Avho are likely to be reJ trenched, I

Amalgamation is destined to come, in the Dominion and in 'Northland. Today many commitments, especially in regard to buildings and hospitals have either been undertaken or are proposed. For that reason it is to ibe hoped that the Government will expedite the announcement of its proposed amalgamation plans, and that now the North Auckland Counties’ Association has opened up the subject so lucidly, that the Minister of Internal Affairs will attend a conference here and give some idea as to what is in the mind of the Government regarding the future activities of local bodies.