People Should Have Vote On Question, Says Mr. MacKay

Northern Advocate, 23 June 1937, Page 6

People Should Have Vote On Question, Says Mr. Mac Kay

GETTING out the views of the Whangarei County Council on the question of amalgamation at today’s conference between Northland local bodies and the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr J. A. S. Mac Kay, the chairman, said:—

“(1) Strong parochial feeling is likely to be met with, lor the people o£ New Zealand are proud of their democratic form of local gov«nment. It will be necessary, when far-reaching changes are proposed, to cpnv nee the people that the movement is. in reality an enlargement of democratic pr.nciples and not a curtailment.

“(2) The Bill contains an outline of procedure and gives no indication of what extended powers are to be given the enlarged local bodies. It does not outline what is to follow. It makes no provision for a review of he rating and oilier problems. It gives no indication of the extent to which State nationalisation of services, control, etc., is contemplated, r _ it is the intention of the Government to pursue a policy of progressive absorption of the functions of rural local bodies, , Complete Nationalisation? ♦’

“(3) If the peaceful penetration which is gradually taking place today by the State and State departments is in pursuance of a policy of absorption, then, it is suggested, there is no need to consider seriously any form of amalgamation, unless it is to be used as a process in bringing about complete nationalisation. “(4) It is suggested that there is need for some pronouncement on the part of the Government to clarify the position. “(5) That it would be ineffective to attempt a remodelling of rural local government without including the activities of State departments which operate within the same area. “There Is need for a clear declaration of policy on the part of the Government covering its aims and ultimate objective,” Mr MacKay continued. Do People Want It? - “It has been said from time to time by the Minister responsible for the Bill, that there is a widespread desire on the part of the people of the Dominion to bring about some sweeping recast of local body government, but have the people who are directly affected been consulted in the matter? Do they understand what it will mean? “Who are the people that express a desire for reform, and are they in a position to tender sound advice? Have they an intimate knowledge of the problem? These are questions that should be gone into closely. “I submit that the people we represent will resent any material alteration in the present system without their consent.

concerned in securing the most economic and efficient form of local government. .

“It is contended that local government directly controlled by the people is the most economical efficient and satisfactory form of government. “Encroachment calculated to impair the efficiency and the successful administration and operations of counties is a factor that must receive serious consideration.

“In any amalgamation proposals, I feel that provision will have to be made to give the ratepayers concerned an opportunity to vote upon the question. Their rights and privileges must be protected and safeguarded.” National Referendum Suggestion. Referring to a suggestion made by Mr. J. A. S. Mac Kay, on behalf of the Whangarei County Council, at today’s conference, that before compulsory amalgamation was introduced, ratepayers should be given a direct vote on the matter, the Hon, W. E. Parry, Minister of Internal Affairs, said the question of larger and more efficient local bodies affected national income, productivity and expenditure. If a vote was taken, the issue should not be decided by a series of district referendums, but by a national referendum.

“It is perhaps not out of place- for me to refer to an assurance given recently by'the Minister of Public Works to the Waiapu County Council that there would be no compulsory amalgamation of local bodies. There the Minister explained that ,although the original Bill provided for compulsory clauses, these had now been excluded, and it was not intended to force the scheme on any local body. Notwithstanding this statement, the future control of counties throughout the Dominion appears to be clouded in mist. Functions of County Councils.

“The functions and activities of county councils are chiefly the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges, but, if the policy recently mentioned by the, Minister of Public Works of gradually nationalising all highways and possibly other roads is pursued, then county councils will be left with a fringe of works on the outer edge of a perimeter, and obviously, under any scheme of amalgamation of counties, the position would become increasingly difficult, if not impossible. “Such a policy must eventually mean the disintegration of comities, for their activities would be limited to such an extent as to make their work uneconomical. “As already observed, if the peaceful penetration which is gradually taking place today by the State and State departments, is in pursuance of a policy of absorption, then it is unnecessary to consider seriously any form of amalgamation of counties. The people, however, are entitled to know the full intentions of the Government, w Have Proved Their Worth. “County councils have proved their worth, and it is felt that any further transfer of roads and relative revenue must inevitably result in an uneconomic form of divided local control, “County Councils, are, I submit, quite capable of serving the people efficiently and economically, but if their sources of revenue are gradually diverted to the State for expenditure by State Departments under a State policy, then I visualise the gradual winding up of rural local government. Is this the desire of the Government?

Even today the position is highly unsatisfactory so far as counties are concerned, for the reason that not only are the ratepayers being called upon to pay increased rates (as the result of recent industrial legislation) for the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges, but they are also required to pay for making use of the roads per medium of the tax on petrol. Some adjustment in this connection is urgently required. Cost Falls On Land. The rural ratepayers must realise, however, that no matter what form of local government is or in the future—the cost must fall in the land in some form or another. Therefore, our people are very seriously