AMALGAMATION PROBE COMMENCES

Northern Advocate, 1 December 1937, Page 5

AMALGAMATION PROBE COMMENCES

' [Per Press Association. Copyright! WELLINGTON, This Day. When the Local, Government (Amalgamation Schemes) Bill Committee met to commence the taking of evidence on the Bill, arguments were put forward in support of the co-ordina-tion of local bodies under the Town Planning Act, 1929, and the president cf the Municipal Association of New Zealand supported both regional planning and amalgamation. The first witness was the president of the Municipal Association of New Zealand, Mr T. Jordan, Mayor of Masterton, who said that the general opinion was one of opposition to the compulsory nature of the amalgamation proposed. Should Lead to Saving in Costs. A survey was asked for before amalgamation was undertaken. It was held by some that interests of city councils and town boards were so varied that‘s amalgamation would not be advisable. It was also felt that amalgamation should not be undertaken unless such amalgamation would lead to a saving in costs. Mr Jordan said he thought he was justified in saying that the association as a whole definitely approved the principle of the Bill, but he thought hospital boards, harbour boards, etc., should have been included for the rationalisation of local body government. He considered the compulsory powers had some justification. Has Final Say. In one case, a motion to discuss the question with another local body'had been defeated on the casting vote of the . Mayor. The association had asked for a commission to investigate local body government, but nothing had been done. , The Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, said the proposed commission would have the final say on amalgamation, and he would not be able to act before receiving a recommendation from the commission. To-day evidence was given by Mr J., O’Shea, on behalf of the municipal association and the Wellington City Council, by Mr E. P. Norman, on behalf of the Wellington City Council, and by representatives of the Christchurch City Council and the New Brighton Borough Council.