TOO MANY LOCAL BODIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20863, 4 May 1931, Page 11

TOO MANY LOCAL BODIES.

AMALGAMAtION ADVOCATED. SUBURBAN MAYOR'S VIEWS. " T have been an advocate of the amalgamation of small boroughs evet since I entered municipal life," said Mr. 11. M. Jones, Mayor of Eastbourne, in an address last week. " The further I go the more convinced I become that small boroughs must mergo with big ones." Mr. Jones read three questions asked by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and gave his replies to them. Aie there too many local bodies?" was the first question. " 1 say definitely and absolutely, yes," was his reply. His reply 1o the second question—" Which local bodies should bo merged ? —was that machinery should be provided to take evidence. lie suggested a magistrate, a qualified accountant, and a man trained in municipal affairs, on whose recommendations the Government should legislate. "What would be the saving?" was Die third question. Mr. Jones said he had studied tho question and had reached the conclusion that the saving would startle the country. If an organisation was appointor! to investigate and recommend, he had no doubt what the result would bo. Petty jealousies and the desire for self-aggrandisement among local body men prevented amalgamation.