AMALGAMATION ISSUE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22741, 29 May 1937, Page 20

AMALGAMATION ISSUE

ACADEMIC AGREEMENT •OBJECTION IN PRACTICE [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION'] WELLINGTON, Friday '♦As long as local body amalgamation remained in the realm of academic discussion everybody was agreed as to the necessity, of pushing on with the job," said the Minister of Internal 'Affairs, Hon. W. E. Parry, in an address last night before the Institute of Public Administration, "but when the question is faced and attempts are made to proceed with the work all eorts of excuses are made to defeat progress. ' "Notwithstanding the fact that practically every newspaper and every local body has, within the past 12 months, agreed that reform is necessary," said the Minister, "yet, when applied to their own areas, almost every local body has suggested that there is no need to alter the status quo as far as their area is concerned. "I submit that New Zealand has reached the time when reorganisation cannot be longer delayed. It is suggested in spme quarters that there already exists in the statutes governing various types of local authorities provisions to enable such reorganisation to take place, and that, therefore, any interference is unwarranted. Every section of the community has admitted the need for reform and yet that reform has not taken, place. This, of' itself, is sufficient to prove that the present provisions are unsuitable for the purpose of national reorganisation. "When my programme has been carrier! out there is no douht the result will be that New Zealand will have a system of local government second to pone in the world.-'

OPOTIKI OPINION

OPPOSITION TO ANY CHANGE

[by telegraph —own correspondent] OPOTIKI, Friday

Opposition to amalgamation was ex'pressed at a preliminary conference of local bodies held at Opotiki, which was attended by representatives of the county council, borough council, the Opotiki and Waioeka Domain Board and the Waiotahi Drainage Board. Mr. J. H. Reid occupied the, chair and the provisions of the bill were explained by Mr. N. V. Hodgson, who was present in an advisory capacity. After expressions of opinion opposed to. amalgamation, it was decided to ask all local bodies in the area concerned for reasoned statements as to ■why they should not amalgamate and to invite them to send representatives to a meeting to be hold at a later date.

REQUEST FOR MERGER

TE RAPA DRAINAGE AREA

[by telegraph—own correspondent] TE AWAMUTU, Friday

A petition from 31 ratepayers in tho northern portion of the Te Rapa drainage district, asking that the Waipa County Council absorb the Te Papa Drainage Hoard, was received at a meeting of the council. The petitioners were of the opinion that the functions of tlie board could be administered more economically by the council, and that it was desirable that the drainage district should be abolished and merged into tho county. They aiked the council to recommend a merger to the Minister of Internal Affairs. It was decided to forward the petition to tie Minister.

HO COMPULSORY CLAUSES /V , .. , ... ' Mii: SAMPLE'S ASSURANCE [BY TKLi'MItAI'Il —PRESS ASSOCIATION] GISBORNE. Friday Att assurance that there would he no compulsory amalgamation of local bodies was given by the Minister of •Public Works, the Hon. 11. Semplo, in replying to a deputation from the Waiapu County Council. The Minister explained that although the original bill provided for compulsory clauses, these had since been excluded, and it was not intended to iwise the Mchem© oh any local body.