COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27276, 30 December 1949, Page 4

COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Regrouping Recommended By Commission STRONGER UNITS NECESSARY A regrouping of the 17 counties surrounding arid near Christchurch to form four counties is recommended in the report and provisional schemes for North Canterbury of the Local Government Commission. An inquiry into the districts and functions of the local authorities in the area was held by the commission for four days last September, and the schemes have now been announced. The commission comprised Judge Goldstine (chairman), Messrs W. C. E. George, G. A. Monk, and J. W. Andrews.

“After an exhaustive examination of the evidence submitted to us and as a result of our own inspections and investigations, we are firmly of the opinion that the local government administration in the districts concerned in the inquiry is neither efficient nor economcal,” the commission’s report states.

county government, but also of the nation’s wealth.

“ This does not infer that other types of authorities making up our local government system do not have their responsibilities and do not require reorganisation. For the general wellbeing of the nation, they have an equal responsibility to undertake, wherever possible, the functions with which they are entrusted, and in order that they may do so economically and efficiently, require some measure of reorganisation, both functionally and in area.’’ The; commission continues that it considers the reconstruction of c.ounty government, with strong units able to cope with modern requirements of local government in an efficient and scientific way and adequate finance, of paramount importance. It believes that the result'will be that local community spirit will be enhanced and that a broader and less parochial outlook will emerge.

“Although some of the local authorities concerned considered that there was no need for any change in the structure of local government so far as their particular districts were concerned, we are of the opinion that reorganisation in the manner we propose will result in more efficient and economic administration, while democratic principles will be preserved. “The union of the counties in the groups proposed by us should not result in increased costs to the ratepayers. On the contrary, as the result of the elimination of the present duplication of offices, workshops, stores, garages, transport, staff and so on, savings will be effected. “A number of counties already operating successfully in the Dominion are of greater area than the united counties we have recommended should be constituted in the North Canterbury region.’’ Wider Responsibilities “If county government is to occupy the place it should in the sphere of local government, larger and financially stronger units must be established,’’ says the report. “The equipment of counties with the ability to carry out the functions which are already their responsibility should be the immediate objective, followed, where possible, by an extension of their functions to enable them to assume some of the responsibilities at present carried out by certain other types of local authorities, and the government. “The drift of population from rural * areas, as has occurred in most of the districts under review, must slowly but inevitably have its effect on the strength and stability of rural local government. More important t even than this, it must reflect itself m the reduction, in all forms of primary production, of the largest source of the country’s national income. The responsibiilty of rural local government for the development of rural centres and for the encouragement of closer settlement is one which cannot be lightly passed over. Therein lies the financial strength, not only of

It pays a tribute to the voluntary work undertaken by the members of the various local authorities reviewed at the inquiry, and adds that the recommendation for a change in structure is no reflection on past services. Rateable Values

“In two of the groups we have recommended, the rateable capital value falls below what we consider to be the minimum requirement of £5,000,000 to provide sound county administration. In one case, however, that of the Tawera, Selwyn, Malvern, Paparua (West Melton Riding) group, the two counties with the largest collective rateable capital value of over £3,000,000 are, we understand, due for revaluation, and this, it is believed, will bring the total rateable value close to or above what we consider to be the basic minimum. “In the other case also, that of the Akaroa, Mount Herbert and Wairewa group, the present rateable capital value of which' approximates £3,200,000, each of the counties involved will probably be .revalued during the next four years. There were, however, other considerations, such as their topographical features, difficulty of administration in-conjunc-tion with areas of flat country, road construction and maintenance problems dissimilar to those on the plains, plant requirements, community of interest and other factors, which determine the desirability of their grouping as one unit.” .