AMALGAMATION PLAN.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13641, 27 August 1937, Page 3

AMALGAMATION PLAN.

MINISTER ASKED TO DEFER LEGISLATION. . The Local Government (Amalgamation Schemes) Dill should be held up until a thorough inquiry has been held, the New Zealand Counties’ Association considers. At the biennial conference of the association the following recommendations of a sub-committee were unanimously adopted: "' (1 Jn the opinion of this conference, before the proposed Local Government Amalgamation Bill is proceeded with, it would be of farreaching advantage if a thorough inquiry were held, with a view to ascertaining on broad lines: (a) What functions can best be discharged by national government; (b) what can best be carried out by local government ; (c) how the framework of local government could best be constructed to discharge such functions. The inquiry should define and co-or-dinate national government activity where it cuts across local government activity and report on the effect of dual control brought about by the State taking control of portion of the highways. Included in the order of reference we think there should be investigation into major local body problems, such as incidence of rating, bases of franchise, loan indebtedness.

“(2) This conference respectfully urges the Minister to hold up the Bill until such inquiry has been held, and the report made available. “(3) Subject to the foregoing, we reaffirm the resolution of two previous conferences to the effect that tlie conference supports amalgamation whenever it can lie _showji that amalgamation will secure reduction in expenditure, and/or increased efficiency ; we add that in the event of any scheme of amalgamation being propounded at any time, the onus of proving that it will be advantageous shall rest definitely on those who propound such scheme.” Mr W. Marshall (Paeroa) submitted the recommendations in place of a resolution which he had moved in the morning and which had been withdrawn. “I fe<sl that our recommendations will carry a great deal of weight; in fact, I believe that the Govern meat will give way to our wishes,” said the president (Mr C. J. Talbot). A remit, urging that the proposed legislation should be amended to provide for a poll of ratepayers before any amalgamation scheme was put into effect, was referred to "the executive for action later if thought necessary. The conference discussed the whole question of local body amalgamation in the morning.