LOCAL BODY ECONOMY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18025, 28 February 1933, Page 5

LOCAL BODY ECONOMY

, INQUIRY DELAYED AMALGAMATION SCHEMES A POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The expected announcement as to the appointment of a commission to inquire into Uie cost*of local body administration and possible avenues for amalgamation Hi New Zealand, is likely to be delayeci indefinitely.

Tne mam reason is that an interdepartmental committee whicii was appointed some tune ago to collect data is still employed in its investigation, and will be for a month or two to come.

it is stated tnat the results. already achieved by tin’s inquiry are distinctly valuable, and will be of considerable assistance to the major body when it is appointed. As the outcome of the work ot the committee, the commission .will undoubtedly be saved a good deal ol expense through travelling, and local bodies tliemseives are likely to be saved the cost attendant upon the making of personal representations. Tne idea, it seems at present, is in the direction, not so much of the amalgamation of any number of small bodies, but rather the handing over of definite services to controlling boards. The’ scope of the commission s inquiry >ill, no doubt, provide for consideration •of tins alternative. »

• In tne meantime, the question remains quite open, although an influencing factor will doubtless be the result of the operation of such newly-created ' bodies as the Auckland Metropolitan Eire Board, which has recently been given control of all the fire-fighting services in Auckland city and its environs. It is felt in some circles that a better scheme of administration, could be provided for large bodies by having one Dominion board for special services, with local 1 committees of management. In this way overhead costs could be reduced and, at the same time, the necessary local interest could be maintained