NO COMPULSION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19336, 28 May 1937, Page 4

NO COMPULSION

LOCAL BODY MERGING MINISTER’S ASSURANCE UNIQUE \Y AIA PIT POSITION COUNCIL REARS ALLAYED (Herald Special Reporter.) TE PUIA, this day. No compulsion is intended in the proposed measure to encourage Lite amalgamation of local bodies. This assurance was given by the lion. R. Semple. Minister of Public Works, when speaking in the Te Puia Hotel last night in reply lo a question from the Waiapu (Amity Council, which the Minister said was in a unique position.

The fears of the County Council in this respect were expressed by Mr. O. T. Williams, who said he did not, know how amalgamation would work, but he imagined that it. would be forced upon the local bodies whether they wanted it or not.

The Waiapu County Council, he said, was unfortunate that neighbouring bodies were struggling with liabilities, and the council would rather not amalgamate with either, hut if Waiapu was forced into it, he asked, would Waiapu have to bear some of the debts of the neighbouring counties? Waiapu maintained that that should not be so. Although the Waiapu County had to battle hard, it should be able to come out fairly well on its own if given a little sympathy and assistance.

The Minister said that the matte) raised did not come within his department. The Hon. W. E. Parry, Minister of Internal Affairs, had the matter in hand, and would lie visiting the electorate shortly.

Mr. A. Gordon llullqnist, M.P., said that Mr. Parry intended visiting Opotiki and Whakatane shortly to discuss the matter there. Relief for Counties

Mr. Semple said he did not think it, was the intention of .Mr. Parry to force amalgamation on any local body. There was no compulsion in the bill. The original bill did have compulsory clauses, but those bad been excluded.

The principle underlying the idea of amalgamation, the Minister added, was not to impose hardship on any county, but to give relief. If a county could show hardship under amalgamation it would not lie forced to shoulder those burdens, hut merging would be encouraged only where there would be a saving in cost, and counties would have the final say in the matter. Neither Mr. Parry nor the Cabinet would force Ihe scheme on any local body.

Mr. Hultquist said that before any scheme went on here, he would ask Mr. Parry to come and explain the position. Mr. Hultquist said he would not he a party to forcing anyone to combine with another.

Mr. Semple: You are in a unique position here so far as adjoining counties are concerned, and you would have a prettv good argument against it. if yon could show that amalgamation would increase your costs.