AMALGAMATION OPPOSED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19699, 3 August 1938, Page 12

AMALGAMATION OPPOSED

HARBOUR BOARDS' VIEWS CASE BEFORE COMMITTEE (Por Prosb Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Parliamentary Select Committee heard evidence from .several harbour boards yesterday on the Local Bodies (.Amalgamation Schemes) Bill. Mr. S. J. Castle, on behalf of the solicitors for the Harbours' Association, in tendering a statement from a number of harbour boards, said the Tauranga board had resolved that while expressing no opinion on the question of local body amalgamation generally, it was unable to see any advantage to be derived from it so far as the Tauranga board was concerned .The harbour was the natural outlet for a very large area beyond Taupo. Tbe members, with tne exception ol cue chairman, gave their services free and the travelling expenses were comparatively small and, during the 2„ years of the board's operations, it had supplied all reasonable shipping faculties, kept the harbour dues down to the lowest possible rates, built up valuable assets for future requirements, and had avoided any necessity for a taxation rate. Contrary to Principles The Nelson board expressed strong opposition to the whole principle embodied in the bill, on the grounds that the bill was contrary to all the existing principles of local government. The Patea board stated it was not in favour of amalgamation as it considered that amalgamation with, say, Wanganui or New Plymouth could not be worked efficiently as the present system, nor that any economy would result. The board stated that it had fairly large loan works and outlays, and amalgamation would either mean that these would be unwanted and unused, or that there would be no Change. The needs of the district were known to the board better than they could be to those without local knowledge. There were also refrigerating stores and other buildings and plant at Patea and Hawera, and the ability of another centre to handle the produce passing through the port would have to be consielered. The Whakatane board stated that it considered that harbour boards should be excluded from the provisions of the bill. The Bay of Islands board expressed the opinion that amalgamation would not be an advantage and that the county council could not give adequate control to harbour matters. The Whangarei Harbour Board said il considered it would be folly to curtail or, in any way, increase the cost of the services which the port of Whangarei was called upon to provide. Minister's Comment The Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, commenting on the Nelson board's resolution, said it conveyed little or nothing to the committee. Some harbour boards had already taken steps to fall into line with the provisions of the bill. The Taranaki bodies wanted to amalgamate and it was gratifying to know that some were moving along that road. Everyone agreed that amalgamation was a good thing for the other fellow. What was Mr. Castle's opinion of the bill? Mr. Castle said he considered the bill quite satisfactory. He could not see anything unfair in it. It was all a matter of proper administration. The committee adjourned until Tuesday.