Rodney County Council against the Local Government Bill.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 15 May 1912, Page 5

Rodney County Council against the Local Government Bill.

A special meeting of the Eodney County Council was called by the chairmati to consider the Local Government Bill. The meeting took rjlace on Thursday last, and was attended by Messrs G. W. Thomson, chairman"J. Blair, T. Alf Gubb, J. E. McKenzie, J. Eoss jr, J. A. Shepherd, and D. Todd, Mr Wyatt was absent through ill-health. Mr Scholium asked if the minutes of the last meeting should not read. Mr Todd objected as it would open for discussion business they had not met to deal with. The Counties Act was consulted, and it was found the minutes were to be read at the next ordinary meeting. A circular letter from the Minister of Internal Affairs stated, that the Government considered the time opportune to deal with the simplification of local Government. ' At present 622 local Government districts existed in the Dominion

The Government would endeavour to pass into law with such amendments as considered advisable, the bill introduced by the Eight Hon. Sir Joseph Ward. In view" of the importance of the changes j)roposed, it was decided to hold a conference of local body delegates on "Tuesday May 21st in Wellington. As direct representation of each local body would make the Conference too unwieldy, it was proposed to convene a meeting of representatives in the different Hospital districts for them to elect delegates. A notice from the chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board tasked, the Council to appoint two representatives to attend a meeting to be held at the Municipal Buildings today (the 15th inst ) to select seven delegates to attend the Wellington conference, The chairman in opening the discussion said he had given the measure considerable thought, and had done his best to digest it. Mr Todd j Digestion or indigestion ? (Laughter). The Chairman : Perhaps the latter. There were poiuts of vital importance and he had listed them. It was for the Council to state whether the Bill should be considered clause for clause. It was decided to use the Chairman's notes as a base. Local, Government. Mr Thomson said the first objection was to a Local Government Board to consist of the Miuister, three officials, and three members nominated by the Governor. He did not see any necessity for such a creation. It proposed to constitute an autocratic Upper House for Local Government. The purpose was to set up six buffers to protect the miuister. Mr Shepherd moved im That we object to the Local Government Board as proposed in the Bill " seconded by Mr Sohollum. Mr Todd said he was not clear what powers the Board would exercise. He did not favour its autocratic composition. Neither could he understand why the Board was not required to act judicially, if it stated the Board was not required to act judiciously it would be **.nderstandable. A local Government Board existed in EaglaucL x'he Chairman stated that no rating district of less size than a Borough or Council could be set up with the Board's permission. The many powers to be exercised by the Governor-in-Council virtually means the Board. The clerk stated the Minister at present exercised power of veto over taking and closing of roads, and bylaws. The clause exempting the Board from acting judicially gave the power, if thought fit, to give a determination without hearing evidence. The English Local Government Board carried out powers here conferred on the Health Department. Its sanction was also required before a loan could be raised, and a competent officer held an enquiry into the practicability of any loan scheme ii'a single ratepayer lodged a complaint. The motion was carried. Provincial Councils. The Chairman stated it was proposed to establish provincial councils. Eoad districts would disappear, and virtually county councils would become enlarged road boards, and provincial councils enlarged county councils. Once the provinces were established they could .only be altered by special Act of Parliament. The number of representatives for the bodies j in each pi'ovinco wonld be adjusted from time to time in accordance with rateable value.

Mr Boss ; Personally I do not see any need for provincial councils. Mr Todd ; Knock tliat on the head and you "will end the lot. Mr Erss : I'm. quite willing to do that. I should like to see the Eoad's Department back again, with a fixed appropriation from Parliament to be spent in conjunction with the County Councils in the maintenance of the main roads.

Mr McKenzie: You want each branch of public service to be carved out by expert men. Mr Todd thought the general idea of provincial councils was a very good one. Pai'liainent would legislate, the provincial councils would administer, while the couDty councils would see to road work. He feared the concentration of work would come too. heavy on each provincial council.ior it would involve such a sacrifice of time as to make it necessary to pay each member. There would be a •great deal more honour in such a ser- ' , C i, aud a great deal less public applause that M.P's received. His experience of Education Boards, and presumably other Boards was that they were by no means composed of experts

They would Jiave representation on sucli a Council.

Voices : Halt1 a member.

■'Mr Toad: Matakana would bo remotely represented (Laughter). He quite agreed that Eodney would be lost in the Auckland Provincial Council. They could seek inclusion in the Marsden Province. In any case they would have proportionate" representation, and' if that was no good, democracy was no good. _ The Chairman said he did not entirely agree with either Mr. Eoss or Mr Todd. A proposal to resurrect the Roads Department, with elective members.to act with the permanent officials in maintaining arterial roads, and having no rating power would appeal to him.

The proposal that provincial rates could be used for education purposes was altogether bad." Education Boards at the present time were constantly urging for more money. Once a portion of a rate was used for'such a purpose, the tendency Avould be to cast more and more of what should be a national charge, upon the rates, He was quite convinced the present bill had best be burnt and another introduced of more service. On Hospital and Charitable Aid levies, the present subsidy was £ for £~ but the subsidy on provincial rates would be 15s in the £, which lie thought would be utterly inadequate. The powers to rate were most extortinate. The province could tax up to £12 40s on every £1000 worth of property, and* the"County could impose the same.

Mr Todd : That' would make 2A- per cent, on the capital value, what per centage would it be on the yearly earnings ?

Mr, Thomson : With such a power, and at the sanie time extending the franchise, where would they be if such a labour party as lately wished to dictate in Auckland came into power ? Such a danger had to be considered.

Mr Blair : My contention is that the men who pay the direct taxation should be the ones to control its expenditure. In one case the miner's franchise was used to force the making of a road against the wish of the ratepayers, but at their expense, and when it was done it was never used. A provincial threepenny rate would go into other things than main roads.

Mr Shepherd said some changes was imperative. Under present,conditions they would never be able to touch' the construction of main roads, ■* More revenue was essential.

Mr Todd: Provincial Councils -will have other things to deal with beside

roads

Mr McKenzie : That is the worst of it.

Mr Todd: If they are happy and contented, and there is- nothing more to be done, then knock the proposals on the head. He had a religious objection to increased taxation, and oc that pGint they were absolutely unanimous. As for the labour bogie he did not believe in it. If they opposed the grant system, or any increase of direct taxation, the needful must come from somewhere. Whether it was from the government purse, or the provincial purse, or the county purse, it was still their purse. The Labour party was composed of good men doing good work throughout the Empire. Auckland showed that the red rag and revolution faction did not rule the Labour party. He did not favour the inclusion of large towns in provincial government.

The Chairman: The question i« where is the money to come ' from. The bill proposed to throw the whole burden upon the landholders, and they were not the sole wealth producers. Charitable Aid and Education should be a national charge payable out of the Consolidated Fund.

The motion that Provincial Councils are not necessary was put. Messrs Eoss, McKenzie, Blair, Scholium and Gubb, voted for, the chairman, Messrs Todd and Shepherd against.

Mr Todd asked if it was any use going further ?-The Chairman thought so. Objectionable features should be named, in case the provincial councils should be set up. He moved, " That the term of office for provincial councillors is too short, and that in lieu thereof each councillor should serve for four years, half the Council to retire every second year,".seconded by Mr Blair and carried. Provincial Rate. The Chairman moved "That the rating powers of provincial councils should be limited to a penny halfpenny in the £ upon the capital value" seconded by Mr Ross and carried. Mr McKen/ie voting against the motion on the ground the Council should have no rating power at all. The treasurer stated that is the subsidy af 15s in the £ were to be paid on the provincial rate, the Rodney County Council might have small representation on- the Auckland Provincial Council but there would be a better chance of road improvement. If both Auckland and Marsden struck a penny provincial rate the former would receive approximately £112,500 in subsidy against Marsden's £9995. Road Distkicts. Mr Shepherd thought the road boards had had their day and should now cease to be. Mr Scholium strongly dissented. The road boards did better \7ork than any other body. Let Mr Shepherd visit Puhoi and judge for himself. , , , OVEUBRAIT.'. " Mr Shepherd moved "That the clauses limiting bank overdrafts for both Provincial and County Councils to the atuouuc uf uiastauding revenue for the current year should be amended' to permit the present powea of borrowing up to the amount of the general

revenue for a year " seconded by Mr Todd and carried. Eates for Educat^n. The Chairman moved " That education should be a national charge, so the clause enabling rate monies to be used-for education purposes should be struck out " seconded by Mr Blair and carried. Borough Streets. '..... , Mr Eoss moved "That the Council opposes the proposal enabling the Governor on the recommendation of tho Local Government Board to load the Provincial Council, whether it agrees or not, with the liability of the whole cost or part cost of constructing and maintaining of Borough streets as may be specified, and is of opinion that the clause should be struck out" seconded by Mr McKenzie and carried. Abolishing Ridings." Mr Todd moved "Thatthe proposal to abolish ridings be struck out" seconded by Mr McKenzie. The mover said the ridings had worked well. Mr Shepherd said he was dead opposed to the abolition of the ridings. Mr Eoss asked why the Government did not propose to abolish the general electoral districts and give everybody a vote for 80 Ms.P. Motion carried. Franchise Mr Blair moved " That the present County franchise be maintained both in county elections and for elections of provincial council members taking place in counties " seconded by Mr Shepherd. Mr Todd said he supposed he who payed the piper had the right to call the time. He believed in the broadest of franchise. Universal adult suffrage was the ideal of democracy. Mr Shepherd said the making of laws to govern the whole people, and the making of roads were two different matter. The motion was put arid carried, Mr Todd voting against. Mr Blair: " That will be remembered agasnst you Mr Todd." Mr Eoss : " Mr Todd has a right to his opinion." Mr Todd: "Thank you, that is all I have got." Tenure op County Counctllorship. It was agreed that it was best to have county elections every two years, half the Council to go but of office each, time. Subsidy. £ The Chairman said the proposed payment of subsidy on a sliding scale based on the rateable value per square mile looked fairer than it really was. East Taupo County contained 2,325 square miles yet only 528 persons re- . sided therein. In Eodney County with 493 square miles a population of 4,249 required more roads than would East Taupo five times the size. Then again the suggested basis did not take into account the varying cost of road making. On the Waimarino plains road , making was inexpensive. The same applied to many other districts. Country divided into great sheep runs had very little need for roads. Mr Todd said the Chairman had thrown a good deal of light on the question. He would move " That in lieu of clause 331 fixing the subsidy payable to County Councils on the average capital rateable value per square mile, this Council recommends that a commission of competent engineers be set up to report on the needs of the various counties as to need of roads, cost of making roads, and rateable value, and that the scale of subsidies be graduated on their report " seconded by Mr McKenzie and carried. "

It was resolved to forward the resolutions to the Minister of Internal Affairs. The chairman and clerk were deputed to represent the Council at the approaching conference in Auckland. Next Meeting. It was decided to alter the date of the next ordinary meeting from the 23rd inst., to Monday June 3rd.