AMALGAMATION OF BODIES

Southland Times, Issue 23308, 18 September 1937, Page 8

AMALGAMATION OF BODIES

INQUIRY URGED BY < COUNTIES BENEFIT FOR SOUTHLAND EXPECTED A decision that the Government should be approached and asked to hold an inquiry before the Local Government Amalgamation Bill was proceeded with was reached at the annual conference of the New Zealand Counties’ Association, stated a report presented by Cr W. M. Norman, the Southland County Council’s representative at the conference, to a meeting of the council yesterday. The objects of the proposed inquiry and the remits to be sent to the Government were as follows, the report continued: 1. To ascertain on broad lines what functions can best be discharged by national government and what can best be carried out by local government. 2. How the framework of local government could best be reconstructed to discharge such functions. 3. Such inquiry should define and co-ordinate 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. 4. Included in the order of* reference we think there should be investigation into major local- body problems, such as incidence of rating, basis of franchise, loan indebtedness. 5. That this conference respectfully urges the Minister to hold up the Bill until such inquiry has been held arid the report made available. 6. That subject to the foregoing we reaffirm the resolution of two previous conferences to the effect that the conference supports amalgamation whenever it can be shown that amalgamation will secure reduction in expenditure, and/or increased efficiency, and that 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. Commenting on the amalgamation proposals Cr Norman said that the Bill provided for the cutting of the counties in New Zealand down to about 40. For instance, it was possible that nine small counties outside Christchurch would be amalgamated and make it the biggest county in New Zealand. The view of the conference was that where it was economically sound amalgamation was favoured. Cr L. A. Niederer said he was pleased that the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) was going on with the Bill. The Bill was long overdue, he said, and once it was operative Southland would benefit as it would be put on the same footing as other counties.