LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 83, 13 August 1923, Page 2

LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

PROGRESS DURING PAST YEAR, DIFFICULTIES OF DUAL CONTROL. DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL REVIEW. Interesting reflections regarding the progress of local government in New Zealand aro made in the annual report of the Department of Internal Affairs, submitted to Parliament this week. The year was a particularly active one and, from tho point of view of finance, it was of unique importance to local bodies, inasmuch as the first .year of operation of the provisions of 'the Local Bodies' Finance Act brought home to local bodies the necessity for the strictest economy in framing their estimates of expenditure. Necessary adjustments arising out of the legislation for the Waikato and King Country Counties were completed during the year by the division of the Otorohar.g.i, Taumarunui and "Waitomo ' ountics into ridings, and the making of arrangements for tho holding of the first election and first meeting of the council in case Special provision "-- ' _ e -" ' lio of the imo Council, for taking a poll to determine . „.•.,! oi rating, also for fixing tho antecedent liability of the former Auakino County Council. No now counties were constituted during tr* year, but the question of constituting the Akarana Countv received considerable attention. The matter of bringing the Act into force in Marlborough County, and the establishment i of local government in the Sounds dis- I trict continued to give rise to considerable thought, but so far it has not been found possible to solve these problems. Tho boundaries were altered between four counties, and necessarv action tnken to adjust riding boundaries of those and other counties. The boundaries of six counties were re-defined, consequent on the alteration or constitution of boroughs.

WARNING TO COUNTY COUNCILS. Fourteen county councils passed special orders, altering ridinjr boundaries. The question of bringing theso special orders into force is now a matter which rests in the hands of the Minister, and, through an amendment of the Act, and by arrangement with the Valuation Department, the matter has been considerably simplified. In anticipation of the* amended rolls, county councils may amend the electoral rolls from the valuation rolls in possession, savs the report, but the part of tho proceedings which should be carefully watched bv councils is that, when a. general election is pending, the special order should be so made in time to allow it to be brought into force, and the required notice given of the election to be held on the altered boundaries. The point caused considerable difficulty in connection with special orders made just prior to the last general election, and the Department proposes specially communicating with councty councils on the matter, prior to the next general election. Three county councils had conferred on them certain powers of borough councils, with respect to water supply, and one council, with respect to lighting and the supply of electricity. County councils were given power to expend money on tree-plan*, ing.

PROGRESS OF BOROUGHS. . For so ™° time - has been aiming, at a 'Ore-; ter christchurch." |™ d adjoining have been from time to tl»Y e brought into the citv. J Uunrig the past year, the scheme was lurried htrthev. A commission reported favourably on the petition of j tni-ee 0 f nve largo areaß of thfl Heatll . : CQtso and Waimairi Counties. RepreiW,Vitations are now being made to the | Department to make the city and New J Brighton contiguous, with "the object ! of uniting that borough with the city. I Alteration of boundaries were made in | Blenheim, Marton, Masterton, Whanj garci, Wellington and YVintou. The j only new borough constituted during the year was Rotnrua, rendered neces- . sarv through the Rotorua Borough Act. i Four town districts were constituted, J the boundaries of two towns altered, j and five town districts declared not to form part of the county in which each 'was situated.

DUAL CONTROL OF ROADS AND RIVERS. Only one road district was merged during the year, ma'-ing -18 road districts in the Dominion, eighteen of which arc contained in districts where there is at present no other form of local government. Two new river dis-tricts—Manawatu-Oroua and Otaki—were constituted. The constitution of tho former was an important factor m river conservation in the Manawatu district, and it is hoped that the works of the board will materially assist in the big problem of river conservation in that locality. The difficulties arising out of dual control of the district, as a result of the existence of several drainage districts and a harbour district, were removed by means ol legislation, and it is hoped by the Department that the boarus will work in harmony. Tho difficulties of dual control, however, in some instances have been intensified by reason of a misunderstanding of the duties of river boards and land drainage boards. The primary of river boards is the pro. tection of lands from floods, whilst tho Land. Drainage Act is intended to provide for the drainage of low-lying hinds. By process of time, however., tho operations of both classes of hoards have become very similar, and it is now difficult in many cases to find exactly where the functions of a River Board and a Land Drainage Board differ. A case was recently brought under notico where a River Board had spent considerable money in obtaining reports from engineers, but these reports were not acceptable to the board because they dealt almost entirely with the question of prevention of floods and not with the question of drainage. Finally the board decided to proceed no further, and asked tho Government to bear the cost of obtaining the reports. Cases such as this arise purely and siniplv from a misunderstanding' of tho functions of a River Board; lor, whilst there is power in the Act to give a Rivei hoard the power of a Drainage Bonrd and vice versa, it was never intended that drainage should bo tho primary function of a River Board, or prevention of flooding the primary function of a Land Drainage Board. It is proposed to watch these matters carefully and point out to boards where they appear to bo misinterpreting their powers. Two land drainage districts were constituted two united, one subdivided, and the boundaries of five altered. Trustees were appointed for six districts, and the number of members of one board increased.