AMALGAMATION OPPOSED

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 55, Issue 3941, 18 August 1937, Page 7

AMALGAMATION OPPOSED

WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL ATTITUDE. SOME TRENCHANT CRITICISM. The matter of amalgamation of the counties was mentioned at Monday's meeting of the Waipa County Council. The chairman, Cr S. C. Macky, reported on the recent conference at Hamilton with the Minister of Internal Affairs (along lines already reported) in connection with his proposed amalgamation of Waipa, Waikato and Raglan counties. He said that the delegates present were not favourable to amalgamation along the lines suggested, and added that it was hoped to arrange for a conference of all provincial local bodies to oppose it. Cr D. B. Livingstone said he could see no useful purpose in the proposed amalgamation. What would be gained? Cr Macky: The Minister, said he did not suggest any economy, but he claimed bettei- efficiency. MUST FIGHT SOLIDLY. Cr G. Hall opposed the scheme, and urged that all local bodies should fight solidly against being forced to amalgamate. Waipa County was bounded by the Waikato and Waipa rivers, and was constituted for efficient handling. However, he thought a portion of Matamata County could be ceded to Waipa, and probably also part of the Arohena and Ngaroma districts, where settlers’ interests are all centred on Te Awamutu. Cr F. L. Onion said the Minister had stated amalgamation would not give decreased reading costs, but claimed that there would be greater efficiency. The Minister had, he thought, been not at all convincing in his statements at Hamilton. When asked a pointed question he had retorted, “Put your own house in order’’’ He (the speaker) would maintain that the Waipa County's “house” was in fairly good order. The Minister was trying to use force, not having a reasonable case. SUGGESTED COMMISSION. The chairman said the. Minister had said that if the local bodies would not merge, a commission would be set up, with a Supreme Court judge as chairman. A Councillor: Yes, a chairman appointed by the Government, with the casting vote in any dispute. Cr Onion said if the proposed scheme was inequitable it w-as the duty of the local bodies to resolutely oppose it. “A PIECE OF CHEEK.” Cr Livingstone: It is the greatest piece of cheek I have heard for a long time. A Minister has a fancy scheme directly opposed to the views of men who have given practically a lifetime to local body administration. I can see no merit in his plan at all. It was pointed out that a dozen drainage districts in Waipa County could be merged with advantage; but the Government w’ould not deal with the drainage boards. DRAINAGE BOARDS UNAFFECTED The chairman: No, the Minister said the big local bodies must be merged flrst, and then the smaller todies would be brought into line. Cr G. S. Clarke suggested that the Waipa, Waikato and Raglan county chairmen should meet the Minister while in Wellington next week. A Councillor: The Minister appears to have made up his mind, and all representations to him will be useless. Cr J. T. Johnson said he had the impression the Minister was using an “old political dodge” to throw the onus on to the local bodies by putting them on the defensive. It was unanimously decided to oppose the amalgamation plan, and endorse the steps being taiken by other local bodies affected to oppose the Minister’s scheme.