TOO MANY LOCAL BODIES

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1934, Page 5

TOO MANY LOCAL BODIES

AMALGAMATION WANTED FACTS AND FIGURES GIVEN COST OUT OF PROPORTION MR. POLSON’S ADVOCACY (By Wire—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. Facts and figures were placed before the House by Mr. W. J. Polson to-night in substantiation of his claim that action should be taken to reduce the number of local bodies in New Zealand. “The number of local bodies in this country is unquestionably excessive, and the consequential cost is out of all proportion to what it should be,” declared the member for Stratford. “An examination of the figures shows there are nearly 700 local bodies in the Dominion, a country with a population of only 1,500,000. There are 296 rural local bodies, including 125 counties, 18 road districts, 42 river districts, 57 land drainage districts, 53 rabbit districts and one local railway district. There are 168 urban local bodies—boroughs', town districts, urban drainage districts, transport districts, gas lighting districts—and there are 217 which are partly rural and partly urban, including harbour boards, fire board districts, electric power districts, hospital districts, water supply districts and so on.

“There are no fewer than 6000 elected and nominated members of local bodies in New Zealand. There is a swarm of more or less important local bodies with their professional and clerical staffs numbering 3650 and general working staffs of 45,402 people—all in a country with a population of 1,500,000.

“With all these local bodies it is possible that a man, if he is unlucky enough, may have his property in nine different local districts and be subject to nine different rates by these local bodies. From the local bodies I have enumerated education boards are excluded.” “An examination of the details of the cost of this extraordinary plethora of local authorities showed that while between 1915 and 1930 the population had increased by 29 per cent, local body employees increased by 76 per cent., wages paid by 199 per cent., the local body debt by 191 per cent., and rates by 181 per cent., proceeded Mr. Polson. Although the National Expenditure Commission demanded a comprehensive investigation with economies in local body administration, and there was a universal clamour for some consolidation of local bodies, no inquiry had been ordered, notwithstanding that commissions had been appointed to deal with many other subjects. “I put it to the Minister,” Mr. Polson added, “that something should be done now. We have a very fine type of local body in our county councils, and I believe the county system, is eminently suited to our requirements. However, there are many minor local bodies which are unnecessary and involve expense that should be tolerated no longer. In many cases local jealousies prevent desirable amalgamations taking place. “Where local bodies have been amalgamated the result has been a wonderful economy. Take for example the merger of the Awakino and Waitomo counties. Before the amalgamation the percentage of administrative costs to revenue was in the case of Awakino 32 and of Waitomo 24 per cent. After the merger the percentage fell to 19, and later to 12. . “I suggest the Minister might consider the position of some of the smaller harbour boards— A member: Drainage boards! Mr. Polson: And many other boards, rabbit and others. The Hon. J. A. Young: Would you suggest including hospital boards? Mr. Polson: The matter warrants investigation, and the Minister might achieve fame if he tackled this job.