LOCAL BODY AMALGAMATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 245, 15 October 1937, Page 12

LOCAL BODY AMALGAMATION

MANAWATU GROUP CONCERNED (From our own correspondent.) SANSON, Oct. 13. Concern that nothing further had been heard of the proposed meeting of local bodies in this district to discuss local body amalgamation with the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. W. E. Parry) was expressed by Cr. A. N. Morcom at the monthly meeting of the Manawatu County Council held at Sandon yesterday. “It seems to me that we are being side-tracked,” said Cr. Morcom. The Hon. Mr. Parry had addressed all other groups of local bodies and they should be given an opportunity of hearing his views and of asking him some questions.

The county clerk, Mr. A. K. Drew, stated that the position rested with the Minister. After the conference of district local bodies held in May last the Minister had been notified of the decision arrived at and of the wish that he should visit the district and address the representatives of interested local bodies. On June 7 the Minister wrote acknowledging the views of the conference, stating that he would notify the council when he would be free to visit the district. Nothing had been heard since, concluded Mr. Drew.

Cr. Morcom felt that as the conference had gone to a great deal of trouble, the Minister should be prepared to meet the representatives of the local bodies and discuss the position. He understood that the proposed Bill would be before the House shortly and the Manawatu group of local bodies was the only one which the Minister had not personally consulted. The matter should not be allowed to drop, and Cr. Morcom proposed that the council write to the Minister and remind him of his undertaking to visit the district and meet local body representatives. The discussion closed when the council agreed to write to the Minister and ask when he intended visiting the district to put before local body representatives his views on the question of amalgamation.