LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 256, 28 October 1937, Page 8

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

AMALGAMATION SCHEMES BILL BEFORE PARLIAMENT PROVISIONS OF NEW MEASURE. [ Per Press Association. J WELLINGTON, Oct. 27. With the object of reducing the number of local authorities in tue Dominion the Local Government Amalgamation Schemes Bill was re-intro-uuced in the House of Representatives by Governor-General’s message today. The original Bill was introduced right at the end of last session and circulated primarily for the purpose of public information. The new measuie embodies all the principles of last year’s proposals, the principal changes arising out of technicalities in law drafting. Under the proposals it will be possible to prepare amalgamation schemes for all classes of local authorities except hospital boards. The Bill provides for the preparation of amalgamation schemes by or on behalf of local bodies, the aims of any scheme being set out as follows: Union into one district or two or more adjoining districts; merger of a district in another district; transfer ot functions of one local authority to another; alterations in boundaries; and conversion of a district into a district of a different kind. Local bodies may prepare their own amalgamation schemes voluntarily, or they may be instructed to do so by the Minister of Internal Affairs. In any case, where amalgamation is held to be desirable and the local bodies do not co-operate in the matter, the Minister himself may have an amalgamation scheme prepc? ed. Every scheme must be publicly notified. Copies must be sent to the local bodies affected and full opportunity must be given for objections to be made. Where several districts are concerned with one scheme, one of them may be appointed as a principal local authority for the purpose of attending to the various machinery measures associated with amalgamation. Commission to be Set Up. Whether the schemes have been prepared voluntarily or not, the Minister may decide, in the absence of objections, that they shall come into operation, or else if further inquiries seem necessary he may refer them to a special tribunal to be appointed under the title of the Local Government Amalgamation Scheme Commission. This ?s to consist of a permanent chairman, an officer of the Public Service, and a nominee of the local bodies concerned in the particular scheme before the Commission. If any local authorities are unable to make a unanimous choice of a representative the Minister is empowered to select their nominee, providing he appoints a person with local knowledge of the districts to be affected. The Commission is given full power to review all the schemes submitted and to suggest to the Minister any necessary modifications or amendments. Objections brought forward at inquiries held by the Commission must be supported by evidence. After a report has been received from the Commission the Minister is required to send copies to the local authorities affected and to publish notices in the newspapers setting forth the recommendations of the Commission. Thereafter the only objections which can be made to the recommendations must be on the grounds that specified matters have not been given sufficient consideration. If necessary, the Minister may require the Commission to make a revised or supplementary report, or else he may dispose of objections without referring them to the Commission. The final report of the Commission must also be notified.

Various clauses in the Bill outline the procedure to be followed in giving effect to the amalgamation schemes which have been finally approved and the Minister is given power to determine the apportionment of the costs involved. Special provisions enabling county councils to absorb smaller local bodies within their own areas are retained in the Bill and there is power to appoint a special commission of inquiry to report on any matter affecting local government. Minister’s Comment. Hon. W. E. Parry, introducing the Bill, said the Leader of the Opposition had asked if there was any compulsion in the Bill. The principle of the measure was, to a large extent, based on the Act passed by the last Government providing for amalgamation of hospital boards. To that extent the Bill had compulsion but as he had pointed out he did not believe there was any compulsion at all. The Bill provided for the amalgamation of local bodies, a subject which had been talked about for the last thirty or forty years but concerning which nothing had been done. The member for Riccarton had asked if it were the intention of the Government that the Bill should be referred to a cohimittee. He could assure them that this was so. It would be referred to a special committee of the House.

The Bill, he said, was substantially the same as that introduced last year, and provided for a reduction in the number of local bodies, of which there were 700 in the Dominion. The only alteration in the Bill was in law draftsmanship. It had been made wide enough to embrace all the local bodies in New Zealand with the exception of the hospital boards. If all agreed that amalgamation was necessary, something should be done about it and someone had to initiate the movement. He referred to the appointment of the tribunal or Commission to hear the objections. Such tribunal, he said, would have a permanent chairman, probably a Supreme Court Judge. The Minister continued that he had asked local bodies to submit schemes which might be better than his, and if they were he was prepared to give them consideration.

Reverting to the question of compulsion, Mr. Parry said that there was, in his opinion, no compulsion at all in the Bill, but it gave an opportunity for reaching finality on a very vexed question. Why should a beginning not be made now, he asked. There was no necessity for hurry but at least a start could be made on a solution of the problem. Very Far Reaching. Hon. J. G. Coates stated that the Minister had been correct in char-

acterising the present measure as a very important one and he pointed out that there were many local authorities in this country which had existed for very many years. The provisions of the Bill were very far reaching and it was important that the House committee to consider the matter and the local body representations should be truly representative. Mr. Parry: I will see to that.

Mr. Coates continued that the committee should have sufficient weight to influence the Minister on Jie matter. Mr. Parry: I have heard a lot of views on the subject already. Mr. Coates: That is just the point. Is it fair to let the Minister loose on the country and for him to form his conclusion- on the matter before he meets the committee? I know he is a very fair-minded man indeed. Mr. Parry: Is that a fair thing to say? Does the honourable member consider it fair that I have gone to the local bodies and asked their opinions on amalga nation? Mr .Coates: I have said that the Minister was very fair minded. All I wanted to know is has the Minister an open mind on the subject? Mr. Parry: I have given that assurance both here and in Whangarei. The Bill was read a first time.