H.—l4

8

tinue in existence, so that we may secure for the people of the country the highest efficiency with regard to local government, and thus obtain the very best results in every direction. In other words, what I would like to see is a general development and evolution of the local governmental machine, in order that by the use of the collective finances of every district the security, convenience, comfort, and progress of the people who reside in that district may be appreciably increased. (3.) Economy of Administration. —1 now come to the question of economy of administration, and here I think the figures that I have to lay before the Conference will h*. of sufficient importance to warrant my making at this stage detailed reference to the results as shown by the Statistical Department of the Government. The total receipts of all the ordinary local-government bodies in New Zealand during the year ending 31st March, 1911, were £5,428,070, made up as follows : — £ General rates .. .. .. .. .. 1,117,398 Special and separate rates .. . . .. 474,489 Licenses, tolls, rents, and other sources . . .. 1,829,613 From Government as subsidies, &c. . . .. 229,611 Total revenue .. .. .. 3,651,112* to which must be added Receipts not revenue—that is, loans, special Government grants, subscriptions, &c, for ordinary or special works . . .. .. .. 1,776,958 making a grand total of receipts of .. .. .. £5,428,070 Tae expenditure of all the ordinary local-government bodies in New Zealand during the year ending 31st March, 1911, was £5,138,976, made up as follows:— £ On public works .. .. .. .. 2,974,689 On management .. .. .. .. 333,502 Grants to Road, Town, and River Boards .. .. 6,819 Interest, &c, on loans, and maintenance other than roads, &c. .. .. .. .. .. 1,823,964 £5,138,976* Eliminating the Harbour Boards, whose finances are of a somewhat exceptional character, the following are the figures for all other local authorities, excluding Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards and Tramway Boards : — £ Revenue raised locally .. .. .. .. 2,613,027 General rates included in the above .. .. 1,082,594 Cost of management .. .. .. .. 253,551 On the above figures the cost of management represented 9-70 per cent, of the total revenue raised locally, and no less than 23-42 per cent, on the total general rates, while the cost on public-works expenditure of the various Boards was 11-32. Taking the general rates as a basis for the cost of management, they work out as follows: — Per Cent. All boroughs .. .. . . .. . . 29-84 Boroughs under 3,000 population .. . . .. 39-32 Boroughs over 3,000 population , . . . .. 27-92 Counties .. . . . . 19-49 Road districts .. .. .. .. .. 15-38 Town districts .. .. .. .. .. 31-54 River districts .. .. . . .. . . 30-81 Land drainage districts . . .. . . .. 23-54 City and suburban drainage districts .. . . 20-95 Water-supply districts .. .. • .. .. 23-48

* Shillings and pence omitted.