H—22

1946 NEW ZEALAND

DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS (ANNUAL REPORT OF THE) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1946

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave

Sir, — Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington, 26th July, 1946. • I have the honour to submit herewith the annual report of the Department for the year ended 31st March, 1946. I have, &c., J. W. Heenan, The Hon. W. E. Parry, Under-Secretary. Minister of Internal Affairs.

X REPORT I. CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS The necessary action was taken in regard to the following matters (a) Summoning and proroguing of Parliament. (b) Appointment of a Deputy of the Governor-General 011 four occasions. (c) Appointments to the Legislative Council. (d) Resignation of members of Executive Council. (e) Appointment of Parliamentary Under-Secretaries.. (/) Appointment of Clerk and Clerk-Assistant to House of Representatives. (g) Issue of writs and other steps for by-elections in Hamilton, Dunedin North, and Raglan Electoral Districts. 11. LOCAL GOVERNMENT A. Parliamentary Committee on Local Government Following the completion of the taking of evidence, a number of meetings of the Committee were held to consider the evidence and deliberate on its findings. Officers of the Department were again closely associated with the Committee during this phase in an administrative and advisory capacity. The report of the Committee, comprising some 190 pages of printed matter, was presented to Parliament on 31st October, 1945. One of the major recommendations of the Committee is the setting-up of a permanent Commission on local government to carry out a survey of the problem of area and functions of local authorities and to draw up schemes for reorganization. Other major recommendations related to hospital rating, Native rating, rating on Crown lands, elections and membership of local authorities, subsidies, electricity charges, town and regional planning, and the recruitment and training of local-body officers. Owing to the late stage of the session at which the report was presented, an opportunity of the report being .debated in the House did not occur. It is anticipated that further action in connection with the report will be considered at a later stage.