H—2B

26

Four objections to the provisional schemes were lodged, and after due consideration and a further inspection of the areas in the light of the objections it was decided to hold a further public inquiry on the 21st March, 1950, for the purpose of hearing evidence on the objections. The evidence concluded on the 22nd March, 1950, but the Commission's decision has not been finalized. (11) Wellington City : Hutt Valley Electric-power District Reference has previously been made to these local authorities under the heading of " Johnsonville Town District and Certain Areas in the Makara County " (pages 20-26). (12) Local Authorities in the Rural Areas of North Canterbury Reference was made in the Commission's report concerning the reorganization of Christchurch metropolitan local government to the effect of its findings on the four counties adjoining the City of Christchurch. As mentioned previously, an indication was given that as soon as possible after the issue of the final schemes providing for the reorganization of local government in the Christchurch metropolitan area an inquiry would be instituted relating to the local government in the rural areas surrounding Christchurch. The final schemes providing for reorganization- of the Christchurch metropolitan area were promulgated on the 21st September, 1949, and the inquiry into the question of the reorganization of rural local government in the North Canterbury region was commenced on the 27th September, 1949. Included within the scope of the inquiry were seventeen County Councils, two Town Districts, and a Water-supply Board—namely, Selwyn, Malvern, Paparua, Heathcote, Halswell, Springs, Ellesmere, Rangiora, Eyre, Oxford, Kowai, Ashley, Mount Herbert, Wairewa, Akaroa, Tawera, and Waimairi Counties, the Southbridge and Leeston Town Districts, and the Waimakariri-Ashley Water-supply Board. In reviewing local government in this particular region, the opportunity was taken to ascertain the historial developments which had taken place since the counties were first constituted in pursuance of the Counties Act, 1876, which made provision for the division of New Zealand into districts comprising sixty-three counties. In 1885 an amendment to the Counties Act was passed, repealing the provisions of the original Act in so far as the area and population of counties were concerned. Up to the time of the passing of this amending Act, new counties could not be less than 200,000 acres in area, and it was necessary that there should not be less than one hundred electors within the confines of the county. In passing, it is of interest to refer to the remarks of the late Sir Robert Stout, then the Hon. Robert Stout, when speaking on the amending Bill. He said : When I addressed the House in 1875,1 then pointed out that there was great danger in Parliament revolutionizing any institution, but that it ought to reform it and alter it and make it suitable to the wants of the country. When constituted originally, County Councils exercised over-all responsibility in their districts, and Road Boards undertook the construction and maintenance of internal roads and bridges in the local sense and also encouraged settlement in the county generally. The limitations of finance, the fact that counties had grown in strength, and the provision of easier access brought about by the internal development of roads by Road Boards were all factors contributing to the desire for the dissolution of Road Boards. With improved over-all access, it had become possible for County Councils and their staffs to supervise what were then relatively distant works and although Road Boards had carried out a most useful function, there was less need for their continued existence.