H—2B

30

In some instances the values were last revised as far back as tlie years between 1935 and 1939 and must therefore be regarded as being out of date. It is our opinion that the rateable values of Groups 1 and 3 will, on revision, approximate £5,000,000. Prior to the inquiry being held, the various County Councils conducted meetings: to consider the question of submitting schemes for reorganization. These meetings were convened either by Ward 11 of the Counties Association or by certain groups, of counties. Except in the case of seven County Councils —Waimairi, Paparua, Halswell, and Heathcote on the one hand, and Selwyn, Malvern, and Tawera on the other —no agreement was reached. At the inquiry the Chairman of the Ellesmere County Council submitted on behalf of his Council, a scheme for the union of the Ellesmere, Springs, Halswell, and a portion of the Paparua County, and also expressed the opinion that Heathcote could also be administered in conjunction with t*he group. This union, however, conflicted with the scheme of union which had been agreed upon by the four counties of Halswell, Heathcote, Paparua, and Waimairi. The Chairmen of the Waimairi and Halswell County Councils expressed the opinion that their Councils would be prepared to include the Springs County in the group comprising Halswell, Heathcote, Paparua, and Waimairi Counties. The representatives of the Selwyn, Malvern, and Tawera Counties were in entire agreement as to the union of their counties, and the manner in which their submissions were presented, together with the observations which were made regarding the factual and representation aspects, indicated that very thorough consideration had been given to this proposal. The Chairman of the Malvern County Council indicated that consideration had been given to the question of the inclusion of a small portion of the Paparua County, which adjoins the Malvern County, and the three counties in this group indicated their agreement to this proposal. The counties of Akaroa, Mount Herbert, and Wairewa, situated on Banks Peninsula had not reached any agreement in regard to reorganization either inter se or with the whole or portions of other adjoining counties. We were of the opinion that the full effects of reorganization, particularly such matters as economies which might be effected, the benefits to be obtained from the employment of a qualified resident engineer, or the acquisition and combined use of suitable types of plant, had not been fully explored. The Chairman of the Mount Herbert County Council stated that, while his Council was. not altogether in favour of amalgamation, should the Commission conclude that it was desirable, it held the opinion that there should be one county for the whole of Banks Peninsula. This witness expressed the opinion that Banks Peninsula was an entity, historically, geographically, and geologically, and also from a farming point of view. It was stated further by this witness that in his county there were fewer problems than in the other counties on the Peninsula, while the rates were lower than in the other two counties. The union of the Mount Herbert County with any other district or districts would be, in the opinion of this witness, advantageous to such other districts. The five counties north of the Waimakariri River—Ashley, Eyre, Kowai, Oxford, and Rangiora— had not reached any agreement as to a scheme of reorganization, but here again it appeared to us that there had been no collective interchange of factual information, and the position had not been thoroughly explored from the point of view of the advantages which we consider would inevitably accrue from a scheme of reorganization. The Chairman of the Eyre County Council indicated that although his Council was satisfied with the status quo, if the Oxford and Rangiora County Councils were prepared to consider a scheme of reorganization, his Council was prepared to give the matter further consideration. The Councillor representing the Rangiora County Council stated that his Council preferred the retention of the status quo, but should some form of reorganization be considered necessary, his Council considered that the five counties in this portion of the North Canterbury region should be united. In putting forward