The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, AUG. 23rd, 1939. LOCAL BODY REFORM

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 53, 23 August 1939, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, AUG. 23rd, 1939. LOCAL BODY REFORM

THE above topic, which raged so violently a few months ago, and which has been a subject of discussion in the Dominion for many years, is still on the horizon. The Hon. W. E Parry, Minister for Internal Affairs, assured the Counties' Conference at Wellington last week that the bill providing the amalgamation was now receiving the closest consideration of the Government. It would appear from the Minster's subsequent remarks that in his opinion the time is now ripe for action. The necessity for reform has been widely admitted, and all that is wanted is the taking of the final plunge. Just how this should be accomplished appears to be the chief cause of delay, and until this is decided no improvement is likely to be effected in a sphere in which there is excellent opportunity for achieving reform. Consolidation in local body adminstration admittedly would cause some heart-burning, because it would mean interference in a system which has prevailed and extended over a long period of years, but if by amalgamations and consolidations a more efficient and less expensive system of local government could be constructed, it should be to the benefit of the ratepayers concerned. The matter has been toyed with for so long that it is time something definite was decided upon; it should either be bodly faced or dropped altogether. The need for economy in local body adminstration is being constantly referred to. The bill whiqh the Dominion pays in that connection is an enormous one, and the chief merit of efficient amalgamation should be the opportunity for economy which it presents. Parochialism has been one of the big drawbacks of the past, and that is not yet been overcome. On the ground of efficiency, combined with economy, amalgamation possesses possibilities,, but the preservation of present control is not likely to be surrendered by some districts without strenuous Apposition 'should their pride of possession be disturbed and their opportunity for administration curtailed.