LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 18, 20 October 1944, Page 2

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

PRESENT FORM FAVOURED COUNTY CONFERENCE DECISION Whether or not the present sys-< tem of local government should remain Avas one of the questions discussed by representatives of ten counties meeting ini conference at Tauranga last week. Their opinion was in the affirmative as far as the present county council system was concerned. Matters under review included questions dealing with the general structure of local government reconstruction in the number and functions of local bodies special prob-i lem of Fire Boards hospital control and expenditure, local body finance, membership and elections.

The convenor was Mr J. L. Burchairman of the Whakatane County Council and a member of the executive of the Counties' AssoCounties represented were Rotorua, Thames Haura'ki Plains Ohinemuri Piako Mala-

* 9 5 Opotiki and Whakatane,

In his opening address Mr Burnett said that he had-asked the executive of the Counties' Association to convene the meeting and the re.-

suit of the deliberations would be sent to Wellington.

He explained that a Select. Com- 1 mittee had been set up in connection with local body reform, and its intention was to meet and take evidence from council members' or even the ratepayers themselves; He. thought the meeting would agree that the question was an important one.

At the conclusion of the business the chairman said he was pleased to have had an opportunity to meet in conference. It was the first, time that such a conference of county councils had ever been held.