COMMITTEE OF ENQUIRY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 59, 23 March 1945, Page 5

COMMITTEE OF ENQUIRY

PROBLEMS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

? SITTING IN WHAKATANE

PA RLIA MEXT A RIA NS IX VESTI. (I ATE

The Parliamentary Committee -of Enquiry into Local Government problems sat in Whakatane for a limited period last Tuesday morning- when representatives of the Whakatang County and Borough Councils, Harbour and Hospital Boards, spoke together with delegates from the Opotiki Borough and •"County Councils. The Committee of Enquiry, which was presided' over by Mr M.P. -(Wellington South) y comprised the following' members: Messrs 1 Poison (Stratford) R. Coultt'r (Raglan), Anderton Massey (Franklin) and J. Broadfoot (Waitoma). The Hon. \V. E. Minister of Internal Affairs) was also present ; and the party wais introduced by Mr W. Sullivan, M.P. (Bay of Plenty). Responding to the Mayor's welcome the Chairman, Mr McKeen ) .-said that all members had been particularly impressed with the hospitality extended to them. The Committee of Enquiry had actually been split up into two sections, half travelling to -the South and half covering the North. To date, 95 per • cent of ail local bodies in the territqries they had passed through had ...given evidence. The Hon. W. E. Parry said that the Committee operated untler his department and was engaged Upon the task of enquiring into all local body problems. It was a constitutional and democratic method of -honestly endeavouring to bring about better harmony and co-operation. Whatever the outcome he. trusted that- the findings of the Committee would form a better basis for local Government in the future. The Committee had no political bias at all -and was only interested in the opin* ions which were pr t t forward. Mr W. Sullivan, M.P., said lie -welcomed the Committee as it indicated that the Government was prepared to profit, by the opinions of experienced local body men with long years of service to their crediti He hoped that the outcome would be a more concise and emphatic form of local government when the -Committee's mission was complete. Borough Hospital Rate The evidence for the Whakatane Borough was conveyed by the Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry, who said that whilst the Council was very satislied with the general structure of local government as it obtained, at -present, its main problem was the increasing hospital rate. He presented figures which showed the Borough hospital levy rising from £314 in 1932 to £1833 in 1944. On top of this he pointed out, the. extensive additions now in progress at the "hospital must bring further increases to the existing hospital rate. His Council favoured the stabilisation of the hospital rate at a figure prior to the introduction of Social Security and the balance found from the Consolidated Fund. He mentioned also the serious drain upon hospital ( finances by the treatment of outside ' patients in other board districts. This charge, he contended should be abolished. The stamping out of the disease of T.B. amongst the Maoris should also T>e regarded as a national responsibility and not thrust on to any individual board, Mr Barry said that his Council also favoured the retention of the Fire Board form of control over the local brigade, and urged also thai all petrol tax monies apart from the tax of 4d which was devoted to defence purposes should be spent or the roads, and not appropriated foi the Consolidated Fund. Borrowing in all instances should be submittei to the rateayers by poll before, pro. m -ceeded with. The question of stabilising the valuation in the Borougl •was also raised by the. speaker whe pointed out that at the present time the business section was carrying more than the whole of the residential area in rates. 5 A" period of friendly cross-ques-tioning followed in which sugges- . tions and questions were, put to Mi " Barry by all members of the Com mittee regarding hospital control transport facilities, and amalgama tion of local bodies. Mr Polsoi pointed out that in Wellington where the population exceedc:l lot thousand the City "Council adminis -etraled its own milk its own system, housing and elecPMtricity, together with all other ac. f -tivities which required civic authFor a little town like Wha jpkatane he wondered whether tliert

should not be more amalgamation amongst local bodies and a resultant saving of expenses. County's Representations Air J. L. Burnett stated that the Whakatane County Council's views coincided largely with those recently put forward by the Counties Executive in Wellington. He contended that the structure of County Council local government was an integral part of the community a.s a whole and could be extended to cover amenities such as sport and social activities. County Councils covered the primary producers as a whole and therefore were highly important. If it were possible to brighten life in the. country, Councils could play a big part, in preventing tho "drift to the town. A good deal of unrest was evident amongst the farmer-ratepayer regarding hospital rating, which his Council contended should be abolished. The Government should take control of past } present and future rating responsibility though he would not be averse to seeing the rate stabilised at the pre Social Security figure. At the present time the chaotic conditions, pertaining to all hospitals as a result of over-< crowding, staff shortage and the paucity of medical practitioners made it a most difficult subject to deal with. He considered that hospital boards would be relieved of a heavy responsibility if the Government would take over full control. He instanced how the Wliakatanc County rate had risen from 1/3 of a penny in to 1 7-8 pence in 1944. With the prospect of still further the hospital rate was becoming a burden which the primary producer could scarcely- afford to bear. "It is to be said Mr Burnett, "the unconstitutional methods which are being employed by certain sections of the community in order to attain their ends. Farmers take note of these things, and it has btten said to me that if these organisations are successful by using such ends it would appear that such was the only means whereby the farmers could obtain redress. We of the farming community have no time for such methods. They are bad! enough in peace time, and worse 1 in war. I hope the farmers will never sink so low as to use them # but I am just handing on to the Committee something of the opinions which have been expressed." Speaking of the Native Lands in the County/ and the problem of obtaining rates therefrom,, he contended that a classification system should be evolved upon which a rating basis could be built. This would comprise (a) Land capable of full production; (b) Land capable of semi-production—at half rates; and (c) Non-productive land which would be- nonrateablc. He suggested that a commission be set up to go into the whole question of Maori land rating, roading and social amenities. Mr Burnett also mentioned the fact that the Crown was not compelled to pay rates on Government owned land and instanced Galatea. Asked to enlarge on this latter point the speaker said that before the G6vernment took over Galatea, £15,000 were received in rates by the Council. After it became a Stateowned property } they were informed that rates would be paid when the area showed a profit. Since then, the Government had agreed to make a compassionate allowance of £700 annually in lieu of rates. Mr Coulter asked if the County Council was exercising to the lull 5 the powers it already possessed, such as the control of Domains, the introduction of the Country Library Service, and the construction of playing and camping areas. Mr Burnett stated that with regard to Ohope Beach the residents there considered that ' they would be better able to administer the Beach than the Council, and therefore were praying for the formation of a town board. Mr Coulter: W T hat do you say to including it in the Borough Council ? Mr Burnett: I understand the Borough would not favour it. Mr Coulter: What of rural housing'? Mr Burnett: A large section ol ratepayers are very much against it. Harbour Control Indicating the cheapness of the control of the Whakatane Harbour Mr W. R. Boon said that members' i fees only cost the ratepayers £75 annually. This apart from adminis- • trative cost was a particularly cheap ■ levy for the care and attention ■which was shown. The revenue totalled £8000 annually and the Board already had an accumulated reserve of six or seven thousand • pounds, which Avas earmarked for : uost-war undertakings. Tlie Board

eceived. approximately £3000 from wharfage and £1000 from rent. Hospital Problems Mr H. C. McCready (j for the Wha. vatane Hospital Board said that the mm of £2833 had been paid out in L 944 by the local board to other joartls for treatment of patients 'rom this district. This constituted me of the biggest problems which the Board had to lace, and he urged hat the greatest attention should )e given to this subject by way of e'ieving the smaller boards of the i-.'p.vy financial drain. He mentioned also the reformation of hospital listricts j instancing the pesition of 'iaiatea where a steady procession )f patients were treated in the Roto ua hospital which was actually than Whakatane. Mr Poison M.P., asked the speakt reaction to the. institution of i domiciliary system whereby patiIs could be treated by district nurses in their own homes. Mr Mcr/.eady replied that if such a scheme L'ouid be successfully introduced and t}ie minor cases treated in the [Hunes it would empty half the beds „f the hospital. Mr Poison: The question of hospital finance is a vexed one. Is your Board interested in an easier method such as by debt free money? Mr McCready: I'll answer you by asking "where does the money go in the winter time when the war ii over?' Mr Poison: That's parallel to the child's question 'why is a piece ol string?' In reply to Mr Coulter's question as to whether the Board would favour complete Governmental control and the Board reduced in status to that of a school committee, Mr Me. Cready said that it had no power: to speak of now. All it was thei'< for was to sign the cheques anc blow the money of the ratepayers There seemed to be no curbing o the issue. If money was wanted i was the Board's job to demand it The Board would have nothing t< lose if the Government financed th' institution and took over control. Opotiki Representations Messrs T. Johnson and W. A Gault for the Opotiki Borough am County Councils respectively t brief :y gave evidence which was mainl; along similar lines to that alread; submitted by the local speakers. At the conclusion, Mr Mclvee: thanked all present for the concis manner in which they had submit ted their various points. All woul be given the fullest consideratio and he trusted that the outcom would be a very fruitful one advar tageous to the Dominion as a whoh