TOO MANY LOCAL BODIES?

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19155, 11 November 1927, Page 7

TOO MANY LOCAL BODIES?

COST OF GOVERNMENT. SIR ROBERT STOUT'S PLAN. [THE PRESS Special S«rvics.] WELLINGTON, November 10. A proposal by Sir Hubert Stout for the substitution of district councils for the present multiplicity of local bodies was put forward in" the Legislative Council to-day and briefly discussed. Nr Robert .Stout moved: That the Council is of opinion that the Executive should, during the recess, consider the need of remodelling local Government niachinery in the direction of establishing district councils, with wide powers over large areas, so that cen.tralised Government and its growing cost may not be increased, but that real, economic, and efficient local seitgovernment may be promoted and strengthened." Sir Robert referred in detail, to the increased cost in administration of the departments of State, which he contended had grown out of ail proportion to the increase iji population. The local bodies of the Dominion were paying over £18,000.000 per year in officers' salaries. Sir Robert submitted that it was the duty of Parliament to take steps to check such waste of money in unnecessary administration. The abolition of the" old Provincial Council was a great mistake, but he did not advocate a return to that system.

The motion was seconded by the Hon. Mr Hanan, who advocated district councils, somewhat on the lines of the London County Council, with large powers. A committee of these bodies would be set up to deal with various public services. It was regrettable, that centralisation had been carried so far in New Zealand. Parliament should Be divested of Borne of its road board duties, and should function purely as a national legislative body. Sir James Allen said he felt that the cost of administration had increased a great deal more than it should have done, and lie thought a thorough examination should be made, before any alteration was made in the method of Government, into the cost of every Department of State, and into the cost and purpose of our loans. He hoped a full enquiry and a report in regard to general expenditure would be made. He questioned whether expenditure .would be reduced by the establishment of district councils on the lines of the Provincial Councils, by the amalgamation of local bodies.' It would do away with small local representation, which he considered was a necessary thing to some extent. The Hon. Mr Earnshaw said the Government had done much in recent years to reduce the cost of Government. In many instances, such as that of providing for main highways, Government expenditure was much more economical than local body expenditure. At this stage the debate was adjourned until to-morrow.