LOCAL BODY COMMISSION

Chronicle (Levin), 17 April 1947, Page 3

LOCAL BODY COMMISSION

MR. G. A. MONK ONE OF MEMBERS APPOINTED WELLINGTON, April 1G. The Miiiister of luternal AJi'airs, Hon W. E. Parry, anuounced toiiiglit tliut the foilowing had beeii appointed to the Local Government Oommiasion purusaut to the Local Government Commission Aet, 19-1(5 : — ' Mr. 1. J. Goldstiue, O.B.E., Mayor of Oue Tree." Llill, had beeu appointed eliairmau of the Commission. ' ' Mr Goldstiue 's wide experieuce of loeaJ government problems, together with his extensive legai traiuiug, iit liiui adequately for sueh a judicial post as ehainuau which earries with it a status equivalent to that of a judge of the Supreme Court, " said Mr. Parry. The second member appointed by the Govcrnment is Mr. W. 0. E. George, of .Rotorua. Mr. George was some years ago Mayor of Huntly in which position he was responsibie for many of the irnprovements in that town. He was also a proininent member of the Municipal Association.

The other two members nommated by the national associations of the local bodies and appointed by the govcrnment, are Mr. J. W. Andrews, Mayor of Lower Hutt and president of the Municipal Association and Mr. G. A. Monk, chairman of the Horowhenua Oounty Council, who is also a very prominent member of the Counties Association. "The Commission, ' ' said Mr. Parry, "is a very strong body and should eommand the confidence of every one who has the well being of local government in New Zealand at heart. The members have biven long and valued services in local bodies throughout the Dominion and all have proved in their national associations that they have that wide vision necessary to enable them* to undertake the onerous work of the commission. "The setting up of this commission marks a milestone in the constitutional history of the Dominion," added Mr. Parry. "For over fifty years Parliament has tried to produce some method of dealing with what is recognised as one of the most difficult problems in the Dominion. We now have a non-politi-cal body in the form of a judicial Commission presided over by one who has the status of judge, charged with the duty of so reorganising the local government structure of the Dominion that it will be able to earry out effectively the heavy tasks that lie before it in the nostwar world."