THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1482, 3 July 1912, Page 8

THE HOUSE.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL. STATEMENT BY THE HON. G. W. RUSSELL. Introducing tho LVal Government Bill, which had been brought down by Governor's Message, Tlio Hon. G. W. RUSSELL (-Minister for Internal Affairs) said the Bill was a measure for tho purpose of introducing reforms in local government throughout tlio whole Dominion. Ho related how tlio Prime Minister hud introduced a Local Government Bill, and submitted it to a conference of local bodies. As a result of that conference, tlio Bill lnul been somewhat modified, but as it now remained it was tho expression of the opiuion of tho Government, Olio of the proposals of the late Prime Minister's Bill relating to tho re-establishment of provincial councils had been abandoned. Now there would remain only two forms of local government—by county councils in tho rural districts and by municipal councils in the cities. All the smaller local governing bodies such as read boards, town boards, river Ijcards, drainage beard?, and the like would be abolished., 'Ike central authority established by the Hill, the Local Government Board, would (insist of the Minister for Internal Affairs, the Undei'-S°ci'e(ary for Internal Affairs, the Under-Secretary foi; Crown ].ands, and the Valuer-General, three members would be appointed by the Governor, the Municipal Association, and the Counties' Association to nominate ono member each to the beard, It was proposed to reduce tlio number of counties in New Zealand, 11.*), by about onehalf, to not less than 50 or more than ];ti. This reduction would be carried out by a commission. He argued llutl a great deal i f money .'.light be saved by tho economies it would l>o possible to effect in administration of larger areas and larger revenues.

Limitation of Rating Powers. Thero would bo a limitation of the rutins powers of county councils, so that 110 couutv rates could exceed -ixpeucc in the pound. The system of roach- and hridpe..STanta by Parliament would bo abolished • ntirely. The ordinary subsidy to county councils would be continued, but tlier'o would also be special subsidies aV.otU'd to certain counties, according to their necessities, by i.tu> lon I fjoyonimeiit. Hoard. These special subsidies for .special works would bo at ilio rate of from as. to in the pound. Itwas expected that, a Mini of from A 100,1100 to .CnOO.Oflll would be Mifiicieiif for Parliament (0 appropriate annnallv for this purpose. Under tthe Hill, 'thero would be two kinds of loads, eounly roads and fiovcrument. roads, the latter boiiis in thn-e unsealed places where there would be no considerable ratcablo value. Provision jvai also made to ensure that

persons beforo being appointed as county clorks should pass an examination to ensure their efficiency. _J3y I his means it was hoped that counties would ho protected l'rom losses through incompetent clerks. Tho Bill also tnado some provision for (own planning. Certain areaa (o which thesa clauses should apply would be proclaimed, and tho scliemc of town planning would bo administered by the governing council. AH tho functions of town boards would bo discharged by tho county council, but it was thought advisable that in rising yillagcsjthcre should ljo something lo lake tho place of local governing bodies. What (ho Bill proposed was that there should he local committees with advisory functions only. He stated that the Government did not say that the Bill was the last word that could bo said about loc.il government, but it was at least n.n honest attempt to deal with reform of local government.

"A Good Deal of Opposition." Mr, E. NEWMAN (liangitikei) said that tho Minister had had a rather unfortunate experience with tho last Bill when ho brought it before the confereuco recently held, when most of tho important provisions wero struck out. Tho Bill as now introduced had nothing to do with education, municipalities, harbours, or hospitals. It proposed to wipe out town hoards, river hoards, drainage boards, domain boards, and cemetery boards; all tho comment ho wished to make about this was that tho Minister must bo prepared for a good deal of opposition. Ho differed entirely from tho Minister's opinion that these bodies were useless. For his own part he believed that tho nearer peoplo could be brought -to their local government, the better. Ho was also opposed to tho reduction of tho number of counties by one half; it seemed to him that this would make the counties so unwieldy as to 1m incapable of efficient administration. He asked whether members of tho Local Government Board would bo paid. The Premier's Views. Tho Hon. T. MACKENZIE (Prime Miri. ister) said the honourable member would admit that the Government had made au attempt to place before the House » l.ocal Government Bill' which would removo certain anomalies now existing. In some respects ho was not fatisfied that the Bill went far enough. For instance, ho thought local bodies should be better able to control noxious weeds in their districts,than tho central government. He was suro that there were too many local bodies in New Zealand, and ho asked members to lay aside parochial ideas, and unite with tho Government in bringing about some measure of reform.

Tiio Hon. G. W. RUSSELL said tliat ho recognised that there would bo opposition to the extinction o£ local todies anions the officers and members of those boards. Was tlio Ilouso prepared to riso abovo these local interests, and give tlio country a bettor form ot government? Iu reply to the question ho stated that- the only payment monitors of the Local Government Board would reocive would bo £2 per day for every day they wero eugaged in tlio board's business. A chairman of a county council, could receive by way of honorarium up to JJ'IOO per year. Tho Bill was read a first time. PACIFIC STEAMER SERVICE. THE AGREEMENT. Mr. H. J. H. OKEY moved: That there bo laid before tJiis House a copy of tho agreement entered into between tlio Union Steam Ship Company and /the Government of New Zealand in connection witu tho granting of a subsidy for tho Cana-dian-New Zealand service.

The PH IME MINISTER said ho doubted the wisdom of laying 6uch an agreement on the table of the House. Such negotiations wero necessarily delicate. He was perfectly willing to giro members privately any information they desired, but ho (lid not think it was wise to place such .shipping agreements on the table of tho House. -

Mr. James ALLEN (Bruce) said ho could not see fcho slightest objection to tho making of the agreement public, cspeciliccially as tlio Government of New Zealand paid .£20,000 n year to tho company by wav of subsidy. Mr. ,f. A. Young (Waikato) complained of New Zealand.shippers of goods to Canada being unable to get space 011 tho steamers trading from New Zealand to Canada. Ho stated that preference was given to Australian goods. Sir JOSEPH WARD (Awarna) said lio personally could sec no objection to tho making public of tho agreement. 1T« pointed out that it would be impossible for New Zealand to reserve the steamers for New Zealand produce for a subsidy of onlv ,£20,000 n year. Tho HON. T. BUXTON said that the trouble was really ono of pounds, shillings, <tnd pence. Tho company got 275. Gd. and 30s. per ton for Australian produce, and only 255. for New Zealand freights. A more satisfactory arrangement had now been made.

Tho PRIME MINISTER said he was willing if the House desired it to supply tho agreement. Tho motion woe carried.