Towns' Conference

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 46, 10 March 1937, Page 9

Towns' Conference

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PROBLEMS AHEAD Hon. W. E. P-arry's Opening Address TOWN-PLANNING SURVEY

(By Tolegraoh-

TIMARU, Last JNigiit. The municipal conference opened to-night, delegafces being welcomed by the Mayor (Mr P. C. Yinell). The Minister for Internai Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, delivered a long address, covering a great deal of ground. He said the Government had . tackled the housing problem as vigorously as local resources would allow. Negotiations for the purchase of tracts of eland in nearly every important centre wero under way and some purchases had been made. The Government was working in co-operation with local bodies and would not be content until every family had a proper horne to live in. The Minister referred to town planning, stating that they were aiming at towns 'being properly planned. The mistakes of the past would not be allowed to occur again. He proposed to institute a comprehensive survey of New Zealand with the idea of providing data on which local government could work more efficiently. The survey would involve a great deal more than mere physical and geographieal features. Problems of trends of population, regional distribution and immigration, public welfare, problems of health, Tecreation and the possibilities for the effective utilisation of leisure must find a place in the survey. What had been aeeomplished so far was but indicative of what they would do if given the opportunity and if all the interests would pull together. Dealing with loan finance, the Minister quoted figures setting out the position and referred to the debt conversion operations of local bodies. He went on to speak about the reorganisation of - local government qnd said' that the problem of reconstructing local bodies whichv was the first step in real local government reform was of direet application to the future life and wellbeing of the citizens. The whole object of the Bill, he said, ' was to reduce the number of local bodies with a view to creating bigger and more satisfactory local government units. He welcomed constructive criticism and already he was able to see several avenues for improving the Bill. Since the Bill was circulated last year, a steady stream of correspondence from local authorities and the public had flowed into his office on the proposals and very encouraging were the opinions expressed. It was clear that the .whole scheme of the Bill was xightly viewed a»s being one to set the foundation and the way for modernising a system of local government to bring together a number of local bodies which, unitedj could do better and more efficient administrative work for the Dominion than was possible under the exfsting system to-day. That was the cardinal aim of the Bill. He had cause to feel pleased, that it was being considered in that light. i Mr Parry said that his mission sonth was largely to consult with local bodies on the amalgamation proposals. "I ' want to diecuss with them the principal features o£ the Bill, to receive their views and suggestions, and their in* vitations to m© tQ do so were readily accepted." Continuing, Mr Parry said be had been twitted a good deal lately that he and the Minister for Public WoTks werfc working in opposite directions. He had been told Mr Semple's ntterances of his intentionS for a roading policy and river c'ontrol were simply aiming at centralisation and he had been told that they were taking the backbo'ne out of local government.' To this he gave an emphatic denial. He

and Mr Semple were working in exactly the same direction and they hac agreed on this all along. The Minister referred to the Centen nial and the Coronation and to the na tional conference regarding tree plant 1 ing, and concluded by stating that h would watch the progress of the con ference with great interest.