MERGER PLAN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 105, 20 May 1937, Page 6

MERGER PLAN

MINISTER'S OUTLINE Nafioual Viewpoint As Guiding Principle PROVISION S OF THE BILL A most favourable reception of the scheme for local-body amalgamation proposed by the Hon. W. E. Parry, Minister of Internal Affairs, was accorded by members of the Hawke's -Bay County Council at Napier this morning. Mr. E. B. Logan, chairman of the Hawke's Bay County Council, pTesided, and the following membeTS were present; Messrs. W. Tucker, S. Palmer, E. H. Beamish, S. Bennett, M. S. Chambers, C. C. Smith, E. Harding, C. Lassen v and N. P. Eriksen. Mr. A. Dinnie, xeaident engineer of •the Public Works Department, was aleo present. The Minister said that he believed that the stage had been reached when one of the guiding principles in localbody government should be the consideration of the national viewpoint. It . was true that he had held the Hawke 's Bay county to be a model both in rataag and size. When his case for amalgamation was made out he expectcd criticism, but he hoped that it would be conefcructive and not just a blank negative. The Minister said that he was not going into the pros and eons of what had happened in the past. He was not concerned with the failure of past Goveraments from which he had profited. He was concerned only. with the job that had to be done. The question of more efficient localbody contrql in New Zealand was a na- , iional one, explained the Minister. The' Bill which he had brought before the House, and which he claimed was an •ffective Bill, had met with little criticism. He was seeking the co-operation of the county councils and local bodies in Ms object. He was strongly of the opinion that local-body government s&ould be an integral part of the national government. -"In Good Company." •*I have been criticised as bexng a Hitler,' ' said the Minister, "I .woul.d like to point put that the resolution passed by the council in 1933 went xurther than my Bill, eo 1 am in good company this morning. "X was asked by the local bodies for a lead and gave it," continued the Minister, ' 'and at is very strange to see that, although when they lirst met they agreed with amalgamation, because none of them would defend the status quo, they all say that it should not appiy 'to them. Mere am I, travelling xnrough New Zealand to find the bocty that needs amalgamation, and 1 can't find it! Is it fair to agree in principle to amalgamation and then make qualifications that make it iinpossible." # Tho conquest of distance was one of thp strongest considerations for amalga-matio-i, he continued. In older .days it had been necessary that there should be 8maller units of government in order -to keep toueh. Nowadays, however, communication could be established in less time for five or six .counties than in older days with a host of counties. The question was a natiorfal one. All subsidi^ to local bodies came from the Oonsolidated Fund or. in other words, from the people of the whole County. In case of storm, wind, or earthquake damage, relief was also given from the Consolidated Fund. Theref ore the Minister emphasised that - if a referendum were to be taken on the subject he would not permit a series of them, but a national xeferendum. Local-body government took a parochial and not a national outlook, although the time when the work was a hobby had - long sinee passed and it was now a serious duty. CQmmending the work of the members, he added that at could as well be done for a large as for a small county. It was found, however, that some of the older members had not sdapted their minds to modern times. * Efficiency it the Aim. 'Ihe basis of tbe Bill is efficiency in loeal-body government, that they should be an effective organisation with an effeetxve voice," added Mr Parry. "Put your- house in order, and Tfchat is the advice that I give to all local bodies in the county. Plans may then be made further ahead, producing a continuity of work. It is well known that counties have often laid down roads without consideration for neighbours. This would be obviated by amalgamation. And, last but not least, by virtue of having a larger area, you, may utilise modern machinery to tbe fuli. . "The problems of the country, such as river erosion and the llooding of lowlying areiia, must engiage your very serious attention. We want local-body machinery that will be able to act with the Government — to face up to the job and do it. We want a- local body that can speak witb tbe voice of the authonty of its people. "Amalgamation " is not compulsory under tbe Bill excepfc by order of the conrb when the bodies refuse to act — the Court on which your own representatives will sit. The court will consider 'all the evidence, and if that is for the amalgamation all the privileges of the various bodies will be incorporated in tho new body. Surely, under democratic government, we can bave notbing better than .that? I want to help, and not to retard, progress." In conclusion, the Minister reviewed past attempts at amalgamation, and asked for fbe co-operation of tbe county in forwarding a plan that was to the good of the wbole country.