Amalgamation of Local Bodies

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 29, 28 October 1937, Page 3

Amalgamation of Local Bodies

rPress Ssaooiation.*

BILL INTRODUCED Power ior the Minister to Prepare Mergers VOLUNTARY SCHEMES

t (By TelegrapS-

WELLINGTON, Last Night. 1 With the object of reducing the num- ' ber of local authorities in the Dominion the Local , Government Amalgamation Sehemes Bill was reintroduced in the House by Governor-General 's message to-day. * The original Bill "Was intro* duced right at the end of last sessionand circulated primarily for the pur* pose of public information. The new measure embodies all the principles of last year's proposals, the principal changes arising out of technicalities in law-drafting. ' Uuder the proposals it will be possible to prepare amalgamation schemes for all classes of local authoriti.es e.xcept hospital boards. The Bill provides for the preparation of amalgamation schemes by or on. behalf of local. bodies, the aims of any scheme being set out as fellows: Union into one dmtrict of two or more adjoin-i ing districts, merger of a district with another district, transfer of the functions of one local authority to another, alterations in boundaries and conversion of,.a. district into a district of a different kind.. Local bodies may prepare their own amalgamation*.schemes volunfcarily or they may be instructed to do so by the Minister of Internal Affairg. In any case where amalgamation is held to be desirable and local bodies do • not cooperate in the matter the .MinisterJ himaelf may. have an amalgamation 'scheino prepared. . Every scheme must be publicly notified, copies must be sent to the local bodies affected- and full opportunity must be given for objections to "be made. Where several districts are concerned cwith one scheme one of them may be appointed a principal local authority for the purpose of attending to the various machinery measures associated with tho amalgamation. Whether the scheme.i have been prepared voluntaiily or xiot the Minister may decide in the absence of objectiona that they shall come into ' operation, 0? else if further inquiries seem necessary he may ref er them to a special tribunal - to be appointed under the title of the Local Government Amalgamation Scheme Commission. This is to consist 'of a permanent chairman, an officer of the Public Service and a nominee of the local bodies concerned in the partieulai scheme before the Commission. If any local authorities are unable to make a unanim-ous choice of a repfesentativc , the Minister is empowered to seleci their nominee providing he appoints a person with a local, knowledge of the districts to be affected. The Commission is given full power to review all schemes submitted and to suggest to the Minister any necessary modifications or, amendments. Objections brought forward at inquiries held by the Commission must be supported by evidence. After a report has been received from the Commission the Minis.ter is required to send copies to the local authorities affected and to pnblish notices in tha newspapers setting forth the recommendations of the Commission. Thereafter the only objections which can be made to the recommendations must be on the grounds that specified matters have not ' been given sufficient consideration. If necessary the Minister may Tequire the Commission to make a revised or supplementary report or else he may dispose of the ' objections without referring th-bm to the Commission. The final report of the Commission must also be notifled. Various clauses in the Bill outline the procedure to be follo'wed *in giving effect to amalgamation scheme3 wiich have been finally approved and the Minister is given power to determine the apportionment of the costs involved. The special provision enabling County Councils to absorb smaller local bodies within their own areas are retained inthe Bill and there is power to appoint* a special commission of inquiry to report on any matter affecting local government.

The Minister Explains.

Hon. W. E. Parry, in introduciug^he Bill, said the leader -of the Opposition had asked him if there was any com- ' pulsion in the Bill. The principle of the measure was to a' large extent based on the Act passed by the last Government providing for the amalgamation of hospital boards. To that extent the Bill had compulsion but as he had pointed out ho did not believe there was any compulsion at all. The Bill provided for the amalgamation of local bodies, a subject which had been talked about for the last 30 or 40 year3 but concerning which nothing had been done. The member for Riccarton had asked if il were t'he intention of the Government that the Bill, should be referred to a committee. He -could assure them thal this was so. It would be referred to s special committee of the House. The Bill, he said, was substantialh the same as that introdhced last yea: and provided for a reduction • in tht number of local bodies of whieh then were '700 in the Dominion. The onlj alteration in the Bill was in law drafts manship. It had been made wide enougl to embrace all local bodies in New Zea land with the exception of hospita". boards. If all agreed that amalgamatioi was necessary something should be dont about it and someone had to initiati the movement. He referred to the ap gointment of & tribunal- cr commiasiot

to hear objections. Buch tribunal, lie said, would have a permanent chairman, probably a Supreme Court Judge. The Minister continued that he had asked local bodies to, submit schemes which might be better than his !and if they were he was prepared to give them consideration. Reverting to the question of compulsion, Mr. Parry said there was, in his opinion, no compulsion at all iu the Bill, but it gave an opportunity for Teachingnnality on a very vexed question. Why should a beerinning not be made now, he asked. There was no nocespity i'ot hurry, but at leasfc a start coQld be made on a solution of the problem. Mr. Coatee.continued that the committee should have sufficient welght to lufiuence the Minister on the matter. Mr. Parry: I. have heard a lot of views on the subject already. . Mr. Coates: That is just the point. Is it fair to let a Minister loose on tho country and for him to form his conclusions on the matter before he meets the committee. I know he is a very fairminded man indeeo. " Mr. Parry: Is that a fair thing to say? Does the honourable member consider it fair that I have gone to local bodies and asked their opinions on amalgamation? Mr. Coates: I have said the Minister was very fairminded, and all I wanted to know is has the Minister an opeu mind on the subject. Mr. Parry: I have given that assur•,ance both hero and in Whangarei, Bill vu xcird a ffrst tim««