H.B. LOCAL BODIES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 68, 13 December 1937, Page 7

H.B. LOCAL BODIES

Conference to Discuss Amalgamation Bill 'Early in tbe New Year a conference i* t0 be held of local bodies in the Hawke*s Bay district interested in tbe local body amalgamation proposals yith a vievy to arriving at some uniformity of opinion. before submitting evidence to the Bills Cbmmittee when Parliament resumes. The chairman of tbe Hawke'e Bay County Council, Mr. F.» B, Logan, at to-day's meeting of the council, ppinted' out that tbe Rivers Board proposed giving evidence opposing amalgainatiou. Some time ago the County Council, the Napier Harbour Board and th'e Hawke's Bay Fleotrio Power Board all passed resolutions favouring amalgamation. The questions now arose if a conference should be caKed to ascertain where the different bodies stood on the matter and rvhat evidence should be taken. Tbe County Council believed in tho principle of amalgamation, but oPposed compulsion. Mr. C. Lassen expjained tbat tbe Rivers Board did not oppose the principle and had takon steps already in that direction up to a certain point, Tho work o| the board was of quite a different nature from that carried out by th© council. ''Tho question appoars to be which of the local bodies wish tq amalgamate," saia Mr. C. C. Smith, "The Harbour Board5 s work Deing largely marine is out of our scope. In regard to the Power Board the Government has intimated that, eventually, it will nationalisq all power hoards.35 "Although we agroe with the principle of amalgamation, we would not take any such steps until the time is right,35 said Mr, Logan, in concluding the discussions.