The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, MARCH 19th, 1925. LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 March 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, MARCH 19th, 1925. LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

The annual statistical returns affecting local government- in the Dominion, show that on 31st. March of last year there were 529 local bodies in New Zealand, so that it will be seen the democratic voice can be heard very frequently in regard to local affairs. There were: Counties, 122; boroughs and cities, 118; town districts, 73; road districts, 41; river districts, 38; electricpower districts, 28; harbour boards, -11 ; land drainage districts, 53; water and supply districts, 5; city and suburban

drainage districts, 3; tramway districts, 2; local railway districts, 4; gas-light-ing district, 1. In addition there are hospital hoards, -14; Main Highway Councils, 18; Eire Boards. 37; Rabbit Boards 38. A study of the finance of local governing bodies from their incipient stages to the present time, reveals a process of evolution from n state of semi-independence on the Central Government to a stage where, with the exception of subsidies on rates and occasional grants for special works, all expense is borne locally, and local authorities at the present time bear the greater part of flic expense of their, nwn aetivites. The credit of the State is sull available for the benefit ol those local bodies requiring loans, and although much assistance is given as occasion arises, local bodies are to all intents and purposes, .self-supporting. The total gross debt of all local bodies on 31st March hist was £47,12iU39. The sinking fund and interest payments on this indebtedness was £2,789.(H 5. The growth of local body indebtedness has been considerable. ’lon years’ a <4o it was under £24,003.090, so within the doefide it has almost doubled its total. While ten years ago the rate per head on the annual loan charge was £1 0s lid, it is now £2 Is fid. In addition to the gross debt as above stated, local bodies however, bad authority at the time the return was compiled about a year ago, to raise an additional £12.150.288. Some idea is given as to local body revenue from particulars stiplicd ol ml os etc. rollcrted. Tile total of rates received was £ 1,445,029; licenses, £179,143; other taxes £133,947. The rate per head of ■the mean population of the Dominion collected was £3 11s Id. Ten years’ ago it was £1 18s lOd. This increase is due mainly to the rapid increase of the public indebtedness of local bodies, many of which have been raising money freelv over a considerable time now for public works. On the expenditure side the outgoings, show also remarkaide increase. In the last pre-war year the expenditure was £6,790.314. 'leu years later it had jumped to £16,520.950. This major sum was distributed as follows: Bublie Mocks, £12.031.580; Hospitals and Charitable Aid, £500,082; management, £833.115; interest (loans and overdraft) £2,290.773; other payments. £B6-3,400. The total number of employees on administrative and clerical staffs, was 2,911, the salaries being £070.987. The number of unskilled laborers was 10,220, drawing £3,687,127 in wages. The average earnings for the clerical division was £232 11s 2d, while for unskilled labor it was but slightly less—£227 7s Od. Local Government is now well established on a liberal basis, every aim being catered for. There lias I men in years past an agitation for the reform of local government, hut little is heard of it of Tate. Rather lias there been the disposition to add steadily to the number of local bodies by providing fresh branches and even creating new dis triets. The Mayor of Christchurch is the exception in being insistent for an overhaul of the local government scheme by reverting to the provincial system of the early Rays. This was the desire of the late Mr Seddon to a great extent. He spoke to that end shortly before leaving Xew Zealand for Australia on his last trip, and intimated he purposed trying a measure of reform applicable to the whole colony, to lie tried out first in Westland, where there was to lie fusion of local bodies, reducing the number, and giving the district council a better status and more assured revenue. That did not come to pass, but with the growing number of local bodies all through the country, it will not be surprising if in the near future, other voices will he raised with that of the Mayor or Christchurch in asking for practical reform. There are schemes in the pigeon holes in Wellington where Hon G. W. Russell and others liad definite proposals in mind. Some day when the growing number of local bodies will form a congestion, and crowded financial difficulties will arise as the result of rio much local borrowing, there will he a more insistent demand for reform. a „d force of circumstances may cause it to come to pass.