The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, MAY 1st., 1925. MUTUAL HELP.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 May 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, MAY Ist., 1925. MUTUAL HELP.

In the course of his .sp>ee<h while unveiling a tablet at Lower Ilutt the other day the Minister of Public Works made a timely remark when lie stressed the necessity for closer co-operation between local bodies and the Government. Apart from what might he termed local differences there has not been any serious disruption between local authorities and the State, hut the numbers of differences that do arise, even of a more or less petty nature, lead one to think that a closer co-ordination of political activities, local and national, could be desired and would prove in the public- interest. The principle involved has always been recognised as indispensable to the welfare of any organisation, and its application to the local politics of this country would have its advantages. Regarding any new statutory enactments affecting local Government, with the multiplicity nf petty interests involved, there are almost invariably complaints as to the inequality ot the provisions as applied individually. This has been strongly exemplified of late with regard to the recent legislation affecting reading ami relative activities. It is only right, and to be expected that certain inequalities should be brought before the notice of the powers that he; but the qnes-

tion arises as to whether a number ol such differences are not the result of undue parochialism, in the cloud of which is hst the main i.--ue. ami the wider application in width it is nte n dei I to operate. Il i.s only natural that each individual locality should d. sire in protect its own interests, h it would lie an impossibly cumbersome hu.siliess to ineorjiorate in each statute provisions to meet ca h and every petty grievance. In the up ration of almost every statute ;,l the nature riTorred to a certain amount ol elastiiity is permitted to meet partieiilar requirement judged ip on their individual merits As the pruha.lile' outcome of ronros. nt:i t ions recently made to the Main Highways Hoard l>v many boroughs. .regarding the maintenauce i:l main highways in boroughs. tlm hoard lias ii pail ad ipled this at lit udo. A iln et co-operation between local comnimiitie.-

| I interest would tend ai cLinina: lIMIV petty liill'ei'em es. ami at tin same time would add more weight to

an e- that might arise. In the Mail Highway* A. i ami tlm Main lligliv .-v-i Hoard we have 'a dietin' t step towards <•!' or . <i-i pc: alii n lint Ii he! w oen t lie local Is dies ill: 111-elves, and Lejworli hva! aii tlmril ies and the State. The district highway <.mmils have lien instrumental in i o-orilinataiig the loading inteia.sts of t on.-iderahly larger areas than combine in other phase- ol lo,a| Government. ami the result lm.s been the elimination of petty paro l;ialism w Itieh would militate agailtst the smooth operation of the measure. A direct link between the local bodies and the State is provided by the Main Highways Hoard, and for this reason alone, apa.it from its value as a leading authority, tile hoard may tie considered an im|ortant factor in the geneera I administration. This centralisation of loading interests would sifso appear to lie | raelieahle to a great extent with regard to lot ai government activities generally. While it must he letogiiised that ceiitrali- alien carried to excess may prove cumbersome, yet too detailed <|t" entrali.sat ion must militate again, -t the ellii ion: yof the ..system of local government individually and in general. In various parts of the totnitry we Ii m I iiisignilieant local bodies administering small areas, collecting a few hundred pounds in rales, probably insufficient to pay the cost of efficient service. Some degree of centralisation of administration would appear to he the best ret nurse in such cases. Amalgamation of several contiguous Miiali communities, either amongst thomeelvei or with a larger adjacent body, would doubtless enable them, says an exchange. to .stand the ex) cn.se of ellieiont administration for the whole amalgamated territory. A ease in point is the proposal for the amalgamation of road hoards in the Ashburton county. The Kangitnta road distric t recently set the example by merging into the county, and paying £lOOll into the country funds. The county council has arranged that this sum will he spent on the roads in the merged district. There are numliers of other instances to suggest that the creation, within reason, of larger communities of interest would be a mutual advantage, and such would follow the trend of modern progressive development.