WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 July 1933, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

MERGING -LOCAL BODIES

THE MAYvit’S WAY

(Special Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, July 21. Tfie delegates to tho National Council of the New Zealand Legion who met in the capital city yesterday to discuss the future advancement of their organisation, must have- been a little surprised when they read in this morning’s paper of- a movement in the Wairoa district which appears to have anticipated one of their ea-liest intentions. Among th©. many-'reforms-that have been urged by the legion is one to dispense with the multitude of local bodies scattered all over the country and; to replace them by consolidated bodies capable of all the adjoining, disricts. This is exactly what Hr IT. L. Harker the Mayor of Wairoa, and his councillors have set themselves about, and it looks as if thev would have the Support, not only of the electors of the district, but aliiO' of the Ministers of the Crown who have- been approached in' connection with the matter. There are -now six ' local bodies operating in the Wairoa district, the Wairoa Borough. Council; the Wairoa County Council; the W litre a Electric Board ; the Wairoa. Harbour Board; the Wairoa Hospital Board and the Whakaki -Drainage -Board!• Representatives of each of these local hodicir met last week and unanimously decided that a i regional council should be set up to replace the existing bodies. The piovisions suggested are,' among others, that councils should consist of no I fewer than six’ -nor--more Than twelve members; that the members of the I council should he- elected by the decs | tors of the whole district; that oounj callers should hold office for three ■ years, and that councils appoint a paid chairman from among their number oc from outside at their discretion, lAH members of the six local bodies I are to meet on August 8, next to ! ascertain if sufficient support is then being given to their proposals. ■ Discussing his proposals in detail with- a representative of the morning' paper, Mr Harker; staled that the j area it was .proposed to, cover would * embrace the combined local bodies coinciding with tlie regional area sug- , gestedH) V the town-planning, authorities. All local bodies involved in I the scheme- were covered by the area j now controlled by: the Wairoa County j Council and the Wairoa 'Borough Cotmc;it That, the mayor urged, was one j of the reasons why those- supporting ’ the scheme considered there was a ! splendid opportunity of bringing it jto fruition. Whether or not My Hat'leer is aspiring rn high as are Dr Campbell Begg and his colleagues remains 1 taHtt’A’jcT-nT'-hrrtr-fTmn - alT■"■accounts the j Mayor c-f Wairoa is obtaining mora attention from the members of the Cabinet at tho present time- than are the prominent figures in the Now Zealand Legion, whom, for the most part, are not looking for favours just now. 1 The IT-on. J. A. Young, the Minister 'of Internal Affairs, always courteous to both political friend and political opponent, «ont Mr Harker away with a very confident vision of tlie future of J Wairoa. ' The Minister had let him | know that immediately the department received 'a definite decision on i the final scheme from each of the local Bodies involved, and from the combined meeting of members of local bodies, the department would arrange to have the necessary legislation drafted. Mr Young, as war, his wont, had ! expressed his pleasure at the way the , matter had been taken up and had 1 stated that Wairoa was to be congratj ulated on the enterprise it had shown J in taking steps to reduce the number 1 of local bodies and the present heavy expense to the ratepayers. It is only due to tlie Minister of Internal Affairs to reiterate that he is one of the most prompt and courteous members of the Cabinet. ' : ; • 4