OVER-GOVERNED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 591, 24 July 1933, Page 4

OVER-GOVERNED

A message from Wellington published last week contained the information that the New Zealand Legion had passed a resolution congratulating Mr. Harker, Mayor Gf Wairoa, upon his important work in assisting national recdnstruction. The' task whicb Mr. Harker is attempting is the amalgamation of the many local bodies which are operating in his district. The population of Wairoa county and borough totals 8000 yet the administrative work is done by a borough council, a county 'council, an electric power board, ' a hospital board, a fire board, and a harbour boardi It is obvious that the work could be handled as efiiciently as it is now by a body controlling the various'undertakings that are dosely related to the life of the community. This instance of unnecessarily di'vided contrbl 'is no "different from that of many other parte of the Dominion. It has jbecome abundantly evident'of recent years that New Z'e'aland is over-governed. There are too many loca} bo4ies piling up admi'nisti'ative costs and heaping up burdens upon the ratepayers." This multiplicatibn of controlling bodies is becoming an expensive luxury and Parlia-

v V -• » . - ■ - ' ' 1 ment in its search for economies woiild find an excellent field fof investigation in this quartef. In days gone by whdii distficts' wei-e more isblated and the ihdahs df transport and communication were limited there was some'legitimate fixbuse for the creatidn of local controlling |jodies. But times have changedI:"ahd it "is 1 possible now to'e'xercise effective ! administration dver very rnuch wider areas and at the same time give a full meastire of attention to district needs. Indeed," it is j generally recogiiiSed that a judi- j cious grouping of local bodies | would not only affeet an enormous saving in administrative costs but give a gfeater me^sure of efficiency.