LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 15, 15 May 1912, Page 5

LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

MORE OPPOSITION TO THE BILL

(Per Press Association.)

Dunedin. May 14

The Bruce County Council adversely criticised the Local Government Bill, the general opinion being that county councils desired no such drastic changes as proposed.

OTAGO VIEWS. Dunedin, May 14. A meeting of representatives of local bodies in Otago was held to-day to select six delegates to proceed to the conference in Wellington concerning the Local Government Bill. Mr. J. S. Walker, who presided, said that as chairman of the Hospital Board, he considered the Bill in its present state a decided infringement of the powers of local bodies. It would give them very little representation, and add very much to their liabilities. The Board in Wellington would usurp the funet'ons of other local bodies. Country districts were now complaining about the heavy contributions for hospital and charitable aid, hut if the Bill passed the amount would he increased threefold. The power given tr the Board in Wellington was absolute and excessive. A statement by Mr. Walker that the Bill in its present form should he absolutely opposed was applauded. Mr. Belcher moved that the meeting approve cf the desire and efforts of the Government to simplify local government, and that the requisite number of delegates he sent to Wellington to carry out the instructions given. He gave l the framer of flic Bill credit for an honest desire tr simplify local government, and spoke in support of centralisation. Mr. Molier seconded the motion. A miniher of other speakers, whilst approving of local government reform, opposed the methods proposed in the Bill. An amendment approving of the desire of the Government to simplify local government, hut regretting that the Bill now proposed did not meet the requirements of the ease, was carried. The following delegates were appointed:—Air. J. Williams Mayor), and Mr. J. H. Wall cor (representing Dnnod'n), Mr. A. S. Orhell and Mr. H. O’Neill (northern portion of the district), and Mr. H. M. Driver and Mr. D. Stewart (southern portion).