AFTER FIFTY YEARS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 205, 18 November 1927, Page 14

AFTER FIFTY YEARS

SIR ROBT. STOUT STILL CONSISTENT RULE BY DISTRICT COUNCILS (THE SUN'S Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. The recommendation that during recess the Government should consider the need of remodelling local-government machinery in the direction of establishing district councils with wide powers over large areas, was made by the Legislative Council to-day on the motion of the Rt. Hon. Sir Robert Stout. Sir Robert urged that, as the cost of the departments of State has greatly increased in recent years, and numerous boards have been established for local government purposes, there is urgent need for greater economy, coupled with efficiency in the government of the Dominion. The Leader of the Council, the Rt. Hon. Sir Francis Bell, pointed out

that the remarks made by Sir Robert Stout earlier in the debate, that localbody salaries had increased to £ 18,000,000 annually, had created <a wrong impression. Sir Francis said that the amount mentioned included salaries and wages paid by local authorities and Government departments, including temporary employees’ wages. He did not think that it would be possible to bring about much reduction in salary bills. Districts would become too powerful under provincial government. Sir Robert had been a strong opponent of the abolition of provincial councils, and it was natural that he should be biassed in favour of a system which he had supported. The Massey Government had done a great deal to reduce the number of minor local authorities such as road boards, continued Sir Francis, and there had been a decrease rather than an increase in government within the counties. Sir Francis agreed that there were too many counties, but not enough to warrant drastic union on the basis suggested. In business capacity and a desire for economy New Zealand local bodies compared favourably with those of any other country in the world, and he knew of no local body that was overstaffed. “I hope and believe,” said Sir Francis, ‘‘that a remedy has now been found for the question of road maintenance, and I trust that new legislation will have the effect of confining borrowing for that purpose to reasonable limits.” .. No one could honestly say that the abolition of provincial councils bad led to efficiency and economy, said Sir Robert in reply. He regretted that he was the only one left of those who bad fought for the provincial system m 1874. All he asked for now was an inquiry into the question as to whether the Dominion could afford to go on as it was going at present. Sir Robert s motion was carried on the voices.