LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 273, 15 May 1912, Page 5

LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL

MORE OPPOSITION. By Telegraph—Press Association. .Dunedin, Yesterday. 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, Last Night. 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 wovfri- usurp the functions of other local bodies. Country districts "were now complaining about the heavy contributions for hospital and charitable aid, but if the Bill passed the amount would be increased threefold. Tho power given to the board in Wellington was absolute and excessive. A statement by Mr. Walker that the Bill in its present form should be absolutely opposed was applauded. Mr. Belcher moved that the meeting approve of the desire and efforts of the Government to simplify local government, and thai the requisite number of delegates be sent to Wellington to carry out the instructions given. He gave the framer of the Bill credit for an honest desire to simplify local government, and spoke in support of centralisation. Mr. Moller seconded the motion. A number of other speakers, whilst approving of local government reform, opposed the methods proposed in the Bill. An amendment approving of the desire of tho Government to simplify local government, but regretting that the Bill now proposed did not meet the requirements of the case, was carrried. The following delegates were appointed: Mr. J. Williams (Mayor) and Mr. J. H. AYalker (representing Dunedin), Mr. A. S. Orbell and Mr. 11. O'Neill (northern portion of the district), and Mr. 11. M. Driver and Mr. D. Stewart (southern portion).