LOCAL BODIES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 276, 14 April 1913, Page 2

LOCAL BODIES.

TOO MUCH OVERLAPPING. Last year there were considerable increases in the amounts levied upon the .Sew Plymouth Borough Council by the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid iioard, and the New Plymouth, Fire Board. The matter is reviewed by the [Town Clerk in his annual report in the [ fjollovriing strain:—"The Hospital and ! Charitable Aid levy increased from £305 17s 9d to 1503 5s 7d. Approximately ! £4O 12s 8d of this increase was due to I the inclusion of the Fitzroy area in the I borough, but allowing for this, there was still an increase amounting to 1 £97 5s 2d per annum, this being due to I the rate being increased from 8d to ! lOd in the £IOO. The Council is also faced with the probability of a much greater increase, in view of the erection of the new hospital. These figures do j'not include the amounts levied in the j St. Aubyn and Hurworth areas, the I former of which was paid from monies i taken over from the St. Aubyn Town Board and the latter levied by the Board [ upon the Taranaki County Council. The I Fire Board Levy increased from £229 to £504 0s Bd, and in this case also the Council is faced with the probability of a heavy contribution towards the erection of a new fire station and the purchase of new plant. "This system of levying contributions by one local body on another local body 1 is, in my opinion, most undesirable. For I instance the fire boards raise their funds I by levies on borough councils and insur- ; ance companies, who have very little control over the expenditure. Borough ! councils have representatives on the fire boards, but those representatives are : not directly responsible to the ratepayers who have to provide the funds. The only advantage over the old system is that insurance companies are now required to contribute towards the upkeep of the fire brigades, but this adVantage could have been obtained without creating new local bodies. In my opinion, fire brigades should be undei the control of the municipalities, the administration -beina 1 loft in the hands of *>_ committee consisting of representatives of the council and of the insurance ■oomiinnies, the committee bei'isr under tl>" direct control of Dip council, as nro'•iiM l)v 'Thn Municipal fornovntions .■M I.WR.' lmt otherwise possessing nil the powers now executed bv five boards.",