LONG DELAYED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 March 1940, Page 4

LONG DELAYED

THE REFORM OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT MR T. JORDAN APPEALS FOR ACTION. ADDRESS TO MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The most extraordinary development in local government in the last century had been the multiplication of local bodies, said Mr T. Jordan in his presidential address to tlie annual conference of the Municipal Association of New Zealand, which opened in Wellington yesterday. Four years ago, said Mr Jordan, the late Auditor-General drew attention to the fact that the total number of bodies coming within the statutory de- - finition of "local authority” for the' purpose of audit was no fewer than 1983, and he gently made the comment that he was of opinion that by a judicious readjustment of boundaries or amalgamation the system could be rendered less complex and more economical.

This expression of opinion had more than once found a responsive echo in their own assembly, and it was to be hoped that the second century of their history would not be old before a substantial effort was made to correct and rationalise this absurd condition of local government in the Dominion. The Government was said to be fully alive to the importance of the task that lay ahead, but for one reason and another, none of them very compelling till September 3 last, had not yet set its hand to the plough. He was confident that when it did it would be able to count upon the whole-hearted and well-in-formed co-operation of the association. Early in his term of office the present Minister of Internal Affairs hinted that he had in mind the creation of a larger unit of local self-government, and a wider'devolution of legislative authority and control. As a necessary preliminary he proposed to institute a comprehensive survey of New Zealand in order to provide data on which to found the future local government of this country. Some members of the association had described this as the preparation of a regional plan for New Zealand, nearly all the materials for which were already stored in departmental pigeon-holes, and they believed that such a plan should precede any attempt at amalgamation of local bodies and would in fact provide a: logical and peaceful substitute for it..-.