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B. General Organization The Local Government Branch was again very active in carrying out the various statutory functions required by the local-government Acts administered by the Department. The close contact of the Branch with local authorities was maintained and advice and assistance given when requested with regard to problems confronting local authorities and others interested in this field. The following gives some idea of the matters dealt with : (1) Boroughs The boundaries of the City of Christchurch were altered on five occasions by the inclusion of defined areas of adjacent counties. Four of these areas were the subject of inquiry and report by Commissions of inquiry, and a further proposal to include another area was the subject of a Commission, but was reported upon unfavourably thereby and no further action was taken. A Commission was set up to consider a proposal of the Rotorua Borough Council that an area known as Koutu should be included in the Borough of Rotorua. This was a matter of some importance to Rotorua because of the prospective expansion of industry and the lack of suitable areas for industrial purposes. The Council desired the inclusion of the Koutu area in the borough so that the effective planning of the borough for the future could be undertaken. The Commission recommended that the area be included in the borough, and the necessary Order in Council was duly issued. The boundaries of the Borough of Tauranga were also altered by the inclusion of an adjacent area, and the boundaries of West Harbour were altered by the inclusion of land reclaimed from the sea. The Town District of Kaitaia was constituted a borough. The by-laws of the Borough of Mataura were confirmed under the By-laws Act, 1910. Loans were authorized under section 7 of the Local Bodies' Finance Act, 1921-22, for the City of Palmerston North and the Boroughs of Timaru and Masterton in respect of earthquake and flood damage. ' Members were appointed to the Assessment Courts under the Urban Farm Land Rating Act, 1932, for the Boroughs of Taihape, New Plymouth, and Waitara. A fire-prevention by-law for the Gisborne Borough was approved. The Christchurch and Invercargill City Councils and the Newmarket Borough Council obtained approval to publish booklets containing information regarding their respective districts. The Wellington City Council was authorized to expend compensation-moneys under the Thorndon Reclamation Act, 1921-22. A Board of Appeal to consider a subdivisional plan for an area in the Borough of Rotorua was set up in terms of section 332 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1933. By means of an Order in Council, the time for making a valuation list was extended for the Borough of Tapanui. Matters concerning the future development of Napier advanced to a final stage during the year. As stated in the last annual report, the Napier Borough Council and the Napier Harbour Board were able to reach complete agreement in regard to the future planning and development of lands belonging to the Harbour Board adjacent to the Borough of Napier. These arrangements necessitated special legislative authority, and this was sought by the joint promotion by the two bodies of the Napier Harbour Board and Napier Borough Enabling Bill. The legislative arrangements again necessitated the advice and co-operation of the Department. This Bill was duly passed into law, and the two local authorities will in the future work together in giving effect to the terms of the legislation for the betterment of Napier generally. The Municipal Conference was held at Christchurch on 27th, 28th, and 29th March, 1946. The Conference was officially opened by the Prime Minister (Right Hon. P. Fraser). The Conference was addressed on local-government matters by the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. W. E. Parry). A representative of the Department was present throughout the proceedings. One of the most important matters discussed at the Conference was the report of the parliamentary Committee on local government.

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