29

H—2B

Without going into specific details, we are convinced that there is a necessity for some redrawing of county boundaries, and definitely that some of the smaller and less effective counties should be eliminated. We were informed that in some counties no qualified engineers, for instance, were employed. If local government is to be effective, it must be able to command and pay for the best technical and administrative services as are available. But if the number of counties is to be reduced then the subsidy system should be reconsidered, so that the subsidy bears some relation to the financial responsibilities of the Councils. The counties between the Rakaia and Waimakariri Rivers and immediately north of the Waimakariri River are very much smaller than most of the counties in any other part of the Dominion. Prior to 1.910 the Selwyn County comprised most of the main land area between the Rakaia and the Waimakariri Rivers, and the Ashley County most of the area immediately north of the Waimakariri River. The reasons for the division which then took place are to be found largely in the technological conditions at that time. Such machinery as was available was horse-driven, and the coverage was therefore restricted to a very small area. In so far as financial considerations caused the disintegration, union has been facilitated by section 28 of the Finance Act, 1926, which provides that where two or more counties are united, the subsidy paid to the United County was not to be less than the aggregate of the subsidies paid to the counties as separate units. The question of some reorganization of the county structure in this region has been under public discussion for many years, and, quite apart from the question of any reorganization resulting from the decisions of the Commission relating to local government of the metropolitan area of Christchurch, the Commission was, in terms of the legislation under which it was constituted, required to consider whether this state of affairs was efficient. An investigation was made into the current factual position relating to the counties in the region, in order that the Commission and all parties to the inquiry would have a full appreciation of the county structure in the area. The adoption of this procedure also resulted in a shortening of the proceedings at the inquiry, which was completed in a period of four sitting days. A summarized statement of certain factual data relating to the four groups of counties which we have considered should be united is as follows : Group 1— Group 3 Malvern. Akaroa. Paparua (West Melton Riding). Mount Herbert. Selwyn. Wairewa. Tawera. Group 4 Group 2 Ashley. Ellesmere (with the Dependent Town Eyre. District of Southbridge). Kowai. Halswell. Oxford. Heathcote. Rangiora. Paparua (less West Melton Riding). Springs. Waimairi.

Area in Square Miles. Estimated Population as at 31st March, 1949. Capital Rateable Value as at 31st March, 1948. | General Bates Levied, Year Ended 31st March, 1949. £ £ Group 1 2,196 5,590 3,883,970 15,952 Group 2 473 12,310 7,838,845 29,641 Group 3 405 2,910 3,195,870 23,372 Group 4 .. 1,056 8,740 5,075,146 20,368