50 years ago

WHAT may prove to be one of the most significant meetings in the Local Government sphere in decades will be held this afternoon in Warrnambool. Representatives from 17 municipalities in South-Western Victoria are expected to form the South-West Region to qualify for Federal finance through the Grants Commission. However, fears have ben expressed in some quarters that with Federal and State parliamentarians expected to attend, the meeting may become little more than a political platform. And it is not yet certain that all municipalities within the proposed region will be represented at the meeting. Warrnambool City Council is hosting the meeting, and the town clerk, Mr. Keith Arnel, said yesterday only 10 councils had indicated they would attend the meeting.