Local government

Press, 30 August 1986, Page 20

Local government

Sir—l agree with D. J. O’Rourke (August 29) that the ward committees and neighbourhood committees are vitally necessary. The formation of such committees with both muscle and teeth is urgent. They will need to be well-organised and efficient and made up of a good mix of local people not committed to one view. The assertion that Labour councillors are not controlled by central government is horse-feathers. The resignation of Mr Mountford, 33 years a Labour councillor in Manukau, brought out a statement from the secretary of the Manukau Labour Local Body Committee that said the new rule involved the Labour Party as a whole and was a way of seeing that Government decisions were upheld by Labour in local government. The rule, he said, was part of a pledge signed by all Labour candidates. It is not wise to claim that Labour’s philosophy is always “people first” when daily it is demonstrated that Labour could not care less about the people who voted them power. Once the magical mandate is obtained, it is obvious that others’ views can be ignored.—Yours, etc., 808 ANDREWS. August 29, 1986.