CITY AFFAIRS

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 134, 22 February 1923, Page 7

CITY AFFAIRS

MAYOR FAVOURS COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTERESTING SUGGESTION Mr. R. A. Wright’s Mayoral Election Committee met last evening in the committee room. Town Hall. The reports submitted by members of the committee were to the effect that their candidate’s name was being well received. Mr. Wright was asked whether he was in favour of holding an independent inquiry into the city’s affairs. This question, he said, was important enough to warrant an extended ansiter. As far as ho was aware, he saw no insuperable objection to such an inquiry. If the management of our city affairs was satisfactory no harm would bo done, and the criticism which now prevails would be allayed. If, on the other hand, there were defects, they could be remedied; Any inquiry, however. would need to be thorough, and should be conducted by a commission with experience in municipal government and management. It must be remembered that it was very difficult to conduct a municipality as a purely business concern, although every effort was made to do so. Municipalities were surrounded by a network of laws and regulations which do not apply to private undertakings. He added that the city in the past had not been well provided with up-to-date plant, but this defect was now being remedied. Another issue which a commission of inquiry might consider was that of the appointment of a manager for Hie city whose duty should be to carry out the policy outlined by the council. Wellington had become a very large city with numerous activities, and this, it seemed to him, made it al[ the more necessary that one officer should have entire control.