CITY ORGANISATION

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 146, 21 June 1924, Page 13

CITY ORGANISATION

COUNCILLORS AND ROUTINE WORK

COMMISSION CONTROL STJG.

GESTED.

Regarding an article Dublished ia Thursday's "Post," in which the question was raised of apportioning certajn. of the routine work now done by councillors to executive officers, Councillor JAston draws attention to the" views e.xpressod by him before the Departmental Investigation Committee. The - statement then made by him was as follows : —"I take it that what your committee and the council desire, and the ratepayers are looking for, is thorough and complete reorganisation of the whole of the staff, and a more satisfactory method of control created, more particularly in regard to the annual and increasing expenditure on maintenance and public works. First, lam of opinion that tho whole of the departments and city'operations should be under the control;of. one supreme head. He need not of necessity bo a qualified engineer, but would require outstanding executive and financial ability, with capacity to organise and control The engineers and departmental heads would be responsible to him, such as obtains with the cpntjol of the New Zealand Railways.

'.'From the Commissioner down, the whole of the staff could, with considerable advantage, be reorganised. The city should have two engineers only, of the highest qualifications it is possible to obtain. One engineer to have absolute control of all public works, buildings, streets, water, and drainage. . Tha second, or electrical engineer, to .have absolute control of electric lighting, power, and -tramways, in both cases with such^ assistance as required."'" The'Coinmissioner with the two engineers to meet from time to time, the Commissioner to furnish a report to each meeting of the Finance Committee, such report to ba amended or approved before passing on to full council

This would to a large extent cut into the work of the other committee*,, but the Finance Committee is representative of the whole, and many matters tha* now come before the various - committees could be more expeditiously dealt with. along the lines suggested, "I am convinced that BOnYmisricner control would give vastly better "la* vies, more economical administration proper co-ordination of tho departments tan that I need not deal with now «. cept to cay that control such as I have mentioned would mean a saving to the t^L f ihms*nis of P°™aa. an! at tne same time give greater efficiency, Tho army of labourers employes W thS oor poratwn perh J^J ££ other, requires commissioner control 7