CITY METHODS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 109, 4 November 1926, Page 12

CITY METHODS

COUNCIL AND ORGANISATION

SEEKING THE BEST

CIVIC LEAGUE PRONOUNCEMENT.

Already the City Council election, of next year is being discussed, and the Civic League has issued the following pronouncement as some words of guidance to its memberSj and possibly other citizens. "During this year there has been much criticism of the City Council voiced in public. As a guidance to ourselves, as citizens, it is well to examine this criticism, its nature and value. First of all as a means of moderating our judgment let us remember that there never has been a City Council which has been entirely exempt from adverse criticism, and probably thero never will be. Councillors make mis' takes, but it would be utter folly to pretend that citizens themselves do not also perpetrate errors both in thought and action. The value of criticism lies in its discrimination and avoidance of exaggeration. There are three forms of criticism we have to consider. First of all the discussion of specific : questions with the sole object of discovering what is best for the city—that is constructive. Secondly, the raising of general objections and drawing of hasty, prejudiced, and ill-founded inferences—that is obstructive. Lastly, there is the criticism which has for its root cause ulterior motives, and has little regard for facts so long as the critics' ends are served —that is destructive. It is quite common to hear the whole council condemned for actions which have never had the support of all members of the council. .There is no discrimination in such talk. It is not helpful towards understanding either the questions at issue or the attitude of individual councillor:- The league has sought to avoid both obstructive and destructive criticism. It views the judgment as unfair which holds the whole council responsible for acts of policy or administration which all councillors do not agree with, and which have been vigorously opposed by some of them. Having said so much in general terms we come now to some more definite issues. SELECTING A COUNCIL. ' "To get good city government the first difficulty is to find the councillors who will prove the ablest and I>est for the duties to be undertaken. If 'everybody was imbued with the one purpose of getting the best for the city the problem would not bs so hard to solve, but in the matter of selection there are the cross currents of personal and social ambitions, local feelings and desires, class and other prejudices, the hindrance of party dogmatism,' and the general limitations of education in civic affairs. The first thing needed is that those who have good capacity shall make a personal sacrifice and aflow themselves to be chosen as candidates. If such come forward then there is need for organisation to back their candidature. With reference to this organised effort there has been much loose, and at times far from disinterested, criticism of the Civic League. The truth is that the league on the last occasion selected the beat from those it had to draw upon. That the panel was too limited was not the fault of the league, it publicly intimated its willingness to consider the merits of all who came forward, and the number was not large. Because the league has criticised some of the actions of present councillors it has been represented that the league has wholly condemned those who were its own nominees. This in plain terms is a false representation, and citizens must be warned against its insidious circulation. The league endorses much that has been done by all its nominees, though it is not satisfied with the lines taken by every one of them on all occasions. There have been a good many progressive works carried out by the present council, and it is only right that due credit be rendered for the services given. The league is able to enumerate a number of things which it has urged upon the council and which, it is pleased to say, have been given effect to. "Citizens should be on their guard against the misleading 'propaganda of the Labour Party which condemns the council, with the inference that its own nominees are always above criticism and that if only the whole of its candidates were elected the then council would never do anything wrong. This. is dangerous pleading, as it precludes considerations of individual ability and asks for endorsement solely on the ground of what party the individual belongs to. We are confident that the great body of electors wish to see the best qualified citizens electee! to the council without regard to the political party or class in the community, with which they are numbered. The question then arises whether it is desirable to have some recommendation of the candidates for election. On this it can be said that recommendation will take place, no matter what anyone thinks. If it is left solely to individuality, without any citizen organisation taking part, the selection will inevitably be made on grounds of personal predilection, if not those of individual or group interests. Without general organisation we may look for much sectional representation which will be at once confusing to the electors and open to the dangers of selfish influences under which the city's interest may be lost i sight of. "The other course open is to leave the matter of recommendation and organised support to the only political party -which takes part in municipal elections. This involves the handing over of the government of the city to party control, and those who advise the Civic League not to nominate a ticket are, knowingly or otherwise, helping towards such dominance. Individual selection would go under in competition with party organisation. For the general protection of ' the citizens, therefore, and the progress of our city on sound lines, the league can see no better, way than the course it intends to take of nominating a number of candidates and recommending them for election. Whether it will choose a full ticket or not, and whether it will renominate those of its .previous selection will depend on what it thinks of the qualifications of those offering. "It has but one object in undertaking this onerous duty—the good of the city. Being disinterested, the league appeals for the full and active support of the citizens. Let those who complain supply the names and consent of more qualified persons for consideration. The league will welcome such assistance. To merely grumble is of no use whatever. With full respect to the Mayor and councillors, we yet hold that the city comes before every other consideration, and the best qualified should be selected _ without fear or favour. It is only by co-operation on the pm-t of the citizens; by some sacrifice oil the part of those whoso services arc required, and by organised effort to sec that good candidates are elected, that the city can secure a first-class council. The league is prepared to do its part in this work, and it looks to others to also render the fullest aid they can. To each citizen we say: If you want a good council what are you doing towards getting it? UNITY AND PROGRESS. "The only reason for the existent") of ratepayers, electors, and progres-

sive associations, and for that of the Civic League as well, is that more and better service can be rendered by acting in unity than by relying wholly on individual effort. The line of civic progress is that of unified activity. Eecognising this fact the Civic League not only seeks co-operation between the individual citizens in their several organisations but it wishes the citizens' organisations to work with tho City Council and not against it, expecting similar action on the part of the council. Our city is faced with many large and serious problems, and these can be best solved by the most candid cooperation on the part of all concerned —the Mayor, councillors, city officers, employees, aud citizens. Tho greatest danger, which is common to all, is a dogmatic attitude of mind which will shut out ideas other than our own. We recognise that in the early stages of citizen organisation there is a proneness to be over-assertive, the young always know best, but with fuller and wider development of organisation, which our city has attained, the more matured disposition is to work in harmony with the city authorities as far. as such co-operation will be received and appreciated. "Ho matter who are elected to office, or what officers are appointed, criticism will always obtain. So long as it is restrained in character and directed to productive ends such criticism make for progress, and it is not inimical to unity of general purpose. The Civic League whilst maintaining the right to examine affairs from the citizens' standpoint, and. question even the actions of those it may nominate, does not wish to dictate or domineer over any. It claims the right of free judgment, but also recognises that such right is common to all members of the City Corporation. Its ideal is unity, but not the unity of a rigid system of bureaucracy, that of a party dictatorship, or even the domination of selfappointed citizens' organisations. The civic unity we seek for is th&t of a growing co-operation of all members of the community for mutual assistance towards the advancement of our city as a. whole. FORWARD MOVEMENT. The league appreciates the fact that hitherto it has received a very generous measure of support from the general body of citizens. In face of some adverse comments the several district associations have shown increased confidence in the league, so that now there TTre sixteen associations affiliated in contrast with six just a few years back. When the league has submitted a ticket at the municipal elections the electors have endorsed most of the candidates it has recommended. Most of its nominees for the Harbour Board and Hospital Board have been returned, and there has been no complaint that the league had made wrong selections. The City Council is, of course, "more in the limelight," and members are always more subject to criticism. Whatever faults there are on the parts of councillors cannot be met by sweeping condemnation. We submit that the city government can only be strengthened by more attention to municipal affairs on the part of the general body of the people. Those who have special knowledge, as the result of business, professional, industrial, or other sound training, should give to the city some service for its advancement. A forward movement in the history of Wellington City can be attained if instead of merely complaining we get together and help to better things. Instead of a programme for the municipal elections of the nature of a political platform, which is often but a number of promises the politician forgets after his return, it will be a step forward to have more attention paid to specific works. '(fA careful review of our city's undertakings at an early stage before the election, in which the Press of the city can render very valuable assistance, would prove of considerable advantage in enabling the electors to make the most judicious selection. The league has taken up the question of the elections at an earlier period on this occasion because it desires to stimulate more interest on the part of the citizens than what has hitherto been displayed. When candidates attend a public meeting and find an audience of perhaps five or six they may be pardoned for thinking the electors are not concerned as. to who are elected. A distinct improvement in this regard can be made, but in order to make advancement it is necessary for citizens generally to -cast aside their apathy. To grumble at the City Council, condemn the Civic League, ignore local organisation, is all futile and worthless. After all, there is a good deal v truth in the saying that "the citizens get just as good government as they deserved" To make a forward move the individual citizen must wake up and move him or herself. The men and women of our organisations must do something' to move things forward; of course, many who do nothing could do it better. There are still the largo number who are swathed in apathy. The league's officers and members will do their best. "Come and help," is the call we are putting forth because it is necessary. The city must go forward. The help of every citizen is required. Expenditure in time, some money, and a little service will make our city a better home to live in for all who are in it. Let us renew our activities and make them greater, for the time and needs of our community call for thought and action."