CO-ORDINATION

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 67, 22 March 1929, Page 12

CO-ORDINATION

DISTRICT ASSOCIATIONS

FIVE SUGGESTED

At the suggestion of the Civic League tho various district associations took I>art in a special conference to consider the question of district and city organisation, the representatives of each association being the chairman, secretary, and one member of committee. Mr. J. N. Wallace, president of the'league, was voted to the chair, and Mr. S. E. Lambert appointed secretary. The league secretary, Mr. -D. M'Laren, who was unavoidably absent, left with the chairman a letter covering various suggestions for improvement of civic organisation. Thcso mcluded the issuing from time to time of open letters and circulars supplying information in regard to municipal questions of general interest, the arranging of friendly debates, and of a rotary of visits to the associations by representatives from the Civic League executive, securing ■ a series of addresses by members of the local governing bodies, lectures by experts on such subjects as town planning, domestic architecture) horticulture, etc., regular canvassing for membership and finance, securing of attachment of local clubs and societies for special purposes as affiliations to the association, and the development of friendly relations amongst members and residents by means of social gatherings and entertainments. Delegates from various associations sot out the methods of organisation which had been found most satisfactory, and a number of .■suggestions was made for strengthening and .expanding the existing associations. One plan suggested was to classify the city into five districts, north, south, cast, west, and central, and.to expand the district organisations to cover such areas.

Opinion was expressed that tho citizens' organisations would-prove more effective for good if the city ( authorities showed more sympathetic interest in the work they were doing and gave greater consideration to the representations they made on behalf of the residents in their districts. It was decided to communicate with the Mayor council on that matter. '

The suggestion to endeavour to bring about a closer affiliation with other district civic clubs, such as horticultural societies, swimming clubs, etc., was strongly supported.

A committee consisting of Messrs. Wallace, F. W. Downes, S. E. Lambert, and D. M'Laren was appointed to put into action the various decisions of the conference.

Arising out of the conference a consultation was held by the secretary of the league,.iWith the Mayor, Mr. G. A. Troup, and it was suggested that a conference, similar to that held in 1927, should be held, that representatives of all district associations might be given the fullest possible information regarding tho loan proposals to be put before electors on Ist May. The Mayor, Mr. M'Laren stated, had met the suggestion most cordially, and had suggested that the meeting should take place at an early date after Easter.