COMMISSION CONTROL

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 64, 17 March 1933, Page 12

COMMISSION CONTROL

NAPIER ADMINISTRATION

CONTINUANCE SUGGESTED

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) NAPIER, March IG. A petition is circulating in Napier urging the Prime Minister to retain comniissionoreontrol for at least twelve months after the date of the municipal elections of May 3. A handbill accompanying the petition says: "To the citizens of Napier: You are urged to sign this petition, which asks that a special committee, or what is known as. tho commission, that is, Mr. J. S. Barton and Mr. L. B. Campbell, or at least Mr. Barton, or, if Mr. Barton bo not available, then some other commissioner, bo appointed by the Gover-nor-General, and be retained in office as commissioner for at least twelve months from May 3, 1933." This petition is tho outcome of several conferences between representative' citizens of Napier, and it is their belief that tho present move will bo well received by the majority of electors. It ia tacitly understood in professional and mercantile quarters that the continuance of commissioner governance- should prove universally popular, especially in view of the sound fiscal situation and the way in which tho two commissioners have tackled the post-earthquake problem. In view of this fiscal situation, it 5s the desire of those responsible for the petition that the present method of control should continue till such time as its functioning may gradually 'be dissolved in favour of a local governing body. 4

A pronouncement was made by the Prime Minister on March 3 that in view of the provision in the Hawke's Bay Earthquake Act that an election of mayor and councillors shall be held on the first Wednesday jiext May the Government proposed to issue an Order-in-Council terminating from that date the operation of tho special committee, which haa been administering the affairs of the borough 'since its. appointment immediately after the earthquakeA It is understood, however, that Mr. Forbes has agreed to give sympathetic consideration to the petition, provided it is the earnest wish of the majority.