LOCAL BODY OFFICERS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 113, 9 November 1933, Page 12

LOCAL BODY OFFICERS

ISSUE" OF DIPLOMAS

BILL INTRODUCED

A MIXED RECEPTION

A Bill which proposes to sot up a board to issue diplomas in local body government was introduced into the House of Representatives last evening and met with a mixed reception. The Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. J. A. Young), who will guide the Bill through tho House, said that he wished to refer the Bill to the Local Bills Committee, which would have the right to call evidence and suggest amendments,, but Labour members cslaimed that the measure should be treated with suspicion, as it proposed to set up a close corporation and would thus restrict the employment of clerks by local bodies. The purpose of the Bill is to give effect to the wish of the New Zealand Society of Town Clerks and the New Zealand Society of County Clerks that a board should be established to conduct examinations in subjects relating to local government and to issue diplomas and certificates in local government to qualified persons. It provides for tho establishment of a board to be known as the Local Government Bsainination Boa-rd, consisting of one member to be appointed on the recommendation of the Minister of Internal Affairs, two to bo appointed on tho recommendation of the New Zealand Society of Town Clerks and the New Zealand Society of County Clerks respectively, and such additional members, if any, as may be appointed by tho Governor-General by Order in Council on the recommendation of other organisations with similar objects as these two institutes. The members will hold office for two years. In certain cases, the. board has power to grant diplomas without examination, and provision is also made for appeals from the board's decisions. "AGE OF CURIOS." "What is this Bill all about?" asked the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. M. J. Savage), when the Message from the Governor-General was being considered in .Committee. "It seems to mo we are living in an. age of curios." The Minister of Internal Affairs said the Bill was desired by the New Zealand Society of Town Clerks and the New Zealand Society of County Clerks. They desired to establish a board which would have power to issue diplomas in local government. It was proposed that the orginal members of the societies should be awarded diplomas and that others should be required to pass an examination. It was his intention to refer the Bill to the Local Bills Committee. Mr. Savage: And let it stay there. Mr.. F. W. Schramm , (Labour, Auckland East): What about the clerks of rabbit boards? Mr. Young said that those who desired the Bill were most precise in stating that it was\not their intention to set up anything in the nature of a close corporation. (Laughter.) When the Bill was introduced last session it was referred to the Local Bills Committee, which had expressed the view that the opinions of the Municipal Association and the Counties Association should be obtained. Those organisations had since indicated that they had no objection, to the proposal. Mr. H. T. Armstrong (Labour, Christchurch East): I take it this Bill will mean the setting up of just one more board. The Minister: Probably. Mr. H. G. R. Mason (Labour, Auckland Suburbs) said h« was glad to know that the Bill was going to a Committee. As t<3 the suggestion of a close corporation, he had never yet heard of any body of men who had suggested that they were going to sot up a close corporation. Mr. J. Linklater (Government, Manawatu): What about the lawyers? Mr. Mason said.it was very interesting to know that the original members of the two organisations concerned were going to get, in free of charge and" that no question was going to be raised as to their, qualifications. If there was going to be an examination, why not include everybody? A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT. Mr. A. J. Stallworthy (Independent, Eden) said it was becoming quite a common experience for members of the House to be placed in a difficulty ov.er similar proposals. The whole trouble was that a dangerous precedent had been created in the past. He suggested that the House should be very careful before it> accepted the measure. Mr. Armstrong said it appeared that a i close corporation was to be set up which would limit the choice of local bodies in appointing members of its staff. Officers of local bodies were falling into line with what had been in the past a sacred prerogative of the legal profession. Mr. W. J. Jordan (Labour, Manukau) said that provided the examination was •reasonable there was something to be said for the Bill, but he though the House should be very careful before it committed itself. . Mr. W. E. Barnard (Labour, IS apier) said that there did not appear to be anything seriously wrong with the general principles of the Bill. It was only reasonable that they should be able to demand a fair standard of efficiency from officers of. local bodies. Mr W. E.. Parry (Labour, Auckland Central) said that it was all very well for clerks and others to form a close corporation, but he would point out that when those who were in more or less sheltered positions lost their jobs they went on to the general labourers' market and general labourers had no protection. OPPORTUNITIES TOR STUDY. General support to the Bill was given by Mrs. E. R. McCombs (Labour, Lyttelton) who said that the proposal would greatly lighten the task of local bodies in selecting their officers. She had been placed in the difficult position of having to decide on the appointment of one officer from over 600 applicants. She expressed the belief that it was desirable- that junior officers of local bodies should have every encouragement to take a course of study r which would improve their prospects 'of promotion. Mr E. McKeen (Labour, Wellington South') said he was not at all enthusiastic about the Bill, which he was convinced would result in the formation of a close corporation. The Bill was read a first time, a second time pro forma, and referred to the Local Bills Committee.