"CITY EXECUTIVE"

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 70, 20 September 1939, Page 15

"CITY EXECUTIVE"

REJECTED PROPOSAL

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The refusal of the City Council to act on a suggestion made by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce that a committee of representatives of the Chamber, the Harbour Board, and the City Council should be set up to discuss matters of common interest was discussed atI.' the monthly meeting of the chamber last night, when the council's reply to the suggestion was received. - . -.- The council's letter stated that' the proposal was regarded as being not compatible with the constitution of the council, which was an elective body having Statutory . authority to I deal with the very functions proposed j to be undertaken by the suggested city! executive. The council was willing at all times to discuss with representatives of any bodies matters affecting the welfare of the city, and by that method it was considered that the object desired by the chamber could be achieved without the necessity of such a body as was proposed. Stating that the council appeared to have \ misunderstood the chamber's offer, the president (Captain S. Holm) read the following prepared statement:'— - "Our proposal was that representatives of bodies interested in the welfare and advancement of this city and district should meet as occasion necessitates and discuss matters concerning all parties. By this means it was thought that friction between bodies would be avoided, or at least minimised, and prevent squabbles such as that which arose between the Harbour Board and City Council over the Aotea reclama'tidn and which, before settlement was reached, cost citizens dearly in legal and other expenses. "INTENTION MADE PLAIN." "We have no wish to usurp any of the powers of local bodies, arid our intention was set but fully in the letter sent to the council, in which we stated '"that while the proposed committee Would have no direct authority it does seem apparent that, it could do much good work in preparing the way for mutual understanding in communal efforts.' In view of several imminent works in this district, we trust there will be nothing done by one local body to hinder another in carrying out needec improvements." Mr. M. F. Luckie said he was entirely in accord with the council's answer. The way in which the chamber's letter to the council was framed made it appear that the proposed committee was going to be an executive body taking over duties which were the statutory rights of the City Council. If- the committee was set up, where was it going to end? Other bodies might easily claim representation on it.