CIVIC GOVERNMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 17515, 22 November 1920, Page 3

CIVIC GOVERNMENT.

_. \ T0 Iras KDITOS. ~.-Sir^—P ressure \ 0 f public opinion, forced tne City Council to appoint a committee to report on.how\ to better the municipal government of DuWdin. The recommend/ations of that committee and the discussion of them at the council meeting prcjve that the public are justified, masmuich. as there is need for improvement by \ economic construction of <rar City administration. _ The clause, civfc government bv commissioners, as suggested bv a deputation headed by Mx J-. x S. Sinclair, misleads the public to belie\ vs that this was the first time that civic government by com--missiqners was brought to the councillo/s' attention. This is not so, as two years ago a committee appointed by a public meeting called by the! Otago Expansion League drew up a platform for candidates at the following electio/ns for the council, and civic government'-bv commissioners was one of the planks of that platform. With the exception of th»ee, all the candidates gave favorable re\pii as ; but the candidates that were electew have changed their minds and broken V their election pledges. The committee d.{ the council were ofthe opinion that it ( was not difficult to find suitable persons who were •willing to devote their timeV to the efficient control of our local affairts. Correct! And it will be borne home i to. present councillors at the next electkA n ' But it M advisable to point out that v there is a tna difference between efficient tWtrol and a high state of efficiency. { During the discussion of the committee's report a councillor observed thatl the best men of the City stood for the, council seats; if so, they have not been I elected For example, there is no man » 0 f outstanding financial ability on the finance Committee. The Water Committee are under the delusion that bog-tasting ( water is better for the constitution thaV, 'the pure local supply. "Is there a man. on the Tramways Committed who has endeavoured to formulate a plan to cope w|th the overcrowding of our trams or to formulate a plan for a system that will cattfr for the expansion and development o/ the City?" "Are our best commercial! and financial men on the City Council Vl No, they are conspicuous by their absence. "Have we any men in ' Dunedin with these practical and organising qualifications?" Yes. And if the ratepayers and public will do their duty and "take an interest in public affairs, they will be at their place in the council chambers at the head of our municipal administration. —I am, etc., H. V. Frekhan. Vjfe' ..