SYDNEY'S ADMINISTRATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19806, 29 November 1927, Page 10

SYDNEY'S ADMINISTRATION.

The measure providing for the temporary administration of the city of Sydney by a commission has received the Governor-General's assent and so becomes operative. There has been talk of a referendum on the measure, and the City Council instructed its solicitor "to take such legal action as counsel may advise to prevent the citizens of Sydney from being deprived of their right of municipal government," but nothing is now likely to prevent Parliament's decision having full effect. The Government has a mandate from the people of New South Wales for this drastic step. It was plainly sought by Mr. Bavin in his policy speech at the outset of the election. In part, the duty of the commissioners is one of investigation They are empowered to inquire into any matters of past administration with a view to ascertaining whether the conduct of any person, the holder of a civic office or any other, has been "corrupt, dishonest or improper." For some time Sydney's administration by a council dominated by Labour members has given rise to grave suspicion. It was known that this majority was in league with the employees' trade union in an endeavour to manage municipal affairs in the employees' interests. In addition, there was evidence of maladministration in other ways. Irregularities m the opening of tenders, decisions to enter upon large and costly undertakings against the advice of highlyqualified experts, grantings of city leases in disregard of citizens' interests, and misuses of municipal property were circumstantially alleged to have taken place. This general maladministration became a publi< scandal, yet Mr. Lang, as Premier denied frequent and forceful pleas to have a commission of in quiry appointed. The question was ! therefore made an issue of the elec tions, and Mr. Bavin now has his way. The three commissioners will exercise for two years the power and authority of the council, making an annual report to Parliament of their executive doings and furnishing it with the results of their investigations At the .end of that period ordinary municipal government will be restored to the city. That there is abundant ground for the measure is undeniable. The strenuous opposition of the council to any investiga tion confirms this opinion. To take this extreme step may seem to some unnecessarily severe, but desperate ills demand drastic remedies, _ and public opinion in the State is in no doubt as to the necessity for this action.