SCOPE FOR STUDY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22476, 21 July 1936, Page 15

SCOPE FOR STUDY

CIVIC ADMINISTRATION PROPOSAL FOR UNIVERSITY TRAINING AND RESEARCH An extension of the studies provided for at Auckland University College in order to include instruction 011 public administration was proposed by Mr. F ]i. Stephens, M.A., Is.Com., a lecturer at the college who has been abroad for some months, in a report laid before the college council at a meeting yesterday. After describing what was being done in universities abroad, Mr. Stephens outlined his suggestions for what could bo done at the college. The work, he said, would have to be of a co-operative nature with the university, the local authorities, local Government officials, and tlio public as actively participating partners. Nowhere in the New Zealand University curriculum was the subject of the working of the New Zealand Government provided for, be said. Students had no instruction, for instance, in the working of Government departments, in the financial control of the Treasury and the Audit Department, or in the fields of activity of such bodies as municipalities, counties, harbour boards and so on. These subjects were all matters of instruction in most universities of the world and their absence from the New Zealand curriculum was n serious defect. Training of Officers

Mr. Stephens said his proposal contained a plan for the training of local government officers, and perhaps of such Government officers as were located in and around Auckland, and lor research work about local government problems. The plan would not be capable of fulfilment in one or even two years; he thought five or more years would be necessary to get the scheme completely under way. Subjects which he thought could find a satisfactory place in tfio curriculum included budget preparation and control, accounting and auditing for governmental units, the management and control of personnel as applied to governments, and administrative relations with central government arid local bodies. Other subjects were the principles of social planning, transport and traffic problems, the economics of public enterprise and the management of public utilities and businesses and secretarial work for council and committee meetings. Service to Community

Much research into existing practices would be necessary before some of these courses could be given. By investigation of the current operation of local bodies either on its own initiative or at the request of the civic authorities, by maintenance ot contacts abroad mid the preparation of statements showing how local government operations were carried out elsewhere, by analysis of statistical and financial data, and by a general willingness to help, the university should be- able to contribute considerably to the community. Many problems could be instanced on which authorities would value information, but which they had not thp time or did not feci justified to investigate. It was in such spheres that the university could operate. Perhaps in problems affecting the whole metropolitan area the university could net as a general staff. Dealing with public civic education, Mr. Stephens suggested that the staff should be prepared to and should try to reach the citizen through his clubs, trades unions, farmers' unions, women's and youth organisations, and the Church, if necessary, the aim being to stimulate an intelligent interest in government. The teaching of civics at the schools was not satisfactory and perhaps something could be done in this field.