MANY TASKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22694, 5 April 1937, Page 16

MANY TASKS

GOVERNING LONDON LABOUR PARTY COUNCIL SECOND TERM IN POWER The majority of 26 secured by the Labour Party in the London County Council election in March compares with a majority of 14 secured by the party in 1934. Previous to that its opponents, the Municipal Reform Party—which in municipal affairs corresponds to the group of parties forming the National Government in Parliament —had been in power for an unbroken period of 27 years. The elections arc hold every three years.

Exclusive of 20 aldermen, who are elected by the council, the new council now consists of 75 members of the Labour Party and 49 members of the Municipal Reform Party. One interesting feature of the election was the defeat of all the candidates of various small parties, including six Fascists and two Independent Socialists; another was the support given to the Labour Party by the Communists, who put forward no candidates of their own. On this occasion 42.6 per cent of the electors recorded their votes, as against 33.5 in 1934, an increase of nearly 10 per cent. Pre-Election Manifestoes The manifestoes issued by the Labour Party and the Municipal Reformers were in many ways similar. Both included comprehensive programmes in connection with housing problems. The Municipal Reformers promised to accelerate the present rate of progress, while the Labour Party put forward a "master-plan" covering the whole townplanning area of Greater London. Under this plan, it is claimed, London will be cleared almost entirely of slums by 1940. The Municipal Reformers emphasised their support of the National Government's physical fitness campaign by promising further facilities for athletic exercises and sports. . Another main feature of their programme was the provision of comprehensive and efficient means of supporting the Government's schemes for national defence. The government and administration of London has become an extremely complex affair. The activities of the various committees of the council range from costly undertakings, such as the building of a bridge, to the planting of flowers in the public parks, and for all these things the council is responsible to tho ratepayers. Birth of the Council In 1855 the administration was in the hands of two different bodies, neither of which was responsible to the ratepayers. In that year the government of the city's affairs was centralised in a Metropolitan Board of Works, and tho area of the metropolis for local government purposes was defined for the first time. The election of representatives to the board was indirect, however, and it was not until 1888 that a central council was formed, and that the London County Council in its present form, directly elected by the ratepayers, was established. The council has jurisdiction over an area of 117 square miles, .with a population of over 4,397,000. The rateable value of the council's administrative area is £60,000,000. and the estimated cost of its public services in the coming year is £33,000,000. It is the sole authority for most matters affecting the living conditions of the citizens of London, such as sewage, street improvements, street lighting, municipal tramway,'!, the licensing of theatres, tho administration of the building laws, and the maintenance of parks and public spaces. Schools and Hospitals In its 1500 elementary, secondary, technical and other schools, the council educates about 600,000 boys and girls. It also runs nursery schools and schools where mothers learn the best methods of rearing their children. In its numerous homes, institutions and special schools it cares for, teaches and trains the unfortunate children who are blind, crippled, or mentally deficient. In its hospitals, employing a staff of 10,000 nurses and over 500 doctors, 250,000 patients are treated each year. The administration of tho London County Council services is one of the biggest undertakings in the world, and consequently the election of the men responsible for it is of vital importance to the country.