PUBLIC OPINION

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12465, 5 June 1926, Page 4

PUBLIC OPINION

OUR CITY COUNCIL (To the Editor, “N.Z. Times.”) Sir, —‘‘Psychology of crowds” must be the answer to the lamentable laches of the City Council. It is generally recognised that a man, as an individual, may be sound in judgment, trained and capable; but placed in a crowd his individuality becomes submerged, and then, intellectually, he is little better than a moron, ready to follow the maddest of proposals. Science has told us a good deal about hypnosis, and it surely must bo a cause of the “City Fathers’ ” failure to grasp essentials. There are about sixteen councillors, too large a body to deal intelligently, with the multifarious items with which it is more or less suddenly confronted, without time to get a proper grip. Councillor Troup is a good type of man, hut his personality must liavo suffered by group thinking, or he would not suggest the calling in of an expert organiser to do wliat is obviously the duty of the council, i.e., nut its own house in order. The hypnotism of Councillor Lufkie must he admitted, to excuse his lapse in the matter of iho rating change-over. The Wellington Harbour Board does not rush round seeking aid in organising its staff. It, too, makes mistakes, due to the hvpnotic .power mentioned, hut its fi»ld for error is not so large as that of the City Council, and its smaller number of members helps the oosition. A remedy fojr llie city would he to reduce the. number of councillors to five, with a Mayor as chairman.' as representing ratepayers, on an executive hody with four technicians: financial. civil-cngiueerinc. eVctric-en-gineering and legal. No good con come from a council constituted as is the existing body. Individually tile members are an average lot. but to use a Semuleism, “it is a hopeless crowd.” Tile round, is more to be pitied than censured, hut the pity of ratepayers should he tempered with’ caution, and no more money given it to squander. I am. etc., BILL PSYCHS.