Patea & Waverley Press WEDMESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1921. A PROGRESSIVE ASSOCIATION.

Patea Mail, Volume XLV, 23 February 1921, Page 2

Patea & Waverley Press WEDMESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1921. A PROGRESSIVE ASSOCIATION.

In nine weeks’ time from today the burgesses of this borough will be called upon to elect a Mayor and nine Councillors to manage the affairs of the town for the next two years. In vieiv of the importance of the various municipal undertakings that have been entered into on behalf of the ratepayers, notably the electric light and water and drainage systems, it would be advisable now to form a Progressive Association to watch over the interests of ratepayers and burgesses alike, and in particular to secure the return of suitable candidates when the municipal election comes round. With an Association thus formed, matters in connection wieh the welfare of the town could be fully discussed, with the result that the ratepayers’ money could be saved in many directions, and considerable reforms effected in local vernment generally. In particular, the question of the number of Councillors representing the burgesses could be discussed, and if deemed advisable, steps could be taken to have the number reduced. When the fact is taken into consideration that no one engaged in business Avith the Council to the extent of £5 in any one contract or £lO in the course of a year, is eligible for a seat at the Council table, it will be readily seen that the majority of business people are debarred from offering their services. With these men—most of them successful business men, and therefore eminently suitable to assist in managing the affairs of the loavu — put aside, the choice of suitable candidates at once becomes a very limited one, and, in consequence, when election time comes round, candidates are likely to be elected Avho otherwise Avould have no chance of election mt all. Taking these facts into consideration, it Avould appear to be highly desirable that the number of Councillors be reduced from nine to six, so that the Council Avould consist of seven persons instead of ten. as at present. Of course, it will be argued. that the larger number is necessary in order to enable the work of the Council to be parcelled out amongst the various commit tees, with a view to lightening the burden on the shoulders of the Councillors. Practical experience, hoAvever, goes to show that the result of the committee system is exactly the opposite. In a small toAvn like Patea the committee system is absolutely indefensible. There is not that much business to be considered by the Council at its ordinary meetings that could not be considered and dealt with in less time without committees than that at present taken up through the business iirst of all being discussed by a committee, and subsequently discussed again at the Council table. Then, again, experience has shown that with the committee system in vogue Councillors who should tak'e a keen interest in every por-

tion of the Council’s work find themselves unable to do so as they have not been elected to a particular committee. In addition, the committee system appears an excellent loophole for “tired” Councillors to shirk rcsponsibility, and place it on the shoulders of others who arc on certain committees. “I need not bother my head about this particular work,” says Brown, “as I am not on the committee in connection with it. 1 leave it to Smith and the rest who are on the committee.” Another evil of the system is that it induces o take too much for granted, assuming that as the particular matter has already been threshed out by the committee they need not trouble to question the wisdom of the recommendation brought forward. A very good illustration of this fact is 1.be found in the Council’s balance sheet for the year ending 31st of March. 1918 the last one published. if we mistake not. In this year the Council had an annual recurring liability of £B6 to meet. Towards this it had in hand a credit balance of £43 and outstanding amounts to about £4, leaving a balance of £37 to be found. Yet the Finance Committee solemnly recommended that a rate producing over £2OO be struck and collected during the year, and the Council passed the committee’s recommendation without a murmur. taking the whole mailer for granted! There is small wonder that the ratepayers felt they were being heavily rated when £l6O more than was necessary was being levied in rates during the year, and it is small wonder that in consequence the streets suffered, as other rates dare not he levied. This is but one instance of the direction in which a Progressive Association could be of service and of value to the town. We hope steps will be taken to form one without delay. Such an institution would camw weight at election time and throughout the period of the Council’s tenure of office.