AUSTRALIA’S CAPITAL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16377, 27 June 1927, Page 5

AUSTRALIA’S CAPITAL

THE ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL. ELECTIVE OR BV COMMISSION? CANBERRA. June 6. What is to lie the future of Canberra as regards local government. Art- eiti zens eventually to inn their own eiiy. nr is Canberra to be looked upon as I lie property of the whole nation, and til ways controlled by a nominee commission ? 'Hie many residents of the capital who are suffering Irmii < 'anberritis. a continual grouch, are consoling themselves just now with the expression of “wait, until Parliament meets. Then the Commission will have its wings clipped.” The Commission is blamed tor every, thing tint disturbs the equilibrium of residents. When I’arliamonLs meets, will it ,allow the PomniisMou to go un running, or ruining as some have it. the capital undisturbed l It will lie a couple of veals before the main .section of the Commission s const ructionai programme is completed. Possibly then the Government will resume the tormal administration. It is extremely unlikely that, it will hand over the city to the Commission. which, however, may be put on a different looting by making it wholly or partly elective. il is interesting to note that a iorin of local government is used at Washington. Every form of civic government has been tried at the American capital. but none lias been an outstanding success. ;since 1878. the city lias been controlled by a nominee commission of three, two members being local residents, and llie third an engineer from the Ended States army. Canberra's three commissioners are appointed from the whole of the country. The Citv of Washington is regarded as belonging to the nation and local taxes are paid into the Unite# States Treasury. Congress then votes twice tlte amount towards civic gov* eminent.

Commission government is the order of tines i i 500 American cities, but Canberv. j s only the second Australian city to have it in the form of local control. L; liiiceston had a commission a few years ago, but it was a failure.