CIVIC ADMINISTRATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1919, Page 7

CIVIC ADMINISTRATION.

MODIFIED REPORT ASKED FOR. The question of the appointment of a general manager for municipalities was again raised at last night's meeting ol the New Plymouth Borough Council, by Cr. Hayden, who suggested that the report recently made by the town clerk on the subject should be modified, and he moved that the town clerk be instructed to submit a modification of tlife scheme advocated in the report in question, in order to give the Council members representation at the Conference between the general manager and the heads of Departments; and that the modified report, when ready, be referred direct to a sub-committee to submit definite proposals to the Council, for the bringing into operation of silcli portions of the modified scheme as may appeal to the sub-committee. In speaking to the resolution, Cr. Hayden said he blieved that if adopted the scheme would effect economies in the interests of the ratepayers, make for greater efficiency in the Council business, and also save a great amount of time which the Mayor had now to spend ou Council business. He said New Plymouth was fortunate in having a Mayor who was in a position of being aole to give the' ainbunt of time he did to the Jiorough affairs. He did not know what would hapften if there was a Mayor who was not able to devote his time to the work. The Council was now in the position of entering into big business undertakings, and it was not possible for any Councillor to give the amount of time necessary for their proper conduct, and he thought, as the Council's responsibilities in this direction Were likely to increase in the future, a scheme such as suggested in the report would be an economic proposition.

In seconding the motion, the Mayor said he had been withholding action in the matter, pending the outcome of the negotiations' between the Council and the Gas Company in regard to the purchase of the gas works. If the works were purchased by the Council he recognised thai something would have to be done. Speaking more generally, Mr. Burgess said the time was coming when, if the Council had to undertake more business schemes, such as gas supply and milk supply, they would not be able to get men to give the necessary amount of time for their proper control, and it would not be fair of ratepayers to expect men to give up such an amount of their time.

Cr. Clarke agreed that with the development of the business undertaking by municipalities it would become hv creasingly difficult to get men to give their time to attend to their operation, and he was in favor of the scheme suggested in the reportthe following sub-committee was appointed to deal with the question:, The Mayor, Crs. Clarke, Hayden, and Parkin.