The Timaru Herald WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1937 MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF NEW ZEALAND

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20672, 10 March 1937, Page 8

The Timaru Herald WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1937 MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF NEW ZEALAND

Municipal government involving the local control of the administration of the affairs of the cities ami boroughs of New Zealand, has become so firmly established in the scheme of things in this country that the annual conference of thp Municipal Association of New Zealand is looked upon as one of the most important gatherings in the affairs of this young nation. Not a few municipalities represented at the conference have their roofs back in the early days of settlement in New Zealand, and those municipalities, together with others that have been constituted as orderly government was introduced in the centres of population, have from time Io time become associated with the annual conferences that have been held annually for twenty-seven years. And to-day, as the splendid representation that constituted the conference assembled in the Bay Hall last night, demonstrated, the municipal administrators represent an important unit of the government of the country. From time to time, the public-spirited men and women who serve the community in the administration of municipal affairs, are subject to lively criticism and sometimes their actions are misunderstood and misconstrued. But the amazing progress that is revealed in the cities and boroughs of New Zealand demonstrates most emphatically the measure of success achieved by municipal government in New Zealand. It is acknowledged that year by year, mayors and councillors in all centres of population in New Zealand give generously of their time and their talents, and as vacancies are caused by death and retirement other worthy citizens come forward to fill the gaps in the ranks of the municipal administrators. All are inspired by the highest motives. It can be admitted, of course, that mistakes —and grievous and costly mistakes—have from time Io lime been made in the administration of iiiiiuicipal affairs, but it can also be said by way of rejoinder, Hint an institution or organisation that is dependent for ils impulse upon members of the community who are subject to human limitations, is free from errors of judgment. But, generally speaking, it can be said of the work of those engaged in the administration of municipal affairs that although their names will not be written on memorial tablets, they have their reward; indeed, those who seek a monument to the work of the public-spirited men and women who have, down the seventy years of municipal government in New Zealand, served their day and generation, have but to look around them. In a comparatively short period of years the cities' and boroughs of New Zealand have attained a standard of progress that calls forth praise and admiration even from distinguished visitors from overseas. The conference will give the municipal administrators a well-earned opportunity to exchange views on municipal affairs. It can be said without reservation that the conference will accomplish good work and the respective delegates will go back to their tasks in their own districts inspired by the knowledge that they are playing important and muchappreciated roles in promoting the progress of the country, and are contributing something to enhance the welfare of the people. REORGANISING LOCAL GOVERNMENT. Something in the nature of a challenge was issued by the Minister of Internal Affairs, in his references to proposals for the reorganisation of local government he made in the course of his address before the conference of the Municipal Association of New Zealand, last night. The Minister claimed that the Government in the course it proposes to pursue in relation to drastic changes in the system of local government, would be following the dictates of democracy:

“A strong system of local government is one of the best protectors of democracy,” said the Minister. “If you lose local government, centralisation will take place and you are paving the way for dictatorships.”

That is precisely the question on which the defenders of local government join issue with the Minister. The opposition to the Minister’s policy is not based on objection to any mutually-acceptable amalgamation proposals, but on the well-grounded fear that democratic control will disappear because the Minister intends to take authority in the legislation he proposes to carry through Parliament, that will invest him with the powers of a dictator. The Minister says the Government is desirous of the people running the country, through their elected representatives both central and local, yet the Minister is determined, even if local governing bodies oppose his reorganisation plans, to take the matter into his own hands, and enact his own schemes in certain areas.' If, however, the Minister is really sincere in bis defence of the true traditions of democracy he will hesitate before taking authority to enable the Government to usurp the functions of local government. The Minister, on his part, scouts the very suggestion that his proposal to constitute wider areas which will embrace what the Minister describes as “social and economic-entities'’ will destroy local interest. He says he finds it hard to follow the reasoning of those who say that drastic reorganisation of local government will result in loss of local interest. If the Minister seeks an answer to his contention, he should take a passing glance at the classic example of the destruction of local interest through the broadening of areas under the so-called local administration of education. This has resulted from the insiduous stripping of local authority through the determination of policy gradually passing into the hands of the Minister and Hie Department. Let him then, contemplate the chaotic state into which I he administration of education has deteriorated. Local authority and local interest have practically ceased. Bureaucracy has replaced democracy. Manifestly the utmost care should be exercised by the Minister in proceeding with the reorganisation of the existing system of local government. Splendid work has been done and the records of progress stand unchallenged. The Minister insists that “local government must remain the sphere of activity of the very best of our citizens. It is on this rock that the Minister’s plans to reorganise local government may be wrecked. The “very best of our citizens” have not unlimited time to devote to the services of the community*, as a matter of fact the average citizen invariably finds the demands made upon him, if engaged in the administration of municipal affairs, as much as he can reasonably give. The Minister suggests that pride of personal achievement on the part of councillors will inspire men Io accept considerably increased duties, but it must be born in mind that unless it is intended to create a class of professional local body representatives who will regard community service as something of a vacation, there is danger in introducing any change in the system that will make bigger calls on the time of those who serve the community in the local government of the country.