CITY GOVERNMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11574, 18 December 1915, Page 4

CITY GOVERNMENT.

AMERICAN BUSINESS SYSTEM. OI TI.IM.i) Itv AN At Tlitii:! IV. tie. I'M !••(! |.\ 'nil !•: I! X I-,'. ( lie : rma n liusine-- System of (to. .tilii. ~ (. ommitteo, I udiaiia.j Five iea i lire.- are in e 'ssa ry ,n a t'nrn ; . s\-.-11'ln of city •:ovi';'!i■ ie : ill : Fil -i. a tinlti'd l,;>d\ of s I'ock iioid: S.H'ii'i i, elect ion of r- •:>» ch-.11 aI ; • a boa I'd I.l' eoiillcd ioi's or ii; I: .a ;>;v ie' Ihe • • oe'Ji,:!, I.c- a t large v, ii belli pal I y ilivr-iosi. and Iron' the city at !.• w ! 111.1111 ward divi-ion. Third, ilf m4>« lion of active officiallor thin 1 .pmli'iea i toils e\p"i ,n; sbv •- >n;sll I'cpi osel>l at ivc bdy id the citizens. Knurl li. ioiiv' tenure of oRUnv !' I! i. ab I ii! v of Ibe people or lb; peopic lei ii e.-out a t ives to remove ol'i'f '»e bti-ine.-.s ..ysicm of cii y governnieilf provide lei th.' el'Viioli ... board i.f councillor- rri.-i-tiir: oi' I w.'iu' v-t've immiiei.s in ciiie; of Ihe i'u si clas i, sio ~|iieen in ritv, oi' the so'oild clas>. eleven in cities of the third cla-'.. and niim in cities of the fourth a a I til ill < las-e •. At Ihe first eleel ioa Oiic-hall t i.c board is elected 1 for four yvars. ami the cidicr li-iif to' •«o years Tiiei caller an eieciien e hi-ld every two yvat's for <ine-li.:ii' ef the v, "nose tei nis than are alw.iv> four year-. (.d'AUFit A'l lOXS. <,ii!aiiik':ilitms I'm- 111 - boa;\l of eouti-r-illor.s aie thai jMe caiididal e lin.'s! a-e a citizen of the Foiled .States, a ijiialilied voter, and must have raided in his city ior a period of three yea is preceding tic election. No pa ii y or svtional designation--etin apf.ear on tho ballot; the candidal. 1 must lie elected as a non-nan i.san from the city at large. A primary election is held at v;!:;V!i those candidate.- who. in equal to twice the nui!ib"r of councillor... io he elected, have rc-eived the highest liuinber of vote- abo\-e any other candidates in the primary are declared 1 he nominee-, to lie voted Tor a! the regular election. . FA'PFRTXFSS AXI) FFPJC TFXCY. Under the business system of government tiie board of councillors in each city will no doubt adopt the poiicy of taking their ofhcials from amo'm- their citizens. Yon who have had experience with city problems and city management. and have aefamioi; bad results under conditions that were adverse and irym;:. will have a rebirth ol usefulness to your communities, under the business -system of government. with every opportunity to obtain cxpertitess and cHic'ency. free I'iom t(he fret and le.vcr ot poiiiiis and the disturbances by politicians, job-hunt, i ami the seekers for favours, you will be able to do vast tilings for voiir cities and their people. You will then b 1 able to apprei iatc with overflowing souls the difference- between the old' way which you already know ami the new way wliieli, let us hope, you soon will know. You who then will return to municipal service will do mi with tho consciousness that you have reentered it not in purivuf ot" politic*, but as havintr taken it up as a profession, a business, in w-hich you will want to succeed and' will want to continue. increasing your usefulness, adding to your efficiency, and giving breadth to your fame. PI.AX AXD KXHCCTF. f ndcr the business system of government wo can ohm and we can execute. Tile citizens of our progressive cities will, under this system, be inspired with new hope and imbued with the spirit ol enterprise* and progress when they find thai now, for the first time, they will have an opportunity to select well-qualified men to put tiie affairs ot their city on a sound, healthy basis, and have them administered under economical. efficient conditions, without the waste that i- now so apparent. And on the other hand tho officials and employees el the city will, fm- the. first time, have an opportunity of putting their entire attention to the management and development of their city, ■each man for himself, giving the best that is in. him, tree from political and private interference; and the, officials will become more and more efficient as the experience of each year will make them more expert and qualified' for their work.