Huge Organisation.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20543, 19 February 1935, Page 6

Huge Organisation.

73,000 Employees.

London County Council’s Work. Per Press Association. _ WELLINGTON, This Day. JNTERESTING INFORMATION regarding the “ Parliament of London ” —the London County Council—was given by a notable Londoner, Colonel Sir John Perring, who arrived yesterday from Sydney by the Makura in the course of a world tour. Sir John is one of the altruistic body of men and women who devote most of their time in an honorary capacity to the work of the London County Council, on which he has served continuously for the last thirteen years. From 1926 until March, 1934, Sir John vyas continuously chairman of the Establishment Committee, which controls an administrative, professional .and technical staff of over 5000 persons. Labour in Control. In March of last year the Labour Party took over the control of the London County Council, and the Municipal Reform Party, which had governed for twentv-seven years’ gave up that charge. The Municipal Reform Party before the election, said Sir John, had a five .years’ programme of housing and slum clearance involving an expenditure of from £35,000,000 to £37,000,000. Already there were many housing estates, comprising 10,000 workmen s homes, built on the fringe of London. He had no reason to doubt that the Labour Party would go forward with that policy. The Right Hon Herbert Morrison, who was Labour leader in the London County Council to-day, was Minister of Transport in the late Labour Government. Sir John said that he had a high opinion of Mr Morrison’s ability and thought he had a great future in front of him. At the same time, he was somewhat nervous of the party behind Mr Morrison, in that it might be restless and urge Mr Morrison to greater activities than he was prepared to undertake. London County Hall. The outstanding event during Sir John’s occupancy of the chair of the Establishment Committee was the erection of the final section of the County Hall at a cost of about £75,000. He said that the council was now contemplating putting up another building facing the County Hall, which probably would cost £1,000,000. It might be surprising to know that 40,000 medical examinations took place annually at the County Hall, and when one learns that there are 73,000 people working under the authority of the council, the extent of the council’s activities may be realised. As for the building itself, the total cost was £3,636,533, and it has enabled the council to gather under one roof thousands of employees who were previously scattered in different buildings. In the library of the County Hall is a glass containing about thirty seals. These are the seals of the various corporations the London County Council has drawn under its control and supplanted. Empire Preference. In all purchases made by the London County Council, said Sir John, Empire preference was given. A total of 110,000 people were fed daily and the London County Council contracted for supplies of meat from Australia and New Zealand and for other produce. It was laid down that Empire preference must be given up to 10 per cent above the price of articles from foreign countries. No contract was entered into unless it was confirmed by the General Purposes Committee, which invariably confirmed Empire preference. Sir John Lady Perring intend touring bpth the North and South Islands before returning to England via Honolulu.