The Waikato Independent Incorporating "The Cambridge Gazette." SATURDAY, JULY 22, 1922. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Waikato Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2575, 22 July 1922, Page 4

The Waikato Independent Incorporating "The Cambridge Gazette." SATURDAY, JULY 22, 1922. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Advance

Leamington!

Now that the Leamington Town District has been enlarged by the inclusion of Flat Park, the increased population entitles the residents of the district, if they so desire it, to constitute an independent town district. Steps are now being taken in this direction, and as thero will almost certainly be no objection to the proposal, Leamington will very shortly be a ■ town district, whose affairs will be controlled entirely by its own Town Board. The present dual control —Town Board and Waipa County Council —is unsatisfactory, and does not tend to economical local government, and when the new state of affairs is brought about much better results should be attained. As a result of a census just taken, it has been ascertained that the population of Leamington, including the new area just added, is 615, which qualifies the district to have an independent board—ji population of 500 is required before this can be granted. At present the Town. Board levies a general rate of '■ oW penny in the pound, while the Waipa County Council also imposes a rate ..of f|d, making a total rate of X£d ia the pound. It is confidently anticipated that the Town Board can manage comJ'fortabljr on a rate of Kd. Thus the change" should not only result, in.a' eonsolidationfoi local government effort.

but also in a reduced rate, which, will, of course, be welcomed by the residents. The increased scope given to the Board should also tend to stimulate interest in local government affairs, and this should also have good results.

Borough Council , t , , Committee Work. His Worship the Mayor has given notice to move at next meeting of the Borough Council in the direction of setting up three committees —Works, Finance and Legal, and Drainage—to deal with Council business, instead of this work being done by the whole Council in committee, as is the present procedure. We hope that this motion will bo carried, for such a movement would undoubtedly make for the more efficient and smooth working of Borough affairs, and prove more satisfactory in every way. It seems to us that the main object of committee work is to allow concentrated effort on particular business that may inquire the attention of those best fitted to deal with same, and thus the present system of dealing with all business by the Council as a whole in committee defeats the very object aimed at. It is only reasonable to expect that there is waste of effort in a full Council of ten giving attention to details that a committee of three or four might do equally as well, if not better. Moreover, there is a tendency, when the Council as a whole sits in committee, to deal with questions that should be considered in public, and thus we find that, unconsciously, municipal matters of considerable importance are discussed and practically settled in committee, and the public are ignorant of the reasons that led to these actions. Of courso there are matters that it is wise to deal with in committee, but this prerogative should not bo abused, and there is a feeling in Cambridge—and not without reason, we think —that our Borough Council has done business in committee that should have been clone in open Council, and reported by the press. The Council's present procedure as regards committee work has been a most uncommon one in regard to local bodies and we are convinced that the Mayor's proposal, if carried into effect, will prove a step in the right direction, and make for better local government.