The Wanganui Herald (Published Daily.) SATURDAY, JULY 24, 1920. BOROUGH MANAGEMENT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160710, 24 July 1920, Page 4

The Wanganui Herald (Published Daily.) SATURDAY, JULY 24, 1920. BOROUGH MANAGEMENT.

During the discussion on the question of borough finance at the Borough Council meeting on Tues’day evening Crs. Gower and Luxford voiced an opinion which has been gathering force in Wanganui for some time past, viz., the appointment of an expert to take entire charge of municipal affairs. Gr. Gower suggested the appointment of a business man, and Cr. Luxford made use of the term “Doctor of Municipal Management.” The idea is not new, New Plymouth /some little time back having taken similar action (and, by the way, the .Mayor of New Plymouth expresses himself as very well pleased with the innovation), and we note that the Mayor of Napier (Mr J. Vigor Brown, M.P.) is moving in the same direction. Discussing the question with a Napier Telegraph reporter, Mr Brown said it appeared to him that the time had arrived when the Council would have to go further into the matter of appointing a general manager. There were so many business propositions to be looked after now that the clerical staff could not be expected to carry them out. For example, they had municipal baths, theatre, electric lighting, abattoirs, cemetery, destructor, and two libraries, and these required expert attention. The heads of the various departments carried out their duties as well as was possible, but as far as he could see there was a want of grip in connection with Council matters. Their undertakings were ■ getting bigger every day, and closer supervision was required. Mr Brown said he was satisfied that the salary of a manager would be more than repaid in the savings in the costs of things purchased by the Council.