TOO MUCH RESTRICTION.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17326, 11 February 1928, Page 6

TOO MUCH RESTRICTION.

Thc Borough. Council at its meeting on Thursday evening decided to enter a strong protest against the increasing interference by State Departments in municipal business. The immediate cause of the protest was an intimation from the Department of Industries and Commerce that a further conference, covering the Board • of Trade's gas regulations would be held on the 14th instant. ■His Worship the Mayor pointed out that while the proposed regulations might justifiably be applied to a private company which had monopoly to supply a much needed commodity to the public, the case was somewhat different when control was vested in a body elected by the public to administer the business on the public behalf. There is undoubtedly a growing inclination on the part of the Stale Departments to harass local bodies in the discharge of their duties, and it is questionable whether such interference makes for efficiency, it certainly does not result in economy. It has not been shown that the civil service possesses such a large measure of business acumen and ability that it should be permitted to rule and regulate municipal enterprise, but its craze for meddling is becoming burdensome and galling, and unless a hall is called it will unquestionably end in men of repute in a community refusing to serve on local bodies. At the general election three years ago a popular slogan was “Less Government in business and more business in government.” It would be well if that slogan were converted into a principle, and the principle acted upon by those who adopted the slogan. Representative Government is developing into a system of administration by Order-in-Council, and the powers and privileges of local bodies are being gradually whittled away.