LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 109, 1 February 1919, Page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

EXTENSION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AVBLLINGTON CITY AND SURROUNDING DISTRICTS. ' Sir,—As tho municipal clcctions aro approaching, there are «v few problems that should bo before the ratepayers and electors at this time, The past few months have revealed somo of the defects in our municipal control which demand amendment. First of all, wo have the ever-present defect of overcrowding in the city and all its attendant evils. Then, again, the problem of transit to the suburbs, which calls for a better state of management, and extension to several districts, which have waited patiently these last few years. Then we have that obsolete system of Hospital management by the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. It seems a pity that, when the Legislature framed that, Act, it did not do away with that board altogether. At the present time wo havo that board spending ratepayers' money while they are not responsible to tho ratepayers for it. The City and Borough Councils have to find the money for them. Then, again electors are to choose Harbour Board representatives. There seems to bo 'very little interest taken by the general public in these harbour boards. Why not let these harbours he controlled by the State, as has been done during the war to a great extent? There should be no difficulty in the Government effectively controlling tho harbours of New Zealand. This will he said to be a destructive policy. Well, let us look at the proposal of a constructive policy. First of all, electors of city and <JSs--1 riots adjacent should choose representatives at tho coming municipal elections who nTo favourable to a scheme whereby wo could havo for city and districts adjacent something after the style of tho London County Council's, where* bv these details such as hospital administration, tramway administration, congestion in city and its remedies, our new milk enterprise, and several others might be_ fielded from time to time, would rewive special and exoert ronsklerafion. To housing problem for Wellington must he faced before,very long. At tlm present rate of building of Government workmen's homes this effort is a. mere drop in the bucket. Before very long the municipal authorities will have to do something in this direction. At the present, tho council, as constituted, seems to have its hands full. No doubt, there would lie some opposition from tho local bodies against amalgamation, but anyone can see that as at present constituted they do not make for economy or efficiency. Where the city has taken over the control of certain districts there have been improvements. Whereas Petone, for instance, seems to tye a place distinct from the city, both it .end the city would bs> the better to lx> under one efficient administration, and in Baying this I recognise there is room for improvement in the administration of the city. I believe our present Mayor, Mr. Luke, is in favour of somo form of extension on these lines; whether lie would go so fains I havo pointed out I do not know. However, the present seems to be a suitable time for some opinions on those subjects.—l am, etc., T'HOS. M. MILLIGAN. January 23, 191!),