FOR CIVIC SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 143, 13 March 1939, Page 8

FOR CIVIC SERVICE

One of the remits from Christchurch to the Municipal Confeiencc at Dunedin proposed that “the Government be requested to iiiake provision in the Municipal Corporations Act for the payment of fixed allowances to members of city and borough councils, or as alternative that provision be made for members of city or borough councils to be compensated for monetary loss resulting from time lost from their permanent employment while attending the business of the council. Fortunately, it was rejected. If this principle were accepted the logical result would be its extension to other local bodies, such as hospital and harbour boards. Local government would be loaded with a huge extra expense. That is a material objection, but theie is another, and much stronger one, which touches the spirit and morale of civic service. This has already been impaired by.the introduction of party politics into local government. Paid service would inevitably cause further deterioration. .. Public service on local bodies involves some sacrifice of time and effort. There may even be some financial sacrifice. But theie has been no lack in the past of public-spirited citizens prepared to come forward in the service of their communities, and there is not likely to be in the future. The service is the more valuable because it is performed voluntarily, and without regard to the cost in peisonal sacrifices. Tn recent years honorary effort in various community activities has been considerably encroached upon and discouraged by the intervention of officialism. If service in local government were placed, so to speak, on a commercial basis, public spit it would experience another blow.