The Hokitika Guardian FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 1922. THE LOCAL BODIES CONFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 January 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 1922. THE LOCAL BODIES CONFERENCE.

On the whole the local bodies’ conference held on Wednesday night was a fair beginning along useful lines. The attendance, while not as large as could be expected for sr- important an occasion, was thoroughly representative, and the discussions' showed a very intelligent interest in the affairs before the meeting—varied as the order paper was. At the outset the Borough Council was very rightly tributed for the economical and generally careful manner in which it arried on its administration. The Council very properly is living within itis mearns. The overdraft is kept down, and the volume of work is regulated by the income. This is sound administration so far as it goes, and “to that extent the results are praiseworthy. It was stated however, the conference waa intended as a useful adjunct to the work 1 of the local bodies by expressing public opinion and viewing questions of the hour from the public rather than the loal body standpoint. This move wa s stimulated by the better times nhend for the town and district, and by the desire to participate in those. 1 improved conditions as they arrived.

As was remarked the other evening, it was a case of sotting the house in order so as to enable the town in particular to reap to fuller advantage the good times as soon as tney were here. There is another aspect to

and one which woujd appeal to the members of the Borough Council, namely the pleasure it gave to see the public taking an interest in their own affairs. Hokitika will be exactly what the people make it. The Council will be a reflex of the peoples’ views and desires, and by asserting themselves, coming out into the open and ventilating local needs and the desire to help in supplying those need b the Borough Council will be greatly assisted in its work, relieved of responsibility, and in fact encouraged to launch out more and more. The triennial conference meetings proposed should therefore be of civic value, helping to lift the town ahead and stimulating public and even private action towards so desirable an end. Citizenship calls for mutual co-opera-tion if the best results are desired. It ig not enough if once every two year s the electors go to the ballot box, record their votes and leave the rest to the chosen It is not enough if once every two weeks the chosen meet together and deal briefly with the business brought before them. The personal interest and touch are re-

quired to enliven the proceedings, and these conference meetings at regulated intervals will serve an 'excellent purpose' in affording the opportunity to ventilate public opinion, Voice progressive steps, and generally review civic work, not in a carping spirit, but with a desire to do the best and get the best out of the means available Those means in a small community are restricted necessarily, which is all the more reason why there should be cooperative help to get the best out of the means avilable. In this way it becomes possible to develope a municipal policy of progress. To go step by step from good to better and ultimately to find that by the concerted action the citizens working hand in hand with the Council, achieving a great deal which will be reflected all over the town for the good of the community at large.