GOVERNMENT OF SYDNEY

Hokitika Guardian, 5 January 1928, Page 4

GOVERNMENT OF SYDNEY

END OF CORRUPT REGIME. HUNT FOR RIGHT MEN. SYDNEY, Dec. 29. One of the buttle cries ol the Nationalist Party during the campaign which ended in the ousting ot the Lang Government in New South "Wales was: “Abolish the City Council.” It would seem a queer battle-cry in this democratic age to win an election, for it was the declared intention of Mr Bavin, the Nationalists’ leader, and now Premier of the State, to end the municipal franchise and appoint a Civic Commission to govern the city. But to those who knew Sydney’s City Council, the evidence of flagrant cor-

ruption and bribery within its ranks, especially among the Labour aldermen, the ruling faction for many years, was irrefutable, and it was certain that 90 per cent, of metropolitan electors at least supported this plank of the Nationalists’ policy. Mr. Ravin effected bis announced intention of abolishing the City Council in the first short session of tb.e new Parliament by carrying a Rill with that purpose. The Labour Opposition naturally founded their intense bitterness towards the measure by declaiming about strangling of ratepayers’ rights, but they neglected to mention that the ratepayers themselves were demanding the execution of the Tammany methods at the Town Hall, if not of the Council, and they agreed with Mr Ravin that the best way to get rid of the Tammany disease was to cut away the lot-

ting flesh. 'Whether government by Commission will be permanent depends on the success or failure of the present Commission during flic two years lor which it was appointed. Mr Ravin’s easiest task in this change of Sydney’s history was the passing of the Bill. Then began a hunt for suitable men to form the Commission. Above all, they had to be men of honour untainted, in whom Sydney’s population, especially the ratepayers, would have explicit trust. After several weeks ol search Mr Ravin announced that be had secured the services of two men, both exports in various phases ol municipal work. They were Mr John Garlick, a former Under-Secretary of Local Government, and at the time of his appointment, chairman of the Main Roads Board, and Mr 11. E. Morton, Melbourne's City Engineer. Their salaries were to lie £.‘looo a year. Being a State servant, it was easy to transplant Mr Garlick from one position to another. Mr Morton’s position was more delicate. lie accepted the position on the understanding that the Melbourne City Council would grant him the necessary two years’ leave of absence, but this tbc Council refused to do. Mr Morton then took matters into bis own bands by resigning bis position in Melbourne. Mr Ravin’s next task was to find a, chairman for the Commission. With an acknowledged expert in local government affairs as one member, and a foremost civic engineer as another, the obvious faculties for the third and principal member wore financial and organising abilities. Mr Bavin set out

tc find one. Bankers, leading accountants, economic experts, heads of big <" mpanies. and industrial concerns were approached, nibbled at the bait,and one by one refused it. The salary of £SOOO a year attached to the chairmanship was enticing, hut the limited period of two years for the definite life of the Commission—although if might lie longer—led all those approached to slick ti their own highiy-remuncralive p- dtions. Mr W. G. Cleary, general manager of Tooth’s, Ltd., Australia’s

largest, brewery, thought over it longest, but finally lie, too, decided that the rise of £SOO a year from his present. salary was not sufficient to recompense. him for ihe uncertainty after the first two years of the Commission's existence. No sooner had he definitely refused it than Mr Bavin announced the name of the new chairman. Evidently lie had this name up his sleeve. It was that of .Air K. P. Fleming, who a little more than twelve months ago, 101 l the Under-Secretaryship of the New South Wales Department of 1 -uls to become a member of the Commonwealth Development and Migration Commission at .£3OOO a year.

Air Fleming's appointment as, chief <if Sydney’s Government is tiie culmination of a romantic rise. Ten years ago ho was a humble clerk in the Stato il .'.ci vile. :ei-'‘iving, alter 28 years' work, f. 7 a week.- '1 lien lie was made oHirer in charge of hills and legal matters, and in that capacity came into close and confidential touch with the various Adihmistrjitions. When the affairs of the Soldiers’ Settlement branch of the Lands Depnrtmep' came so scandalously involved that a lloyal Commission was appointed to eiKjuire into the mess, and reported e.itically noon it, 'Mr Fleming was given charge of the work of clearing up the tangle. So efficiently did he do it that he came directly under the

notice of the then Alinister for Lands (.Mr Peter Loughlin), who recommended him for the post of Acting-Under* Secretary of the Department. This the Public. Service Board declined to do, owing to Air Fleming’s lack of seniority, but it bumped his salary up to £7OO a year to give him the seniority necessary for the next vacancy. This came in 1922, when Mr Fleming was appointed at £IOOO a year. Within twelve months tlic salary had been increased to £I4OO a year. In September, 192(1, Mr Bruce, looking round for personnel to place on the Development and Migration Commission, picked out Air Fleming, and gave him £3OOO a year. " Who will deny,” said one paper, in announcing, .Mr Fleming’s appointment, “ that Australia is a land of opportunity? ”