Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 1929. POLITICAL INTERFERENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3991, 31 August 1929, Page 2

Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 1929. POLITICAL INTERFERENCE.

SO long as polities are permitted to interfere and override the constitutional powers and defined poli-* eies of local governing bodies, so long will' there be trouble and : dissatisfaction. We know of cases where the considered opinions' of local authorities have been overridden by political interference. Of course it is justifiable that local bodies should call in the 'assistance, when necessary, of members of Parliament, to hurry up departmental attention, but such activity should be in accordance with and not independent of the local authorities. Hospital Boards and Education Boards in the past have had their powers undermined by political interference. In the House last night a wordy battle, which at times descended to personalities, took place between Colonel McDonald (Wiairavapa) and Mr. J. A. Nash (Palmerston N.) in connection with the erection.of the Central School at Palmerston North some years ago. Colonel McDonald in stirring up that building muddle was not actuated by a spirit of fair play in ventilating the subject. At the request of the Wanganui Education Bjoard Mr. fNa|sh was asked to hurry up the Department in the erection of this school. He did so. The Department? however, took the whole matter out of the Board’s hands, appointed an independent architect, and carried on, with the result that the Board has been compelled to make good the defects of a very bad job —and at considerable expense which could have been avoided had the Board not been over-ridden. To say that the blame for this rests on the shoulders of the member for Palmerston North is manifestly unfair. The blame must rest on the shoulders of the Department, which is now paying the price for its foolish and unconstitutional interference with the Board’s activities.