TWO-MEN CONTROL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 431, 16 January 1933, Page 3

TWO-MEN CONTROL

NAPIER'S EXPERIENCE TERM OF COMMISSIONERS TO EXPIRE IN MAY. ELECTION TO BE HELD. Preparations are now being made for the first municipal election to be held in Napier for four- years. The Commissioners, Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M., and Mr. L. B. Campbell, who have been in control of Napier's civlc affairs since March 20, 1931, following the' earthquake, are to withdraw shortly, and in common with' other New Zealand municipalities, a poll will be taken on May 3 next for the election of Mayor and councillors, 11 in number. It is probable that a poll will be taken on the same date on the question of the statutory half-holiday, which was changed after the earthquake from Saturday to Thursday after noon. There is a possibility that a third issue will also be decided — the operation of the municipal tramway service, which was susp-ended following the disaster, for the reason that it was considered that other public amenities were more important and had better claims on expenditure than the trams, which had been operated at an annual lo.ss of over £6000. The election of Napier's three represeritatives on the Napier Harbour Board, the Hawke's Bay Hospital Board and the Hawkes Bay Electric Power Board will be held at tbe same time. Although tbe election of Mayor and councillors will restore the system of direct representation of the people, the termination of the office of the commissioners will be greatly regretted in many quarters. Control by commissioners has proved exceedingly efficient, and is held by many to have been the salvation of Napier. The appointment of two full-time commissioners, able to meet at a moment's , notice and promptly finalise negotiations which, if handled by a council meeting fortnightly, would have been protracted, has been responsible for the speedy decision of many questions, and the quick completion of man tasks in the rehabilitation of the town. The value of the services of full-time commissioners of administrative ability such as that possessed by Mr. Barton, who is a qualified public aceountant, as well as a barrister, has been proved beyond doubt ' during the last 20 months, particularly in the handling of involved matters such as town planning, and, more particularly, the raising of finance at a time of restricted credit. The technical side of the commission's task has received the constant attention of Mr. Campbell, who is an insp-ecting engineer of the Power Works Depai'tment, and it has been possible to carry out a big programme of works in the minimum time. Napier, since March 20, 1931, has enjoyed the benefits of a system of administration which has proved an object lesson at a time when the local body administrative system is being considerably criticised.