GOVT. REPRESENTATION

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 721, 22 December 1933, Page 4

GOVT. REPRESENTATION

Taking all aspects of the matter into consideration the borough council made a wise decision on Wednesday evening when it decided not to endeavour to alter the existing Government representation on the council. Councillor Johnson, v/ho brought J forward a notice of motion to dispense with Government representation, was justified in bringing the matter forward for consideration and did so in a very fair and moderate manner. The council has no complaint whatever with the present representatives who have both i taken a very active part in the ! work and deliberations of the ! council as a body, but, as the ! mayor explained, the motion was justified on the contention that the council should be an entirely elective body. In theory this argument is unanswerable, but in practice the present system is probably the better working arrangement. The Government has such extensive interests in the town and its departmental organisation is so interwoven with the borough administration that active Government representation on the council is a distinct advantage. The Government representatives act as liaison offtcers and there is no question that their presence eliminates a great deal of correspondence and detailed work j as well as giving the advantage j of personal contact. In addition, there is the distinct possibility that the removal of Government representation would be eonstrued as an antagonistic gesture to the Government and this is something which is neither desirable nor intended. The work of Government departments in the town, as with the work of local bodies, does not always meet with general public approval, but it must in fairness be conceded that the Government through various administrations and particularly under the regime of the late Sir Joseph Ward, has done a great j deal to develop and enhance the ! attractions of the town and dis- 1 trict. In this the Government's | interests and the interests of the ! people of the district are one and j it is essential, if progress is to j continue, that the harmonious j relations at present existing j should be continued and improv- j ed upon. The people of Rotorua j are not losing through the pre- ; sence of two Government repre- ! sentatives upon the council and while present conditions continue j the interests of the ratepayers j in general will not suffer if the j present system is maintained. j — . i