The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET. AUCKLAND FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1929 CHANGES IN CITY GOVERNMENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 595, 22 February 1929, Page 8

The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET. AUCKLAND FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1929 CHANGES IN CITY GOVERNMENT

AUCKLAND CITY is to lose its engineer. Mr. W. E. Busli lias been appointed engineer for tbe water supply and sewerage department of the Greater Brisbane Council. His prospective departure, which will mark the close of a fine record of constructive public service over a score of years brings into prominence the fact that other changes in the administration of this city may be brought about within a few months. The biennial municipal elections will be held on May Day—the day in the Old World for merrymaking and, in some countries, for revolutionary demonstrations.

It is to be hoped that Auckland citizens will be content with evolutionary activities and thus happily make a drastic change in the calibre of the present elected administration. As one of the most sedate of journalistic critics observed two years ago, “to patriotic citizens, the prospect of a continuance of this (administrative) paralysis must be deplorable.” Many of the old brigade of administrators who have been afflicted with the sickness of a municipal palsy could be dismissed with less regret than that associated with the forthcoming loss of a competent engineer whose good work often has been hindered and marred by a bad administration. Unfortunately, municipal electors are stricken with chronic apathy. Almost in every British community throughout the Empire observers of civic affairs have asked in despair why the ordinary citizen does not bother himself more about local government. The only answer, because it is the most obvious one, is that local government is a dull affair. Occasionally, interest becomes aroused to such a pitch as to raise a municipal election to the exciting importance of a national political poll, but as a rule that sort of keenness is inspired only by some scandal or by an aggravated form of incompetence. Therefore, so long as local government keeps respectable and dull, the average British citizen does not bother much about the business for which he pays so heavily these days. Civic apathy in New Zealand is notoriously bad. In this respect Auckland probably is neither better nor worse than the other municipal centres. It ought, however, to be branded as the worst centre because it has the greatest reasons for being better. Of all the 690 local bodies that spend public money more or less profligately in this over-governed country—their indebtedness has jumped in twenty years or so from £11,000,000 to over £56,000,000 in round figures—Auckland spends most and imposes the highest rates on its apathetic people. Time and extravagant experiences have combined to make such apathy appear as unpardonable stupidity.

A few days ago the Auckland Electric-Power Board sought the authority of its ratepayers to borrow £675,000 for essential development of its highly profitable service. Thirty thousand persons approximately were entitled to vote, but only 4,877 of the total had energy or interest sufficient enough to vote. Fortunately, the board had an excellent appeal, but that did not excuse the disgraceful apathy and indolence of the ratepayers. More interest than that usually is taken in the municipal elections. Still, even these at their best fail to break the lethargic spirit of a multitude of drowsy and irresponsible citizens. Thousands ignore the poll and later curse the consequences of their laziness. There should be a great stirring of the stagnant pool this year. The city needs alert and progressive government. Every British man and woman, 21 years of age, with twelve months’ Dominion residence, and three months’ residence within the city’s boundaries, not only has the right to vote, but has the responsibility and duty of voting. It is not to be expected that an apathetic administration will bestir itself to encourage the citizens to go to the poll. The result of such encouragement might not be complimentary. Good government is one of Auckland’s greatest needs, and it is the plain duty of responsible citizens to arouse themselves and secure it.