A LAW NEEDING AMENEUENT

Taranaki Daily News, 30 August 1922, Page 4

A LAW NEEDING AMENEUENT

The statement, made in the House by Mr. Massey last night that “he thought the existing provisions of the Manic-pal Corporations Act with regard to trading between members and a local body were, perhaps, a little too severe and ought to be amended,” expresses : n a mild form the views which many public men would couch in stronger language. The recent trouble at Te Kuiti, where the Mayor was convicted for a breach of a law occasioned by his firm being paid for work actually performed before he assumed office, and the resignation of the Mayor of Te Awamutu in consequence of an inadvertent technical breach of the law by supplying goods to the Power Board, of which he is a member, twelve shillings in excess of the £5 limit, have again drawn attention to a law that was never intended to operate in the far-reaching way in which it does. In the case of the large cities there can be no doubt as to the Act being justified as a preventive of corruption, but in the provincial towns this law practically deprives the citizens of the services on the municipality or other boards of leading public men of the kind greatly needed to take part in administrative affairs. Tn the large cities there is available any number of good administrators, but in the smaller communities it is difficult, if not impossible, where municipal development and trading concerns arc carried, on to the extent they now are—an extension of activities which was never contemplated when the law was enacted —td find business, men who are not in some way or another doing what the law calls “trading” with the municipality, directly or indirectly. The fact that these men are barred from servine the citizens is a distinct handicap to good administration and progress. While admitting that the principle of the law is right in theory, there are ways of depriving it of its harsh effect in the smaller centres. Public life entails sacrifices, and while publicspirited men are willing to make all reasonable sacrifices of their time, it is not right they should also sacrifice their businesses when serving the public. Mr. Massey sees no prospect of altering the law this session to meet the needs of the smaller centres, but the matter is one by which a short Bill, to which there should be no real opposition, could be framed and passed. The handicap on the provincial towns is one that has existed too long, and should be removed at the earliest opportunity.