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COUNCILS AND THE PRESS
iSHiea the Minister for
Wpt}u and Local Govern
ment, Mr. J. B. Benshaw,
made Ms recent statement
atHappmine that, "It is
Important for councils to
take the press into their
confidence so that the
publicmay be fully inform
ed df the activities around
-thorn,!.,, he knew some
* " in the state had
-the press, as
atatives of the
from many delib
of vital import
ance, and interest to rate
payer*. ■
fortunately for the re
sidents of the Bland Shire,
thp.-council has always
b&aymbst helpful and co
operative towards the
press. Most of the discus
sions on public matters
are always held in open
council, and information is
supplied on request.
However, it appears
that the councillors must
take one more step if they
are to make all available
information to the people
who elect them.
Quite often, important
questions of council's finances
and rnral electricity
are discussed in committee.
It is realised that
masses of detail, such as
tenders etc., should not be
made available, as it
might prejudice the council
in its transactions.
However, a statement
of the result of committee
discussions would be most
helpful. Cr. L. J. McGann,
a former journalist who
realises the value of council
information to the pub
lie, has long pressed fori
the release of statements
on committee matters
which are of vital interest.
It is to be hoped that it
will not be long before the
council adopts this recommendation
in practice, and
so completely comply with
the minister's request.
LIAISON BETWEEN COUNCIL AND
CHAMBER OP COMMERCE
A function such as the
-Chamber of Commerce's
Christmas party, which
was attended by two shire
councillors and one officer,
must strengthen cordial
relations between the
chamber and the council.
It was suggested that
farther liaison between
the two bodies was necessary,
and that the attendance
of a council representative
at chamber
meetings might be helping
- It is doubtful whether
t^e attendance of such a
representative would solve
the differences between
the two bodies. If a coun
cillor attended the meet
ings, he would not be able
to speak on behalf of the
council or give decisions
on their behalf. On the
contary, his presence
might stifle usevU com
ments and discussions in
the chamber meetings.
As in other towns, diff
erences between the coun
cil and the chamber of
commerce will continue to
exist. And as in most af
fairs, it will be the people
who should decide which
has the strongest case,
and should make their
voices heard in all contro
versial matters.
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