outline for work in municipal councils' (194?) -- communist party of australia

8/14/2019 'Outline for Work in Municipal Councils' (194?) -- Communist Party of Australia

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O U T L IN E FO R W O R K I NM U N IC IP L C U U N G IL S

UNIST PM7V PUBLICATION pr/CC Zf


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O U T L I N E F O R W O R KIN

M U N I C I P A L C O U N C I L S

Pr in t e d b y t h e Ch al l e n ge Pr e ss Pt y . L t d . ,For t h e Au st r a l ian C om m u n is t Par t y , 9 t h F loor , E l i z ab e t h S t r e e t ,

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1 1 J U N 1 9 7S t T E L I B R R YC r V I C T O R IS O U R C E2 1 1 C ^C A L L R o 0

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FOREWORD.U N I C I P A L C o u n c i l s c o v e r a field i n w h i c h i t i sp o s s i b l e t o d e v e l o p t h e w i d e s t a c t i v i t y . I n t h i sf i e ld are the most e l ementary needs o f the people ,t he . d e m a n d s a n d c l a i m s o f t h e w i d e s t n o n - c q n t r o v e r s i a lc h a r a c t e r . A s s u c h , t h e m e a n s o f o r g a n i s i n g l a r g e n u m -be r s o f pe op l e ar e to be fou nd i n th i s r e a l m . In m un i -c i pa l wor k the P ar ty c an f i nd the ke y to un i ty i n thes t r u g g l e f o r t h e r e a l i s a t i o n o f T e h e r a n a n d Y e l t a .Loc a l G ov e r n m e nt i s no t d i ff i c u lt , nor doe s i t de p e ndo n g r e a t t e c h n i c a l k n o w l e d g e . A s i n a ll o t h e r m a s sw o r k , s u c c e s s i n l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t d e p e n d s o n q u a l i t yo f w o r k a m o n g s t t h e p e o p l e , l e a d e r s h i p g i v e n a n d g a i n sm a d e .The Counc i l s are a fer t i l e f i e ld for mass po l i t i ca lde v e l op m e nt . Th e r o l e o f the Co unc i l s w i l l gr ow , the i rp l a c e i n g o v e r n m e n t w i l l e x p a n d , t h e i r i m p o r t a n c e t ot h e p eo p l e a s a w h o l e w i l l d e v e l o p i m m e a s u r a b y . F u r t h e r ,

the Counc i l s , whi c h l i e a t the base o f gove r nme nt , ar et h e m o s t s t a b l e s t e p p i n g s t o n e s t o p a r l i a m e n t a r y l e a d e r -s h i p . T h e y c a n b e m a d e t h e m a s s r a l l y i n g g r o u n d f o rg r e a t n a t i o n a l m o v e m e n t s t o w a r d s t h e a c h i e v e m e n t o fV i c t o r y , P e a c e , S e c u r i t y a n d t h e o b j e c t i v e s o f t h e P r o -g r a m m e o f t h e A u s t r a l i a n C o m m u n i s t P a r t y .T h e s e a r e s o m e o f t h e r e a s o n s w h y t h e i m p o r t a n c eo f wor k i n the Counc i l s i s so s t r ong l y ur ge d .The c a l l i s , the r e for e , t o e ve r y P ar ty or gan and toe ve r y c omr ade to go se r i ous l y i n to the r e l a t i onsh i p o fthe Party to the loca l Counc i l in every area , to f ind theway to l eadership of the people ' s loca l needs , and toi d e n t i f y o u r P a r t y a n d o u r P a r t y c o m r a d e s w i t h t h em o s t p r o g r e s s i v e , t h e m o s t u r g e n t , d e m a n d s in t h e m u n i -c i pa l i t i e s and the sh i r e s .T h i s p a m p h l e t s h o u l d g i v e t o o u r p a r t y o r g a n s a n d

p r o s p e c t i v e c a n d i d a t e s a r e a d y s u r v e y o f t h e p o l i t i c a la s p e c t s o f lo c al g o v e r n m e n t , a s i m p l e s t a t e m e n t o f t h o s et h i n g s t h a t a r e e s s e n t i a l f o r a n i n t e n d i n g c a n d i d a t e t oknow, and i n P ar t I I . , a br i e f out l i ne o f mos t a spe c t sof the whole f i e ld o f loca l government as provided int h e L o c a l G o v e r n m e n t a n d o t h e r A c t s .


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O u t l in e fo r W o rk in M unicipalC o u n c i l s

PAR.T I .P O L I T I C S A N D T H E C O U N C I L S .

O L I T I C S i n l o ca l g o v e r n m e n t i s j u s t a s i m p o r t a n ta f a c t o r a s i n a n y o t h e r f ie ld o f g o v e r n m e n t . H o w -e v e r , d u e t o t h e d o m i n a t i o n o f t h e p r o p e r t y o w n e r sand the fac t th a t the gr e a t e r nu m be r o f the pe op l e ha ven o t b e e n o r g a n i s e d e f f e c t i v e l y i n t h e i r o w n i n t e r e s t , t h ep o l i ti c a l a s p e c t is n o t a l w a y s a s a p p a r e n t a s e l s e w h e r e .T h e r e a r e m a n y c i v i c m i n d e d c o u n c i l l o r s o r w o u l d - b ec ounc i l l or s who do no t be l i e ve the y ar e a t tac he d to aP a r t y . S u c h p e o p l e v e r y o f t e n a r e a g a i n s t p a r t y p o l i -t i e s ' ' in a counc i l ; they rea l ly be l i eve that they are inde-pe nd e nt . In e f f e c t , the y ar e i n f l ue n c e d by p e r so na l i t i e s ,and , i n m os t c ase s , c om e unde r th e i n f l ue nc e o f the c on-s e r v a t i v e s . T h e y s h o u l d b e d i s t i n g u i s h e d f r o m t h o s ek n o w n t o b e d i r e c t l y c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e c o n s e r v a t i v epo l i t i c a l pa r t i e s . D e sp i t e the pr e se nc e o f a nu m be r o fsuc h pe op l e , the po l i t i c a l l i ne -up i s u l t i mate l y ve r y muc hthe same as i n F e de r a l and S ta te po l i t i c s .G e n e r a l l y s p e a k i n g , n o n - L a b o r c a n d i d a t e s t e r m t h e m - -s e l v e s P r o g r e s s i v e s . T h i s , h o w e v e r , i s a b r o a d l e r m .I t m a y b e u s e d f o r a s t r a i g h t o u t c o n s e r v a t i v e c a n d i -da te ; the c andi da te may be , on the o the r hand , an i nde -p e n d e n t o r a c a n d i d a t e s p o n s o r e d b y a g e n u i n e P r o g r e s sA s s o c i a t i o n . T h i s w o u l d a p p l y m a i n l y i n a g r o w i n g a r e aw h i c h l a c k s t h e f a c i l i t i e s - o f o l d e r a r e a s , a n d a n a g i t a t i o ni s n e c e s s a r y t o g a i n s u c h f a c i l i t i e s . A n a l t e r n a t i v e t e r m

u s e d i s t h a t o f R a t e p a y e r s c a n d i d a t e s .L a b o r P a r t y c a n d i d a t e s i n m o s t c a s e s s t a n d w i t hth e d ire c t La bo r labe l . T h e ir po l i cy , too , i s s im i lar tot h a t o f t h e i r F e d e r a l a n d S t a t e c o u n t e r p a r t . L a b o rc a n d i d a t e s g e n e r a l l y p r e s s f o r w a r d t h e i n t e r e s t s o f4


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g r o w i n g i n d u s t r y . T h i s m e a n s m o r e w o r k e r s , m o v eu n i o n i s t s , a s t r e n g t h e n i n g of t h e i r o w n p o s i t i o n . L a b o rc ou nc i l l or s o f t e n , pa r t i c u l ar l y i f i n the m i no r i ty , pu shf o r w a r d s o m e d e m o c r a t i c r e f o r m s s u c h a s e x t e n s i o n o ff r a n c h i s e . T h i s , t o o , m e a n s a s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f t h e i r o w npos i t i on .

T h e r e a r e a m p l e o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r w o r k i n g i n u n i t yw i t h L a b o r P a r t y b r a n c h e s , m e m b e r s a n d c a n d i d a t e s .S u c h o p p o r t u n i t i e s a s t h i s ' m u s t n e v e r b e o v e r l o o k e d ,a n d i n m o s t c a s e s t h i s m e t h o d w i l l b e f o u n d p r e f e r a b l et o r u n n i n g a f u l l P a r t y t e a m .

I t i s de s i r ab l e a t a l l t i me s tha t our c andi da te ss h o u l d i d e n t i f y t h e m s e l v e s w i t h t h e P a r t y o r g a n i s a t i o n .I f th i s i s no t pr ac t i c ab l e , br oade r wor k shou l d no t beavo i de d . Th e P a r t y w i l l , i n an y c ase , find th e m e a n s fo ra c t i v e a s s i s t a n c e o f t h e c a n d i d a t e . T h i s i s r e n d e r e d p o s -s ib le by the fac t that the po l i t i ca l l ine -up i s not as c l ear lydef ined in the counc i l s as i t i s in the State or the Federa ls p h e r e s . F u r t h e r , w e m u s t s e e t h e s e c o n d i t i o n s o b j e c t i v e l ya n d w o r k w i t h i n t h e m i n t h e m o s t e f f e c t i v e m a n n e r w ec an de v i se . W e m us t de ve l op our po l i t i c s on th e ba s i s o fl oc a l i s sue s , and on th i s bas i s , w i n the pe op l e to anu n d e r s t a n d i n g o f o u r P a r t y a n d t h e a c c e p t a n c e o f o u rl e ade r sh i p .

T H E P A R T T H E P A R T Y C A N P L A Y .S o m e t h i n g h a s a l r e a d y b e e n s a i d o f t h e p a r t t h eP a r t y mu st p l ay i n the a f fa i r s o f the c oun c i l s , and w h e r eP a r t y c a n d i d a t e s c a n b e f o u n d , t h e r o l e o f t h e P a r t yb e c o m e s o b v i o u s . C a n d i d a t e s , h o w e v e r , a r e n o t f o u n dgr owi ng on t r e e s r e ady to be p l uc ke d and p l ac e d a t thec oun c i l t ab l e . I t i s the du ty o f the P ar ty , th e r e for e , t og i v e t h e m o s t s e r i o u s a t t e n t i o n t o t h e l o c a l g o v e r n m e n to f i t s ar e a , t o the poss i b i l i t i e s o f c ampa i gns ar ound l oc a li s s u e s , a n d t o d e v e l o p i n g p r o g r e s s i v e w o r k e r s i n l o c a la f fa i r s .I n t e r e s t i n l o c a l a f f a i r s m e a n s m o r e t h a n j u s t p a r -t i c i p a t i n g i n m a t t e r s of a p o l i t ic a l c h a r a c t e r . I t m e a n spa r t i c i p a t i o n i n th e c u l tu r a l , soc i a l and spo r t i n g l i f eo f the pe op l e . A t th i s m om e n t w i th an i n te ns e i n t e r e s tb y t h e p e o p l e in s u c h a c t i v i t i e s , t h e P a r t y b r a n c h e s m u s t

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take th e i r r i g h t fu l p l ac e a s l e ad e r s o f c u l tur e . In them u n i c i p a l i t y , P a r t y c a n d i d a t e s m u s t s e r i o u s l y t a k e al e ad i ng par t i n suc h a f fa i r s .I n m a t t e r s of p a t r i o t i c a p p e a l s , m a y o r a l a c t i v i t i e s ,t h e P a r t y s h o u l d a l w a y s b e r e p r e s e n t e d c o u n c i l s ' s e l e c tc o m m i t t e e s a r e g e n e r a l l y t a k e n f r o m p e o p l e w h o a r em o s t p r o m i n e n t in t h e s e a c t i v i t i e s .The n the r e i s the l oc a l f oo tba l l or c r i c ke t c l ub . The ses p o r t s a r e t h e S a t u r d a y a f t e r n o o n p l e a s u r e of t h e a v e r a g em an . Th ose ac t i ve i n the c l ub ha ve pr e s t i ge i n the

e ye s o f the pe op l e . Jo hn Cu r t i n be ga n i n the B r u ns -w i c k F o otb a l l C l ub . Th e r e ar e hu nd r e d s o f c ou nc i l l or sw h o s e i n f lu e n c e d a t e s f r o m t h e i r p r o m i n e n c e i n f o o t b a l lc l ubs , and foo tba l l and c r i c ke t ar e to boom i n the fu tur eas ne v e r be f or e . 'B y p l a y i n g t h e i r p a r t i n t h e s e a c t i v i t i e s , P a r t ym e m b e r s a n d p r o g r e s s i v e p e r s o n s w i l l b e r a i s e d t o p o p u -l ar i ty and publ i c r e gar d , and the i r e l e c t i on to the c ounc i lw i l l f o l l o w on th e ty p e o f l e ad e r sh i p the y pr ov i de . T h i sf a c t e m p h a s i s e s t h e e n o r m o u s i m p o r t a n c e of e v e r yl o c a l i t y B r a n c h h a v i n g i t s o w n l o c a l p r o g r a m m e a n db a s i n g i t s a c t i v i t y o n w i n n i n g t h e l o c a l c i t i z e n s t o s u p p o r ta n d t o c o - o p e r a t e w i t h t h e P a r t y i n r e a l i s i n g t h i s p r o -g r a m m e .I n d o i n g t h i s , P a r t y b r a n c h e s m u s t t a k e t h e g r e a t e s tc a r e t o a v o i d n a r r o w n e s s , a n d m u s t s t r i v e a t a l l t i m e sto br i ng i n to ac t i v i ty w i de r s t r a ta o f l oca l r e s i de nt s an d

t h e i r o r g a n i s a t i o n s .T h e P a r t y b r a n c h h a s ^ h e t a s k o f d r a w i n g u p ap r o g r a m m e f o r w o r k i n t h e ' m u n i c i p a l fi el d . B u t t h i sm us t be r e g ar d e d as a pa r t on l y of the w ho l e o f th eP a r t y ' s w o r k i n t h e l o c a l it y . W h i l e m u n i c i p a l a c t i v i t yc an no t pr oc e e d wi th ou t r e gar d to the wi d e r ne e ds o fthe pe op l e , so i t i s a l so e s se nt i a l t o r e gar d wor k assoc i a t e dwi th the l oc a l c ounc i l a s par t o f the who l e pa t t e r n o f

w or k in th e lo ca l i t i e s .I t may be sa i d tha t , i n add i t i on to i t s ac t i v i t i e sa r o u n d s p e c i f ic i s s u e s , t h e P a r t y ' s m o r e i m p o r t a n t t a s k sa r e t h o s e o f p l a n n i n g a n d c o - o r d i n a t i o n i n t h e w i d e s tposs i b l e sphe r e s o f l oc a l ac t i v i ty .G


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T H E P A R T Y P R O G R A M M E . -T h e im p o r t a n c e o f a g o o d p r o g r a m m e f o r t h e

P a r t y ' s a c t i v i t i e s i n m u n i c i p a l a f f a i r s c a n n o t b e o v e r -s t r e s s e d . T h e p r o g r a m m e s h o u l d m e e t t h e r e a l d e -m a n d s o f - t h e ' p eo p l e a n d t h e i m m e d i a t e p o i n t s s h o u l dbe base d on th e m os t ur ge n t l y f e l t ' l oc a l ne e d s . Ca r es h o u l d b e t a k e n t o s e e t h a t t h e p r o g r a m m e i n c l u d e so n l y p r a c t i c a b l e o b j e c t i v e s . A t t h e s a m e t i m e , a n ya t t e m p t b y c o n s e r v a t i v e s o r o b s t r u c t i v e p e r s o n s t o s i d e -t r a c k t h e P a r t y ' s d e m a n d s b y t h e r a i s i n g o f p u r e l y t e c h -n i c a l po i n t s m us t be r e s i s t e d . T h i s c an be avo i de d i ft h e P a r t y , i n t h e in i t i a l s t a g e s , o b t a i n s c o m p e t e n t a d v i c eon the i s sue in w h i c h i t i s i nvo l ve d . I t i s th u s ab l e tom e e t t h e s i t u a t i o n i f s u c h t e c h n i c a l p o i n t s a r e p u s h e di n t o t h e f o r e g r o u n d .< T h e p r o g r a m m e s h o u l d a l w a y s b e r e g a r d e d a s at w o - p a r t f i g h t i n g p l a t f o r m . . . T h e f i r s t p a r t s h o u l d b ed e s i g n e d to m e e t i m m e d i a t e n e e d s ; t h e s e c o n d s h o u l ds ta te l ong t e r m ob je c t i ve s . I t sho u l d a lways be ke p t i nm i n d t h a t t h e g o v e r n m e n t m a y b e i n d u c e d f o a s s i s t ac o u n c i l f i n a n c i a l l y w i t h m a j o r w o r k s . T h e p r o g r a m m es h o u l d , t h e r e f o r e :

. ( a ) M e e t t h e im m e d i a t e a n d u r g e n t d e m a n d s o f t h epeople .( b ) I n c l u d e a l s o l o n g - t e r m o b j e c t i v e s .( c ) Be pr ac t i c a l and c onc r e te i n for m.

T H E C A N D I D A T E .I t h a s a l r e a d y b e e n n o t e d t h a t t h e c a n d i d a t e s h o u l dbe a s s oc i a t e d w i th l oca l ac t i v i t i e s , and tha t the P a r t ys h o u l d p l a y i t s p a r t i n b r i n g i n g p r o s p e c t i v e c a n d i d a t e su n d e r p u b l i c n o t i c e . O n c e a g a i n a t t e n t i o n m u s t b e d r a w nt o C o m r a d e F r e d P a t e r s o n ' s e x p e r i e n c e , a n d t o t h a t o f

o t h e r C o m m u n i s t s w h o h a v e e n t e r e d t h e c o u n c i l s . T h i si s n o t t o s a y t h a t c a n d i d a t u r e s h o u l d b e c o n s i d e r e d ' o n l yas the c onc l ud i ng ac t o f a l i f e t i me o f l oc a l ac t i v i ty . Eve r yc ase m us t , be c ons i de r e d on i t s m e r i t s , and the c an di d a tec hose n bo th on h i s pas t wor k and on the par t he wi l lp l a y i n p u t t i n g t h e P a r t y ' s p r o g r a m m e i n t o a c t i o n .7


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Whi l e i t i s obv i ous tha t i t i s be s t f or the P ar ty tos p o n s o r t h e c a n d i d a t u r e o f a P a r t y m e m b e r , i f a P a r t yme mbe r i s no t i n s i ght , suppor t may be g i ve n to o the rc a n d i d a t e s w h o a r e p r e p a r e d t o w o r k f o r p r o g r e s s i v eobje c t i ve s .T H E C A M P A I G N C O M M I T T E E A N D T H E C A M P A I G N

T h e C a m p a i g n C o m m i t t e e s h o u l d b e s e t u p e a r l y i nt h e c a m p a i g f i . V o t i n g i s n o t c o m p u l s o r y ( e x c e p t i n al i m i t e d n u m b e r o f m u n i c i p a l i t i e s ) a n d e l e c t i o n s a r e w o nm a i n l y o n p e r s o n a l c o n t a c t ; t h e m o s t e f f i c i e n t c a m p a i g ni n m o s t c a s e s w i n s . A C a m p a i g n C o m m i t t e e o f a t l e a s t8 pe op l e shou l d ' be or g an i se d . Th e Co m m i t t e e shou l dbe br oad l y or gan i se d on a s wi de a bas i s a s poss i b l e .

T h e P a r t y p r o g r a m m e a n d t h e p e r s o n a l h i s t o r y o fthe c an di d a te shou l d be pr i n te d . Sp e c i a l a t t e nt i o n shou l dbe pa i d to the ne e d to vo te , and thr oughout the who l eo f t h e c a m p a i g n t h e v o t e r s , p a r t i c u l a r l y w o r k i n g c l a s s ,shou l d have the need fo r th e m to vo te ' c on t i nu a l l y e m -phas i se d . As soon as the pr i n te d mate r i a l i s r e ady , a map o fthe who l e o f the ar e a , or war d , or r i d i ng , c onc e r ne d , andthe S ta te and muni c i pa l r o l l s shou l d be pr oc ur e d , thel a t t e r f r o m the c oun c i l , and the w ar d d i v i de d and c an-v a s s e d . In local governm ent elections the canvassing ismost important.The v i s i t o f the canvasser i s o f ten the f i r s t int ima-t ion th e vo ter ge ts o f the e lec t io n. A ca re fu l no te o f ther e c e p t i o n s h o u l d b e k e p t . A se c o n d c a n v a s s w i t h H O WT O V O T E c a r d s s h o u l d b e c o n d u c t e d , a n d f i n a l l y t h ec an di d a te sh ou l d ' v i s i t the e le c tor s , m ak i ng a p e r so na lappe a l .Th e pe r so na l t ouc h i s m os t i m po r tan t . The ' c an-d i da te shou l d be i n t r odu c e d to a l l sy m p ath e t i c pe op l e .H a l l m e e t i n g s , s t r e e t a n d f a c t o r y - g a t e m e e t i n g s , c o t t a g eme e t i ngs , shou l d a l l be use d whe r e pr ac t i c ab l e .A c a m p a i g n h e a d q u a r t e r s s h o u ld b e e s t a b l i s h e d a n da w e l l - k n o w n p e r s o n a p p o i n t e d a s D i r e c t o r . F i n a n c eshoul d be r a i se d by the usua l me t ho ds o f c o l l e c t i on s ,donat i ons , soc i a l func t i ons , e t c .


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P u b l i c i t y i s a l s o o f g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e . T h e r e s h o u l db e c o n t i n u a l p r e s s a d v e r t i s i n g , a n d a ll m e e t i n g s s h o u l db e w i d e l y a d v e r t i s e d i n t h e p r e s s a n d b y m e a n s of h a n d -b i ll s, e t c. T h e p r o g r a m m e s h o u l d b e g i v e n c o n s t a n tp r o m i n e n c e , a n d s h o u l d a p p e a r i n a t l e a s t t w o p r e s si s s u e s b e f o r e t h e e l e c t i o n . T h e p r o g r a m m e a n d i n s t r u c -t i o n s o n H O W T O V O T E s h o u l d a l s o b e p u b l i s h e d i n t h ep r e s s . T h e c a n d i d a t e s h o u l d w r i t e f r e q u e n t l y t o t h ep a p e r s a n d i s s u e w e l l - c o m p o s e d p u b l i c s t a t e m e n t s . A l l'pu b l i c i ty m ate r i a l shou l d be s ty l i sh l y pr oduc e d .

T h e C a m p a i g n C o m m i t t ee m u s t e x p l o r e e v e r y m e a n sfo r ga i n i n g the supp or t o f o th e r loc a l bod i e s .E L E C T I O N S .

E l e c t i o n s t o m u n i c i p a l c o u n c i l s t a k e p l a c e a n n u a l l y .T h e p o l l i n g d a y i s t h e f o u r t h T h u r s d a y o r t h e f o l l o w -i n g S a t u r d a y , in A u g u s t , a s t h e C o u n c il d e t e r m i n e s . T h ete rm of o f fi ce as cou nc i l lor i s fo r a per iod o f thre e y e a rs ;e ac h ye ar , one th i r d o f the c ounc i l l or s c ome up for r e -e lec t ion.V o t i n g i s b y a t t e n d a n c e a t p o l l i n g p l a c e s . P o s t a lv o t e s c a n b e o b t a i n e d b y a p p l i c a t i o n t o t h e R e t u r n i n gO f f ic e r be for e the e l e c t i on i f the e l e c tor c an no t a t t e ndthe po l l i ng boo th . T h i s i s m os t i m po r ta nt i n sh i r e s ,w h e r e b e c a u s e o f d i s t a n c e a n d p a u c i t y o f v o t i n g f a c i l i -t i e s , pos ta l vo t i n g i s ve r y he a vy . Th e ho ur s o f vo t i n gv a r y a c c o r d i n g t o t h e s t a t u s o f t h e m u n i c i p a l i t y . I nc i t i e s a n d t o w n s , v o t i n g t a k e s p l a c e b e t w e e n 8 a . m . a n d8 p .m.

W H O C A N S T A N D ?The Loc a l G ove r nme nt Ac t 15 )28 r e ads :(1 ) The fo l l owi ng pe r sons sha l l be qua l i f i e d to ho l dthe o f fi ce o f Coun c i l l or s i n an y m u ni c i p a l i ty :1 . Every person l iable to be rated in respect o f pro-pe r ty i n the m un i c i pa l d i s t r i c t w he th e r c on s i s t i n g o f on eo r m o r e t e n e m e n t s o f t h e r a t e a b l e v a l u e o f T w e n t y p o u n d sat the l east .

N o t e .1 . Su ch peo ple m us t be on th e ro l l s a t l east 3 m on th sb e f o r e t h e d a y f o r n o m i n a t i o n s .

9


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2 . Eve r y owne r o f pr ope r ty o f the above va l ue .3 . W he r e pr o pe r ty i s i n the oc c upa t i on o f a t e n an t , thete n an t i s th e on l y pe r son l iab l e to be r a te d . O ne

doe s no t have to be the ac tua l owne r .4 . Ra te ab l e va l u e ge n e r a l l y e qu i v a l e n t to 5 pe r c e nt ,o f the ac tu a l sa l e va l u e . Th e va l ue sh ow n i n th eCounc i l ratq book i s usual ly the f igure , but i s opent o c h a l l e n g e .5 . N o o n e e m p l o y e d b y o r r e c e i v i n g r e m u n e r a t i o n f r o ma Cou nc i l i s e l ig ib le to s ta nd .6 . I f pr op e r ty i s o f r a t e a b l e va l ue o f 4 0 and jo i n t l yi n t h e n a m e o f h u s b a n d a n d w i f e e i t h e r o r b o t h

are e l ig ib le to s tand or vote .N O M I N A T I O N S .C a n d i d a t e s m u s t o b t a i n f r o m t h e R e t u r n i n g O f f i c e rn o m i n a t i o n f o r m s w h i c h m u s t b e s i g n e d b y t h e c a n d i d a t eh i m se l f and 10 c i t i z e ns wh o ar e on the r o ll a s r a t e p ay e r s .A r o ll shou l d be obta i ne d . I t i s ad v i sa b l e to ha ve m or ethan 10 name s i n c ase any ar e s t r uc k out a s i ne l i g i b l e .T h i s f o r m m u s t t h e n b e l o d g e d w i t h t h e R e t u r n i n gO f f ic e r, t og e th e r w i th a de p os i t o f 10 , some day or t i m eb e f o r e 4 p . m . o n n o m i n a t i o n d a y . ( T h e R e t u r n i n g O f fic erg i ve s no t i c e o f e l e c t i ons by adve r t i se me nt i n a l oc a l ord a i l y p a p e r b e t w e e n t h e 2 2 n d a n d 1 5 t h d a y ( i n c l u s i v e )b e f o r e a n y e l e c ti o n . H e m u s t fix t h e N o m i n a t i o n D a yb e t w e e n t h e 5 t h a n d 7 t h d a y ( i n c l u s i v e ) a f t e r d a t e o fa d v e r t i s e m e n t . )

W H O C A N V O T E ?Co un c i l l or s ar e e l e c t e d by r a te p ay e r s . Th e se ar ethose who over the age o f 21 , are l iable to be rated inr e spe c t o f any pr ope r ty wi th i n the ar e a o f whi c h a l ls u m s p a y a b l e in r e s p e c t o f a n y r a t e s m a d e t h r e e m o n t h sor mor e be for e suc h day have be e n pa i d sha l l be e nt i t l e dto be e nr o l l e d i n tha t ye ar . Th e r e i s m ul t i p l e vo t i n g . In a c i ty , t o w n or bor ou gh , i f suc h a pr op e r ty i s r a t e don a va l ue l e s s tha n 50 the r e sh a l l be one vo te , 5 0 - 10 0tw o vo te s , ove r 1 00 3 vo te s . In a sh i r e , un de r 2 5 onev o t e , 2 5 - 7 5 t w o v o t e s , 7 5 a n d o v e r t h r e e v o t e s . W h e r e

the r a te ab l e va l ue i s unde r 5 and no house i s on thepr o pe r ty , the r e sha l l be no vo te . Th e oc c up i e r o f theho us e i s en t i t l e d to be en ro l l e d as th e vote r , and. i f th i si s so , the owne r c annot vo te .10


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P O L L I N G D A Y .T h e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e C a m p a i g n C o m m i t t e e a n d t h ec a n d i d a t e h i m s e l f o n p o l l i n g d a y c a n m a k e a d e c i s i v e

d i f f e r e n c e i n l o ca l g o v e r n m e n t e l e c t io n s . W h e r e v o t i n gi s vo l untar y , the job wi l l c ont i nue to be one o f ge t t i ngthe vo t e r to th e boo th . T h i s i s a i de d by the se t t i n g u po f a T i c k B o a r d . T h i s c a n b e m a d e b y p a s t i n g o nbo ar d s the c om pl e te r o l l s . O ne pe r son f r om e ac h bo o thshoul d , a t s e t pe r i ods , r e por t the name s o f those whoh a v e v o t e d . T h e s e c a n b e o b t a i n e d f r o m t h e s c r u t i n e e r s .Su c h na m e s shou l d be t i c ke d of f on the Bo ar d . B y the seme ans , the ac tua l pe op l e who have no t vo te d ar e se e na t a g l an c e , and s t e ps c an be tak e n to ge t the m to th eb o o t h . 1

C a r s s h o u l d b e u s e d w h e r e c i r c u m s t a n c e s p e r m i t .A t t h e p o l l i n g p l a c e s , t h e m o s t s t r a t e g i c p o s i t i o n ssho u l d be se c ur e d e a r l y , an d a goo d d i sp l ay o f po s t e r ss e t u p , a n d t h e t a b l e s p l e n t i f u l l y m a n n e d . G r e a t c o u r t e s ys h o u l d b e s h o w n b y w o r k e r s a t t h e t a b l e s , ' a n d n oa t t e mpt shou l d be made to for c e our c ar ds or our c andi -

da te s c r ud e l y on th e e l e c tor s . I t w i l l f r e qu e n t l y bep o s s i b l e d u r i n g p o l l i n g d a y t o g a t h e r f u t u r e w o r k e r sa n d c a m p a i g n c o m m i t t e e m e m b e r s .A t C a m p a i g n H e a d q u a r t e r s a r e s u l t b o a r d s h o u l d b ese t up , and a f t e r the po l l , a s r e su l t s c ome thr ough , theh e a d q u a r t e r s s h o u l d b e m a d e t h e c e n t r e f o r r e s u l t s f o rthe who l e ar e a .F i na l l y , i t must be s t r e s se d aga i n tha t the ke y to

e f f e c t i ve ac t i v i ty oh po l l i ng day i s pe r sona l c ontac t , ande n s u r i n g t h a t o u r s u p p o r t e r s a n d s y m p a t h i s e r s r e a l l yge t to the booth to cast the ir votes .T H E S U C C E S S F U L C A N D I D A T E .

W h e n t h e e f f o r t s o f t h e c a n d i d a t e , t h e P a r t y a n dt h e s u p p o r t e r s w h o h a v e a s s i s t e d , h a v e r e s u l t e d i n s u c -c e s s on po l l i ng day , a ne w phase o f the c andi da te ' s wor kb e g i n s . F u r t h e r , t h e P a r t y c a n n o t r e g a r d i t s j o b a sc o m p l e t e d . T h e c a n d i d a t e m u s t s e t a b o u t i m p l e m e n t i n gt h e P r o g r a m m e o n w h i c h h e h a s b e e n e l e c t e d ; h e m u s ti n f o r m h i m s e l f a s f u l l y a s p o s s i b l e o f t h e f u n c t i o n s a n do r g a n i s a t i o n o f t h e C o u n c i l . T h e P a r t y m u s t c o n t i n u o


13/25

i t s w o r k a n d s u p p o r t f o r t h e n e w l y - e l e c t e d a l d e r m a no r c o u n c i l l o r . H e m u s t b e d r a w n . in t o e v e r w i d e n i n gc ontac t w i th the pe op l e o f the ar e a .O i ic e e l e c t e d , the Com m un i s t a l de r m an or c oun c i l l orw i l l f i n d m a n y p r o g r e s s i v e t r e n d s w i t h i n t h e C o u n c i l a n da m o n g s t t h e p e o p l e . H e w i l l a l s o d i s c o v e r p r o g r e s s i v em e m b e r s w h o c a n b e w o n t o t h e P a r t y a n d t o t h e a n t i -f a s c i s t c a u s e . I n d e e d , t h e r e i s e x t r e m e l y w i d e s c o p e f o rpr og r e s s i ve ac t i v i ty . I f , on th e o th e r ha nd , he shou l de n c o u n t e r n a r r o w n e s s a n d r e s i s t a n c e t o p r o g r e s s i v e c a m -p a i g n s , h e w i l l k n o w t h a t h i s g r e a t e s t s t r e n g t h i s i n t h em a s s s u p p o r t b y w h i c h h e w a s e l e ct e d . H e w i l l r e t u r nc ons tant l y to tha t sour c e .

' P A R T 2 .H I S T O R Y O F T H E C O U N C I L S .

V I C T O R I A , t h e f i r s t m u n i c i p a l a u t h o r i t y w a s e s t a b -l i she d by the Co r po r ta i on A c t o f 1843 , w hi c h e s tab-l i she d the c or por a t i ons o f M e l bour ne and G e e l ong .O u t s i d e o f t h e s e t o w n s , r o a d o r b r i d g e m a k i n g w e r epr ac t i c a l l y the on l y func t i ons r e qu i r e d o f l oc a l author i ty .T h e s e t a s k s w e r e p e r f o r m e d b y a C o l o n i a l R o a d s a n dB r i d g e s C o m m i t t e e .

A f t e r t h e g o l d r u s h o f 1 8 5 1 - 5 4 t h e r e w a s s u c h ac onc e ntr a t i on o f pe op l e i n c e r ta i n ar e as tha t a ne e dof loca l au th or i ty w a s fe l t . In 185 5 th e firs t Lo cal Go-v e r n m e n t A c t w a s p a s s e d . T h i s A c t , m o d i f ie d i n 1 8 7 4 ,a n d w i t h s e v e r a l m i n o r a m e n d m e n t s s in c e , r e m a i n s i nfor c e to -day .M U N I C I P A L S T R U C T U R E .

T h e r e a r e f o u r t y p e s o f m u n i c i p a l i t i e s c i t i e s , t o w n s ,b o r o u g h s a n d s h i r e s . T h e o n l y r e a l d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e nt h e m is t h e r e s p e c t i v e w e a l t h o f t h e m u n i c i p a l i t y . Ar a t i n g v a l u e o f 2 0 , 0 0 0 d e t e r m i n e s a c i t y ; 1 0 , 0 0 0 a . t o w n ;an ar e a o f no t l e s s tha n 9 squ ar e m i l e s w i t h a r a te ab l epr ope r ty o f 300 , a popul a t i on o f 500 , may be pr oc l a i me da bor ough; whi l e a l ar ge r de f i ne d ar e a o f l e s s than theabo ve va l ua t i on s pr o c l a i m e d a sh i r e . In the c ase o fsh i r e s , the d i v i de d ar e as ar e t e r m e d r i d i n gs . Th e r e ar e34 c i t i e s , 5 t o w n s , 20 bor ou ghs , and 138 sh i r e s . In c i t i e s ,t o w n s and bo r ou gh s , the pr e s i d i n g o f f ic e r i s c a l le d aM a y o r ; i n s h i r e s , a P r e s i d e n t .12


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M u n i c i p a l c o u n c i l s a r e e l e c t e d b y r a t e p a y e r s . T h eme mbe r s s i t e i the r for the c ounc i l a s a who l e , or for a.war d ( i. e ., pa r t o f the m un i c i p a l i ty ) . W ar ds ar e d i v i de don ba s i s o f e qua l nu m be r o f e l e c tor s . U nd e r the Loc a lG ove r nme nt Ac t the Counc i l i t s e l f c an de c i de the d i s t r i -but i on o f the w ar ds . In th e se c ase s , the M ayo r i s e l e c t e df r o m t h e C o u n c i l , a f t e r e a c h e l e c ti o n . C u s t o m d e t e r m i n e sth a t the M a yor sha l l ho l d o ff ic e on l y 12 m on ths , and th a te a c h w a r d t a k e s t u r n i n e l e c t i n g M a y o r , g e n e r a l l y t h ec ounc i l l or i n the mi ddl e o f h i s t e r m.

Co unc i l l or s ar e e l e c t e d e v e r y 3 ye a r s . Th e r e ar e3 c ounc i l l or s for e ac h war d , so tha t on l y one - th i r d o fthe c ou nc i l l or s c om e out e ac h ye a r . T h i s pr a c t i c e i sa l so fo l l owe d i n c ounc i l s e l e c t e d a s a who l e .C O U N C I L M E E T I N G S .

Counc i l me e t i ngs ar e pr e s i de d ove r by the M ayor , ori n the c ase o f a Sh i r e , by th e P r e s i d e n t . H e hasa de l iberat ive vote , and in the event o f a t i e in vot ing ,t h e c a s t i n g v o t e . T h e C o u n c i l m u s t m e e t r e g u l a r l y , b u ti t c an i t s e l f de c i de the t i me and p l ac e o f the me e t i ng .I t c an me e t i n the a f t e r noon i f i t so de s i r e s , and ne e dn o t n e c e s s a r i l y m e e t i n t h e m u n i c i p a l c h a m b e r s .A m a j o r i t y o f c o u n c i l l o r s c o n s t i t u t e s a q u o r u m .

Counc i l bus i ne ss i s de f i ne d unde r the Loc a l G ove r n-m e n t A c t u n d e r f o u r h e a d i n g s : (1 ) Su pe r i n te n d i n g the w or k o f o f f i c e rs o f the c ou nc i l .( 2 ) E n q u i r y i n t o w o r k of c o n t r a c t o r s o r e m p l o y e e s .( 3 ) E n q u i r y i n t o s t a t e o r p r o g r e s s o f w o r k s .(4 ) D i r e c t i ng a l l ac t i v i t i e s c ar r i e d out unde r the Ac t .

Al l Counc i l me e t i ngs ar e ope n to the publ i c un l e s st h e c o u n c i l t h i n k s i t n e c e s s a r y t o e x c l u d e s t r a n g e r s .I t d o e s t h i s b y m o t i o n t e r m e d g o i n g i n t o c o m m i t t e e .Counc i l l or s ar e f r e e to vo te on a l l que s t i ons , savet h o s e i n w h i c h t h e y h a v e a p e c u n i a r y i n t e r e s t . T h i sshou l d be no te d and w atc he d . N o Co unc i l l or c an vo tef o r t h e g i v i n g o f a c o n t r a c t t o a c o m p a n y i n w h i c h h ei s a sha r e h o l de r . Th e r e i s an e xc e pt i on . I f a c om pa ny

has mor e than 20 shar e ho l de r s and the c ounc i l l or ' s vo tei s d e e m e d n e c e s s a r y i n t h e ' p u b l i c i n t e r e s t , t h e G o v e r n o r -i n -Cou nc i l c an r e qu e s t h i m to vo te . (G o ve r n or - i n -C oun c i li s v i r t u a l l y t h e S t a t e C a b i n e t w i t h t h e G o v e r n o r p r e s i d -i ng . )


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M ot i ons passe d by the Counc i l c an be r e sc i nde d jus ta s in the usua l s tan d i ng o r de r s o f pub l i c bod i e s , by t heg i v i n g o f no t i c e o f m ot i on . I f , ho w e v e r , a m ot i on i s -r e s c i n d e d a t a m e e t i n g s u b s e q u e n t t o t h e c a r r y i n g o fm o t i o n , a n d t h e r e a r e n o t a s m a n y c o u n c i l lo r s p r e s e n tat the second meet ing as a t the f i r s t , the major i ty must bee n ou gh to be a m aj or i ty of th e w ho l e c oun c i l . Th us , ifon June 1st , a mot ion i s carr ied by 8 to 1 , and at them e e t i n g w h e r e t h e r e c i s s i o n i s c o n s i d e r e d t h e r e a r e o n l y8 o f 12 c ou nc i l l or s pr e se n t , the r e m us t be 7 to 1 i n f av ou rof the rec i ss ion.

S T A N D I N G C O M M I T T E E S .C o u n c i l s m o d e l t h e i r w o r k o n P a r l i a m e n t s . C o u n -c i ll o r s , h o w e v e r , r e l a t i v e l y d o m o r e e x e c u t i v e w o r k t h a np a r l i a m e n t a r i a n s . C o u n c i l l o r s a r e a l l o n s t a n d i n g c o m m i t -te es ; bu i ld in g , pa rk s , pu bl ic w or ks , finance , e tc . A c ou nc i lme e t i ng take s p l ac e we e k l y . O ne n i ght i s ope n de bate .Th e ne x t n i g ht i s C om m i t t e e N i ght . ' ' O n th i s n i g ht , i td i s c u s s e s t h e c o m m i t t e e r e p o r t s . T h e s e c o m m i t t e e s d e a l

w i th the i r r e sp e c t i v e fields. In O pe n N i g h t the r e ar ede gr ee s o f fierce deb ates . Th e cou nc i l lo rs , ho w ev er donot s i t a s P a r t i e s a s i n P a r l i a m e n t . Co unc i l l or s s i tar ou nd a tab l e . A La bor c oun c i l l or m ay be san dw i c h e di n b e t w e e n t w o L i b e r a l c o u n c i l l o r s ; n o p a r t i e s a r e r e c o g -n i se d . C om m i t t e e r e p or t s ar e d i sc uss e d i n ope n c ounc i l .P R E S S A N D T H E P U B L I C

E v e r y m e e t i n g o f a c ounc i l i s ope n to bo th the pr e ssa n d t h e p u b l i c a n d a c c o m m o d a t i o n m u s t b e p r o v i d e d . T h epr e ss must be pr ov i de d wi th a c opy o f the bus i ne ss pape ra n d m u s t b e g i v e n a c c e s s to c o r r e s p o n d e n c e a n d r e p o r t s ,un l e s s the c ounc i l de c i de s by r e so l u t i on to wi thho l d sameo n t h e g r o u n d s t h a t l i t i g a t i o n i s t h r e a t e n e d o r p e n d i n g .A pe r son may be r e move d by or de r o f the c ha i r man i f hei n t e r r u p t s t h e o r d e r l y c o n d u c t o f t h e m e e t i n g . M A Y O R OR P R E S I D E N T A N D D E P U T I E SE a c h c i t y , t o w n o r b o r o u g h h a s a m a y o r a n d e a c hSh i r e Cou nc i l a pr e s i de n t . Th e m ay or or pr e s i d e nt i se l e c t e d by me mbe r s e ac h ye ar a f t e r the c ounc i l e l e c t i ons .I f an e l e c t i on i s no t he l d a s r e qu i r e d , the G ove r nor may

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a p p o i n t a m a y o r o r p r e s i d e n t . T h e m a y o r o r p r e s i d e n t ' so f fi ce c om m e n c e s on the day of h i s e l e c t i on . Th e m ay oror pr e s i de nt m us t pr e s i de a t e ve r y me e t ing : a t w hi c hhe i s pr e se n t . H e m us t g i ve e f f e c t t o an y du ty i m po se don h i m by the Ac t , and to any r e so l u t i on o f the Counc i l .P i e may c ar r y on the r e gu l ar se r v i c e s o f the ar e a , d i r e c tt h e s e r v a n t s o f t h e c o u n c i l , s u s p e n d s e r v a n t s , p a y w a g e sa n d s a l a r i e s , a n d a u t h o r i s e w o r k s n o t e x c e e d i n g 1 0un l e s s th e c oun c i l f i xe s a h i g he r am ou nt . A d e pu tym ay or or - pr e s i d e n t m ay be e l e c t e d fo r a ye ar or fo r ashor te r pe r i od , and whi l e the mayor i s abse nt or i l l hasa l l t h e p o w e r s a n d d u t i e s o f t h e m a y o r .The mayor or pres ident f i l l s a most important I 'o le .In e f f e c t , he i s r e sp on s i b l e fo r the ad m i n i s t r a t i on o f thecounc i l .

A L L O W A N C E S A N D E X P E N S E S .M e mbe r s o f a c ounc i l ar e no t pa i d the i r wor ki s s t r i c t l y h o n o r a r y . M e m b e r s m a y , h o w e v e r , b e p a i dt h e c o s t o f t r a v e l l i n g t o a n d f r o m c o u n c i l m e e t i n g s a n dc e r t a i n o th e r t r a v e l l i n g e x p e n s e s .I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e f o r e g o i n g , t h e m a y o r o r p r e s i d e n tm a y b e v o t e d a n a l l o w a n c e t o m e e t t h e e x p e n s e s o f h i so f fi ce . T h i s a l l o w a n c e i s a l m o s t i n v a r i a b l y m a d e a n dv a r i e s i n d i f f e r e n t c o u n c i l s . N o a c c o u n t i n g o f t h e e x -pe n di tu r e o f th i s a l l ow an c e is r e qu i r e d . F u r th e r , th eq u e s t i o n o f t h e a l l o w a n c e m u s t b e d e t e r m i n e d p r i o r t othe e l e c t i on o f M ayor or P r e s i de nt .

P O L L S .Counc i l s ar e , or may be r e qu i r e d to take po l l s f ora numbe r o f pur pose s , suc h a s a l t e r a t i ons to ar e as , l oans ,a l t e r e d r e p r e se nta t i on , e t c . A po l l m ay a l so be tak e non any mat te r wi th i n the c ounc i l ' s powe r s , but i f thecounc i l i s not compel led by law to take a po l l on a mat-ter , and such pol l does take place , i t need not abide bythe dec i s ion of the po l l .C O U N C I L O F F I C I A L S .

A s d i s t i n c t f r o m P a r l i a m e n t , c o u n c i l e x e c u t i v e o f -ficia ls ar e pe r m ane nt ' ' . T he se va r y ac c or d i ng to m un i -c i pa l i ty . G e ne r a l l y the y c on s i s t o f T ow n Cl e r k , R at e15


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C o l l e c t o r , S u r v e y o r , B u i l d i n g I n s p e c t o r , a n d H e a l t h I n -s p e c t o r . T h e y d o n o t s i t a s a n e x e c u t i v e . E a c h , h o w -e v e r , f u n c t i o n s o n a c o u n c i l s u b - c o m m i t t e e . A s s u c h t h e yar e i n f l ue nt i a l , and to a l ar ge e x te n t r un the c ounc i l .T h i s pa r t i c u l ar l y app l i e s t o the T ow n Cl e r k . H e i s thel e ga l e xp e r t , he k n ow s the c u s tom o f c ounc i l , he k n ow sthe Loc a l G ove r n m e n t A c t . I t i s he w ho r uns th eM a y o r . F o r y e a r s a C o l l i n g w o o d T o w n C l e r k b o s s e dthe M ayo r s . W he n , in 1936 , the c oun c i l de c i de dto a l l ow T i l l the Day I D i e ' ' t o be p l aye d , he ' r e f u se d toa l lo w th e ha l l to be l e t . H e ca l l ed in the po l i ce . T h eha l l w a s ke p t c l o se d . H e go t aw ay w i th th i s .

F I N A N C E .Cou nc i l finance i s d i v i de d i n to : ( 1 ) R e v e n u e ; (2 )

L o a n s .R e v e n u e i s d e f in e d u n d e r 4 h e a d i n g s : ( 1 ) R a t e s , ( 2 )T o l l s , ( 3 ) P a r l i a m e n t a r y G r a n t s , ( 4 ) I n c o m e o t h e r t h a nLo ans . A l l m on e y s th u s r e c e i ve d ar e p l ac e d i n a m un i -

c i pa l fu nd . T h i s i s use d to pa y e xp e n se s . A l l l and w i th i nt h e m u n i c i p a l b o u n d a r y , s a v e g o v e r n m e n t l a n d , m u n i c i p a ll and , s c hoo l s , c hur c he s , and c har i ty i ns t i tu t i ons , i s r a t e d .R a t e s , h o w e v e r , a r e l i m i t e d . O n n e t t v a l u e , t h e m a x i m u mi s 3 / - i n the l , - t h e m i n i m um i s 6d . Th e Cou nc i l fixes th er a te . I f i t doe s no t r e ac h the c ounc i l m ay l e vy w h a ti s t e r m e d an e x tr a r a te fo r a spe c i a l l y de f i ne d pu r po seand fo r a spe c i a l t i m e . Sp e c i a l r a t e s f o r spe c i f i e d ar e a sc an be f i xe d , pr ov i d i ng pe r mi ss i on i s ga i ne d f r om theG o v e r n o r - i n - C o u n c i l .

C o u n c i l s c a n b o r r o w f o r e i t h e r p e r m a n e n t w o r k s a n dunde r tak i ngs , or to l i qu i da te o l d de bt s o f the muni c i pa l i ty .T h i s i s t e r m e d b o r r o w i n g o n t h e c r e d i t of t h e m u n i -c i pa l i ty . T h i s i s l i mi t e d to a to ta l o f 10 t i m e s th e a ve r a ger e v e n u e f o r 3 y e a r s . I f , f o r e x a m p l e , t h e r e v e n u e a v e r -a g e s 2 0 , 0 0 0 y e a r l y , t h e l i m i t s o f t h e c o u n c i l ' s b o r r o w i n gar e se t a t a to ta l o f '200 ,000 . E x te nd e d p ow e r s ar e , ho w -e ve r , pr ov i de d for . B y m or tga ge or by i s sue o f de be n-tur es , the Co unc i l can bo rro w up to 5 t im es on these c ur i ty o f i t s r e ve nue .' ' T h i s c an be c ha l l e nge d . T w e n type r so ns by de po s i t i n g 2 0 c an de m and a po ll on t h i se x t e n d e d b o r r o w i n g . T h e C o u n c i l c a n a r r a n g e t e m p o r a r yov e r d r a f t s t o the e x t e n t o f the i r de p os i t r e c e i p t s . B ox1G


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H i l l c ou l d l oan mone y to Cambe r we l l t o c ons tr uc t a r oadl e a d i n g t h r o u g h C a m b e r w e l l t o B o x H i l l . C o u n c i l l o r s a r ep e r s o n a l l y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r a l l e x c e s s b o r r o w i n g .The Supr e me Cour t c an appo i nt a r e c e i ve r i f theco un c i l fa i l s to m eet i t s f inancia l obl ig at io ns . A n y rate -pa ye r c an be pr e se nt a t the aud i t i n g o f c ounc i l ac c ou nt s .

P O W E R S .T h e F e d e r a l ' G o v e r n m e n t c o n c e r n s i t s e lf w i t h n a t -iona l qu est io ns , suc h as de fen ce , finance , ove rs ea s tra d e;

t h e S t a t e G o v e r n m e n t c o n c e r n s i t s e l f w i t h a d m i n i s t r a t i v el abor que s t i ons , soc i a l s e r v i c e s , de ve l opme nt , and so on .T h e M u n i c i p a l G o v e r n m e n t i s c o n c e r n e d m a i n l y w i t h t h esupe r v i s i on o f bu i l d i ngs , r oads , par ks and publ i c he a l th .T h e s e a r e i m p o r t a n t q u e s t i o n s . F u r t h e r , t h e m u n i c i p a l i t yi s c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f s t a t e a n d n a t i o n a lq u e s t i o n s . I n t h e d a y s o f u n e m p l o y m e n t , t h e s u s t e n a n c ea c t w a s l a r g e l y a d m i n i s t e r e d b y t h e m u n i c i p a l i t i e s .T o d a y , s u c h a c t i v i t i e s c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e w a r e f f o r t dr i ve s for sc r ap and was te papr , l oans , Re d Cr oss , ar ew h o l l y o r in pjivf d irec ted by the cou nc i l . I t i s th ro ug hthe c ounc i l ( i nd i r e c t l y ) th a t Ju s t i c e s o f the P e ac e ar ea p p o i n t e d . M o s t c o u n c i l lo r s a u t o m a t i c a l l y b e c a m e J . P ' s .As suc h , the y s i t on the be nc h and l ar ge l y ope r a te theSta te . Th i s , t oo , g i v e s , a c on ne c t i o n w i th the p o l i c ea p p a r a t u s .

C o u n c i l s i n r e g u l a t i n g b u i l d i n g s , h a v e m u c h p o w e r .A Coun c i l c an de te r m i ne a fac tor y or r e s i de nt i a lar e a , and c an h i nde r the de ve l opme nt o f an i ndus tr y .B Y - L A W S .

C o u n c i l h a s w i d e p o w e r s o f e n a c t i n g b y - l a w s o rr e g u l a t i o n s . T h e s e a r e d e f in e d a s f o l l o w s : R e g u l a t i n g o f w a t e r s u p p l y .C o n d u c t i n g o f p u b l i c m e e t i n g s o f r a t e p a y e r s .P r o t e c t i o n o f m u n i c i p a l p r o p e r t y a n d t h e r e g u l a t i o no f a l l m e e t i n g s a n d g a t h e r i n g s h e l d t h e r e i n .P r e v e n t i on and e x t i n gu i sh i n g o f fires.R e m o v a l of b u i l d i n g s a n d t h e f i x i n g o f c o m p e n s a t i n gp a y m e n t t o o w n e r s o f s u c h b u i l d i n g s .E s t a b l i s h m e n t a n d r e g u l a t i o n of m a r k e t s .

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S u p p r e s s i o n o f p u b l i c n u i s a n c e s .R e g u l a t i o n o f s e w e r a g e a n d d r a i n a g e .R e g u l a t i o n o f l i g h t i n g .Contr o l o f par ks and publ i c gar de ns .P r e s e r v a t i o n o f p u b l i c d e c e n c y .P r o te c t i on o f publ i c he a l th .F i x i n g o f g r a t u i t i e s ( i . e. , p e n s i o n s ) o n w o r t h y e m -p l oye e s or the i r r e l a t i ve s .P r o h i b i t i o n o f q u a r r y i n g ( i f q u a r r y o p e n e d a f t e r1 9 1 1 ) .R e g u l a t i on o f t r a f f i c and pr o c e ss i on s .R e g u l a t i o n o f f e n c i n g .R e g u l a t i o n s a n d p r o h i b i t i n g o f w r i t i n g , p a i n t i n g o ra d v e r t i s i n g o n f o o t p a t h s , ro a d s , o r m u n i c i p a l p r o -pe r ty .P r o h i b i t i n g o r r e g u l a t i o n O f* c a t t l e g r a z i n g .R e g u l a t i n g o r p r o h i b i t i n g t r a ff ic , d e s t r u c t i v e t o r o a d so r p r o p e r t y , a n d o b n o x i o u s n o i s e s a r i s i n g f r o msame .R e g u l a t i n g o f m e r r y - g o - r o u n d s , s h o o t i n g g a l l e r i e s ,a n d o t h e r s u c h f o r m s o f e n t e r t a i n m e n t .F i x i n g t e r m s a n d c o n d i t i o n s o f c a b m e n ' s s h e l t e r sa n d c o n v e n i e n c e s . %D e s t r u c t i o n o f r a t s a n d v e r m i n .G e n e r a l g o o d o f m u n i c i p a l i t y .A f t e r b y - l a w s a r e e n a c t e d , c o p i e s o f s u c h b y - l a w sare p laced in the counc i l office^f o r i n s p e c t i o n . T h e y a r ethe n publ i she d .C o u n c i l s a r e e m p o w e r e d t o m a k e b y - l a w s i n c o -

o p e r a t i o n w i t h n e i g h b o u r i n g c o u n c i ls . B y - l a w s o r r e g u -l a t i ons c an be e i the r l i mi t e d i n t i me or ope r a t i ve unt i lr e sci nde d .' In th e e v e n t o f a n e w m un i c i p a l i ty be i ngfor me d f r om a por t i on o f the o l d muni c i pa l i ty , a l l theo ld b y - l a w s r e m a i n u n t i l r e p e a l e d . B y - l a w s c a n b e r e -pe a l e d e i the r by c ounc i l or by G ove r nor - i n -Counc i l .C O N T R O L O V E R H A W K E R S .

Be s i de s , the po w e r to e n ac t the abo ve by - l aw s , Coun -c i l s h a v e w i d e s u p e r v i s o r y p o w e r s o v e r d o m e s t i c m a t t e r s .I t h a s s p e c i a l p o w e r s o v e r h a w k e r s o r s t r e e t t r a d e r s .I t c an r e gu l a te the spac e to be use d , the hour s o f t r ad i ng ,f i x the c har ge s , the s tands , the a l l oc a t i on o f same , andin th e even t o f the use o f bar ro w s, the type- to be u sed

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and the c h ar ge s fo r suc h s tan ds . I t ha s th e po w e r tos e e t h a t t h e c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e F a c t o r i e s A c t a r e o b s e r v e db y s u c h t r a d e r s , a n d t h a t t h e y a r e p r o h i b i t e d f r o m u s i n gc h i l d r e n a s a s s i s t a n t s .H O U S I N G .

A c ounc i l c an p l ay a b i g par t i n hous i ng sc he me sand su pe r v i s i ng the ho us i ng c on di t i o ns o f the pe op l e . I thas powe r no t on l y to de f i ne the r e s i de nt i a l and i ndus -t r i a l ar e as wi th i n i t s bor de r s , but i t c an a l so de f i ne thetyp e o f i nd us tr y . I t c an pu l l do w n or r e m ov e bu i l d i n gsth r o ug h by - l aw s . I t c an fix i t s ow n bu i l d i ng r e g u l a t i on s .Th e se , o f c our se , va r y i n e ac h m un i c i pa l i ty . A bu i l d i ngi n s p e c t o r g e n e r a l l y s u p e r v i s e s t h i s w o r k .

Cou nc i l c an a l so e m bar k on h ou s i n g sc h e m e s . I tc a n p u r c h a s e l a n d , b o r r o w m o n e y , a n d b u i l d h o u s e s , p r o -v i d i ng the va l u e o f e ac h doe s no t e xc e e d 95 0 . I t c anse l l or l e t suc h house s unde r usua l c ondi t i ons , and hasp o w e r t o m a k e a l l o w a n c e s f o r h a r d s h i p .I t can pr o v i de pub l i c ba ths , r e c l a i m l and , e m ba r k

o n u n d e r g r o u n d s e w e r a g e , o r r e m o v e o b s t a c l e s t o d r a i n -age . I t c an r e m ove no x i o us t r ad e f r om the l oc a l i t y anda r r a n g e f o r c o m p e n s a t i o n t o t h e o w n e r . I t c a n c a r r yo u t i m p r o v e m e n t s f o r p r i v a t e o w n e r s , a n d a r r a n g e c o n -t r a c t s f o r r e p a y m e n t o n t e r m s . . I n t h e s p h e r e o f t o w n p l a n n i n g a n d h o u s i n g , t h esc ope o f the wor k o f l oc a l c ounc i l s , a l though l i mi t e d i ne f f e c t i ve ne ss by the l ac k o f ove r a l l p l ann i ng for r e g i ons ,

i s ne ve r the l e s s i mpor tant . The l oc a l c ounc i l i s r e spons i b l efo r the pr e se n c e or abs e nc e o f a to w n p l an , ' i t c an z onethe ar e a i n to r e s i de nt i a l and i ndus tr i a l s i t e s , c ompul sor i l yd e m o l i s h a n d r e p l a n c o n g e s t e d o r s u b - s t a n d a r d a r e a s , s e tl a n d a s i d e f o r r e c r e a t i o n a l p u r p o s e s , a n d c o m p u l s o r i l yac qu i r e l and fo r c om m un a l use s . I t c on tr o l s the l ay -out and wi dth o f s t r e e t s , and the s i z e o f bu i l d i ng a l l o t -m e n t s . I f t h e s e p o w e r s a r e u s e d , n o t w i t h t h e p u r p o s eo f sq ue e z i n g . the u tm ost pr o f i t out o f a g i v e n ar e a o fl and , but wi th the e mphas i s on the ne e ds o f the c om-m u n i t y , w e s h o u l d h a v e t o w n s o f q u i t e a d i f f e r e n tc ha r ac te r i n the S ta te . In th e i r r e c e n t book W e M us tG o O n,'' B ar n e t t , Bu r t and H e at h sho w w i th so r d i d e f -f e c t i v e n e s s t h e r e s u l t s o f u s i n g o u r l a n d w i t h o u t a c o m -

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m un i ty p l an . O ne o f the fu nd am e n ta l ne e ds in the r e -bu i l d i ng and de v e l op m e nt o f our tow ns , the y s ta t e , i sthe pr ov i s i on o f ade quate ar e as o f ope n spac e for r e c r e a -t i ona l pu r po se s . In e ve r y m un i c i p a l i ty the r e shou l d beone ac r e o f publ i c ope n spac e for outdoor r e c r e a t i onpr ov i d e d fo r e ve r y 100 o f pop ul a t i on . G r e a te r M e l bour n em u n i c i p a l i t i e s h a v e le s s t h a n o n e - s i x t h o f t h i s a m o u n t .I n t h e d e v e l o p i n g o u t e r m u n i c i p a l i t i e s t h i s s t a n d a r d c a nst i l l be pro vide d. In the inn er su bu rb s the po s i t io n canbe i mp r ove d by the r e c l a m at i on o f ove r -c r ow de d an d sub-s t a n d a r d a r e a s .I t w ou ld be d i f f i cul t to find one m un ic ip a l h ou s in g

sch em e in the w ho le St at e o f V ic to r ia . Y et a l l l oca l

c ounc i l s , i nc l ud i ng those o f M e l bour ne and G e e l ong , havep o w e r t o b u i l d h o u s e s , b o t h f o r t h e i r o w n e m p l o y e e s a n dfo r o the r e l i g i b l e pe r so ns . A n e l i g i b l e pe r son i so n e w h o d o e s n o t o w n a d w e l l i n g h o u s e a n d w h o s e i n c o m ei s no t mo r e tha n 4 00 a ye a r . Th e ho us e s m ay be le ase dor bo ug ht on t e r m s . Th e c os t m us t no t e xc e e d 8 50 forwe athe r boar d , and 950 for br i c k or s tone , i nc l ud i ngl a n d . T h e s e p o w e r s w e r e g i v e n t o c o u n c i l s a b o u t 2 5y e a r s a g o w h e n b u i l d i n g c o s t s w e r e l o w e r t h a n t h e y a r e

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I t c an c l o se r oads or br i dge s unsa fe for t r a f f i c . Th i sc an be up se t by G o ve r n or - i n -C oun c i l . I t c an pr oc e e da g a i n s t p e r s o n s w h o d a m a g e r o a d s b y t h e u s e o f h e a v yve h i c l e s . I t c an de t e r m i ne the w e i gh t to pa ss ove r ab r i d g e ; i t c a n i m p o u n d s t r a y c a t t l e , a n d d e t e r m i n ev e h i c l e p a r k s . I t c a n p l a n t t r e e s o r e r e c t m o n u m e n t san d r e m ove sam e i f i t de s i r e s . I t c an a l so for c e p r i va tei nd i v i dua l s t o r e move obs tac l e s or t r e e s tha t e f f e c t thep u b l i c r o a d s . W h e n e s t a t e s a r e b e i n g s u b - d i v id e d , i t s a p -pr ova l must be se c ur e d for ne w s t r e e t s .P U B L I C H E A L T H .M u n i c i p a l i t i e s a r e g i v e n g r e a t e r p o w e r s o v e r i m -pr ov e m e n ts in pe op l e ' s w a y o f l i f e . A c oun c i l c an s ta r te i t h e r k i n d e r g a r t e n s , c r e c h e s , o r c o m m u n i t y c e n t r e s . I th a s p o w e r t o p r o v i d e f r e e d e n t a l t r e a t m e n t f o r c h i l d r e nup to 6 ye ar s o f age , and to g i v e f i nanc i a l a s s i s tan c e toe s tab l i she d c e ntr e s whi c h ar e no t r un for pr i va te pr o f i t .A f e w m u n i c i p a l i t i e s h a v e a l r e a d y m a d e u s e o f t h e s ep o w e r s , b u t m a n y m o r e c o u l d u s e t h e m w i t h a d v a n t a g e ,and wh e r e a i d e x i s t s , i t ne e d s to be gr e a t l y e x te nd e d .

I t has powe r to c ontr i bute for the upke e p and c ar eo f ho sp i ta l s f o r i nd i ge nt pe op l e on l y . I t c an , how e v e r ,c on tr i bu te to P u bl i c H o sp i ta l s . ..It ha s no po w e r to se tup a ge n e r a l or i n t e r m e d i a te hos p i ta l o f i t s ow n.C o u n c i l s m a y a l s o a i d b u s h n u r s i n g c e n t r e s a n d g i v ef i nanc i a l a s s i s tanc e to sc hoo l s i n the ar e a , i nc l ud i ng thep r o v i s i o n o f s c h o l a r s h i p s t o s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l s .I t c a n r u n c h i ld w e l f a r e c e n t r e s . T h e G o v e r n m e n tpa ys ha l f the sa l a r y o f s i s t e r s e m pl oy e d . I t ha s pow e rt o p r o v i d e p r e v e n t i v e m e d i c i n e s , s u c h a s i m m u n i s a t i o n xa g a i n s t d i p h t h e r i a . Counc i l s ar e c o l l e c t i ve l y r e spons i b l e for the T .B .s a n a t o r i u m a t G r e e n v a l e , a n d t h e I n f e c t i o u s D i s e a s e sH o s p i t a l .C ou nc i l s ha ve 110 po w er ov er th e hea l th o f scho olc h i l d r e n . T h i s i s d o n e h e r e b y t h e E d u c a t i o n D e p a r t -m e nt . Th e M un i c i pa l H e a l t h O f fi ce i s r e sp on s i b l e fo rh o u s i n g c o n d i t i o n s , n u i s a n c e s , c l e a n l i n e s s , n o x i o u s t r a d e s ,e t c . ; c ounc i l has no powe r to e s tab l i sh c l i n i c s f or ante -n a t a l c a r e o r f o r m i d w i v e s .


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1C O N C L U S I O N .

A n e x a m i n a t i o n o f t h e f o r e g o i n g p a g e s s h o u l d b ee n o u g h t o c o n v i n c e a n y o n e o f t h e w i d e s c o p e o f m u n i -c i p a l w o r k . A s t r e s s i n g o f i t s i m p o r t a n c e i s u n n e c e s -sar y .

I t shou l d no w be c l e ar th a t m un i c i p a l wo r k c ove r st h o s e t h i n g s w h i c h g o t o m a k e u p o u r d a i l y l i f e ; t h e s eth i n gs , l i t t l e i n th e m se l v e s , ye t a f f e c t i n g us so ac ute l y th a t th e y a s su m e a l e ve l o f gr e a t i m po r tan c e . A sm e l l yt ip , a bad dra in , not only forces i t se l f on us , but a l so ont h o s e w h o l iv e n e a r u s . O u r n e x t d o o r n e i g h b o u r m a yb e r e a c t i o n a r y . H e m a y t h i n k t h a t w o r k e r s ' w a g e s a r et o o h i g h , t h a t h i g h w a g e s m a y m e a n n a t i o n a l d i s a s t e r .Ne ve r the l e s s , on the mat te r o f the t i p or the dr a i n hew i l l h e a r t i l y a g r e e w i t h u s . A n d m a y b e i t w i l l o p e nt h e w a y f o r h i m t o a g r e e ' w i t h u s o n o t h e r q u e s t i o n s .

Doz e ns o f i nc i de nt s c an be quote d whe r e pe op l e o ft h e m o s t v a r y i n g p o l i t i c a l o u t l o o k s h a v e c o m e s o l i d l yt o g e t h e r o n l oc a l q u e s t i o n s . C o m m u n i s t s s h o u l d n o t lo s et h e o p p o r t u n i ty , t o g e t t o g e t h e r w i t h ' t h e s e p e o p l e .

I t i s no t e n ou gh to s tu dy th i s pa m ph l e t . I t c ove r sm uc h too br oad a ' fi el d to be app l i e d p i e c e m e a l t o an yspe c i f i c m un i c i p a l i ty . I t s e r ve s on l y a s a gu i de . Com -m u n i s t s c an use i t on l y a s a ba s i s o f app r oac h . T he r em u s t be n o c u t a n d d r i e d a p p r o a c h ; n o p r e c o n c e i v e dp l a n s o f w h a t t h e p e o p l e s h o u l d w a n t . R a t h e r , t h eh i s tor y and t r a d i t i o n o f the m un i c i p a l i ty shou l d bes t u d i e d ; a c a r e f u l s to c k t a k e n o f it s p u b l i c o r g a n i s a t i o n s ;i t s c h a r i t y a n d c o u n c i l s t a n d i n g c o m m i t t e e s ; t h e c a l i b r ea n d c h a r a c t e r o f t h e p e r m a n e n t o f fi ce r s. W i t h t h e s e f a c -tor s tak e n i n to c on s i de r a t i on , an e x am i n at i on o f the r e a le x i s t i n g p r o b l e m s l i n k e d w i t h a s t u d y o f t h i s b o o k s h o u l dp r o d u c e a l i n e o f m a r c h f o r C o m m u n i s t s w h i c h w i l l l e a dto suc c e ss fu l wor k i n l oc a l po l i t i c s , and pave the wayf o r b i g g e r s u c c e s s e s e l s e w h e r e .

outline for work in municipal councils' (194?) -- communist party of australia

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