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Co-ordination in Municipal Endeavour

16th April 1929, Page 131
16th April 1929
Page 131
Page 131, 16th April 1929 — Co-ordination in Municipal Endeavour
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Some Notes on the More Important Associations Which Link Together the Local Authorities and Their Members.

T"scope of municipal service is so wide and the problems and interests of local-government authorities vary so much from one end of the country to the other that the formation of numerous associations for the bringing together of men engaged in municipal work, and for the guidance and protection of municipal bodies and their members, is but a natural adjunct to the system of jurisdiction by which Great Britain is administered.

There are many such associations, and the differences between their several objects provide an insight into the duties and endeavours of municipal officers.

There is, for example, the Municipal Tramways and Transport Association, which was founded in 1002 and incorporated in 1911. This is an organization of . much importance and of farreaching activity, and it has as its principal aim the promotion and encouragement (otherwise than financially, of course) of the construction, working and interests of tramways, light railways, trolley-bus systems and motorbus services owned and worked by local authorities, the assistance and perfection of inventions conducive to the advance of such undertakings' and the promotion of improvements in legislation. The Association has offices at Clement's Inn, London, W.C2, and its general secretary is Mr. J. Beckett, E.S.A.A.

A body of more recent inception but of even wider interests is the Institute of Transport, which was founded late in 1919 and was incorporated by Royal Charter in 10213. This is not a municipal society, but its importance is so marked and its future so well established that large numbers of local government officials have become members and associate-members of it.. The object of the Institute, primarily, is to promote, encourage and co-ordinate the study of the science and art of transport in all its branches. The offices are at 15, Savoy Streit, Loudon, W.C.2, and Mr. A. Winter Gray is the secretary.

The Association of Municipal Corporations, with offices at Palace Chambers, Westminster, London, S.W.1, is a body the object of which is to protect the rights and privileges of municipal corporations, as they may be affected by legislation or otherwise. Its membership at present comprises all the county boroughs, all except about 10 of the non-county boroughs, and 19 out of the 28 metropolitan borough councils. The president of this important association is the Right Hon. The Earl of Derby, and the secretary is Mr. Harry G. Pritchard.

Another important organization is the County COUTICile Association, which has as its object the protection of the interests of the county councils of England and Wales. Mr. S. M. Johnson is the secretary, and the offices are at Eccleston Square, London, S.W.1.

A society which brings into contact members of all kinds of local authorities is the Institute of Public Administration, of which Sir Austen Chamberlain, K.G., M.P., is the president. The honorary secretary, Mr. H. G, Corner, has his office at Palace Chambers, 33ridge Street, London, S.W.1.

There is the British Electrical Development Association, Of 15, Savoy Street, London, W.C.2, an incorporated body which was founded for the purpose of encouraging the use of electricity for all purposes. It has as its secretary, Lieut.-Col. W. A. Vignoles, D.S.O., M.I.E.E. From the same office and by the same secretary is conducted the Eleetrieal Vehicle Committee of Great Britain, the aim of which is the development of the use of electric vehicles for all appropriate purposes.

A purely municipal society is the Incorporated Municipal Electrical Association, which was founded as far back

as 1895 and incorporated six years later. Its objects are to promote the interests of municipal electrical undertakings and to bring together municipal electrical engineers. The secretary is Mr. J. W. Simpson and the offices are at 38, High Street, Croydon.

The Institute of Cleansing Superintendents, the name of which describes its sphere of interest, has offices at 30, Oakfield Road, London, N.4, the acting honorary secretary being Mr. W. J. Heacey.

The Institution of Municipal and County Engineers has its offices at 92, Victoria Street, London S.W.1, and the secretary is Mr. C. W. Scott-Giles, M.A. Nearly every qualified engineer and surveyor to a county, county borough, borough, urban or rural district in Great Britain belongs to this . institution.

In the fire department, the National Fire Brigades' Association, of which His Majesty is a patron, has as its object the promotion of research ;n fire-fighting matters. The secretary is Mr. W. G. Webster and the headquarters are at 8, Waterloo Place, London, S.W.1.

Accountants of iocal government departments are closely associated by the Institute of Municipal Treasurers and Accountants, the offices of which are at 20, Abingdon Street, London, S.Mr.l. It collects and disseminates information relating to'municipal finance, and, in this respect, affords assistance to the Legislature. The secretary is Mr. Arthur Collins.

In Scotland there is the Association of Burgh Officials di Scotland, the secretary of which, Mr. . James A. Houston, has his office at 187a, West

George Street, Glasgow. •

There are several other societies concerned with the interests of different classes of municipal officials, but even the brief mention which we have made of the mare prominent associations affords an impreasian of the extensive range of activity that exists in municipal. work, and of the means that are available for the co-ordination of knowledge and experience in public-service matters.


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