· 8.
May I quote from part of a Report of the Royal Commission on Local
Government in Greater London 1957-60.
"Local government.. is not just a machine or a piece of organisation.
If one is dealing with a machine or a piece or organisation, one can take
each part separately and look at it separately. Local government seems to
us to be much more like a living thing, an organism, in which each part or
function is not self-contained or connected externally with other parts.
Each part is integrally concerned with each other part. The nature and
function of each part affects, and in some degree determines, the nature
and function of each of the other parts. The whole is not just a conglomeration
of the parts .... Local government is with us an instance of democracy at
work, and no amount of potential administrative efficiency could make up
for this loss of active participation in the work by capable, public-
spirited people elected by, responsible to, and in touch with those who
elect them."
Now, gentlemen, I have finally run out of steam.
Thank you again for allowing me to be with you today.