CO129-581-16 British propaganda in Hong Kong 18-4-1939 - 29-10-1939 — Page 94

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British Local Government.

One of the most important institutions of democracy in Britain

is the County Council. All over the country it performs the

function of local government and administration, and performs it

so admirably that it is taken for granted as part of the pattern

of our national life. Actually it is a modern institution. Only

a few weeks ago the County Councils celebrated their jubilee, for

they came into active operation in April, 1889. Previous to that,

the "Quarter Sessions" had managed the business of the counties

for some 500 years.

Local government, which requires an unceasing devotion on the

part of many willing workers to the public service, often without

pay or hope of material reward, touches most nearly the life of

the ordinary man at many points. The public health services,

education, poor-law administration, and a host of other services

are personal in their application, and depend for their success upon

the work of the County Councils and other local bodies.

There is no suggestion that local government has yet reached

its permanent and final form. The needs of all communities have

increased; standards of life are higher; more public services are

required; and these bring with them an increase and expansion of

administrative organisations. To turn to the financial aspect of

the question, the wide scope of the administrative work of all the

County Councils in England and Wales may be realised from the fact

that their total cost last year was £307,000,000, of which

£176,000,000 was raised locally in rates, and £131,000,000 was

contributed from the national exchequer.