Municipal Trading - A Study in Public Administration Book

MUNICIPAL TRADING A Study in Public Administration by HERMAN D. Sc. Econ. Land. Reader in Public Administration University of London London George Allen Unwin Ltd Museum Street FIRST PUBLISHED IN 1941 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN in iz-Point Plantin Type BY UNWIN BROTHERS LIMITED WOKING To Harold J. Laski and our second score years of friendship and colleagueship at the London School of Economics CONTENTS Chapter p age Acknowledgments n Introduction 13 Book One NATURE AND HISTORY i General Survey 17 2. Nature and Problems 27 3 History and Controversies 36 4 The Legal Framework 68 Book Two FACTORS IN PRODUCTION PART I CHIEFLY FINANCIAL 5 Inception of Schemes and Counting the Cost 89 6 The Purchase of Supplies, Land and Under takings 1 12 7 Loans, Depreciation and Reserves 129 8 Rate Aid and Profits and Losses 146 PART II ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION AND PERSONNEL 9 Administrative Organization 163 10 Personnel Technical and Administrative 198 11 Personnel Manual Workers 217 IO MUNICIPAL TRADING PART III THE SIZE AND TECHNOLOGY OF THE UNDERTAKING Chapter Page 12 Water 233 13 Gas 250 14 Electricity 258 15 Transport 278 Book Three FACTORS IN SELLING 1 6 Pricing 299 17 Gas Charges 308 1 8 Electricity Charges 330 19 Transport Charges 351 20 Water Rates and Charges 364 21 Stimulation of Sales and Service 383 Book Four CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS 22 The Balance of Deterrents from and In centives to Efficiency 391 23 The Factors of Success and their Development 404 Appendices 422 Index 427 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS IT gives me pleasure to acknowledge with deep gratitude the assis tance through discussion and correspondence of Mr. J. D. Imrie, City Chamberlain of Edinburgh, Mr. Sydney Larkin, City Treasurer of Coventry, Dr. A. H. Marshall, Deputy Treasurer of Coventry, Mr. W. Coxall, City Treasurer of Chesterfield, and Mr. Arthur Collins. All of these read the MS. and offered many fruitful comments. In particular, the criticism by Mr. Collins, who has probably the longest and most intensive experience of any person in this country of the undertakings, was invaluable in its volume and point, and I express my profound thankfulness to him for his very great kindness. I have pleasure in thanking, also, Mr. Ernest Long, the Borough Treasurer of Finchley, Mr. Drummond, the Deputy Treasurer of Smethwick, Mr. E. A. Mills, Borough ElectricalEngineer of Hackney, Mr. Westlake, Borough Electrical Engineer of Finchley, Mr. Pugh, Water Manager and Engineer of Coventry Mr. Beckett, formerly Secretary of the Municipal Transport Association, the Institution of Gas Engineers, the British Commercial Gas Company, the British Electrical Development Association, the Secretary of the Conjoint Conference of Joint Electricity Authorities, the Secretaries Workers Section of the Joint Industrial Councils of the Undertakings, and the many officials of the Ministries of Transport, Health, the Electricity Commissioners and the Board of Trade who helped towards enlightenment in discussion or writing. Among my colleagues at the London School of Economics, Mr. F. C. Benham and Mr. W. A. Coase, read the MS. and gave helpful hints and put disconcerting questions. I profited by the hints, and tried to meet the questions. Mr. G. Schwartz presented steadying comments on pricing. I thank the following local authorities, whose Town Clerks and Managers of Undertakings answered my questionnaires and sub 12 MUNICIPAL TRADING sequent supplementaries where necessary so clearly and at so much trouble to themselves...Read More