Were there Municipal Networks in the British World c. 1890–1939?

Abstract

The concept of ‘networks’ in the British world has captivated the attention of historians in recent years, with theoretical frameworks now offered to chart the chronology of such phenomena. This article examines these frameworks critically through the lens of British world municipalities, examining the transfer of people and ideas between 1890 and 1939. It contemplates the significance of British world publications such as the Municipal Journal, appearing after 1890, in the facilitation of British world progressivism and its role in formalising networks; also the travels of municipal employees and the correspondence of town clerks in the first half of the twentieth century. Consideration is given to the place of Australian and New Zealand cities in such global networks. The article reflects on whether a move from ‘ad hoc’ networks before 1914 to more formal ones after 1920 is a credible way of characterising the period from the perspective of the Southern hemisphere cities.

Acknowledgements

Versions of this paper were delivered at the British World Conference, Bristol 2007, and the University of Melbourne ‘Brown Bag’ Seminar series, May 2009. I would like to thank James Watson, Brad Beaven and Andrew May for their advice in the writing of the article, and to the anonymous referees for useful criticisms on an earlier draft of this article. Thanks are also due to the city council archivists of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch (especially Rosie Ballantyne and Eva Sullivan) for their endeavours to locate source material.

Notes

Wellington city council archives (WCCA) 00233:492:1925/103.

Potter, ‘Webs, Networks and Systems’.

Ballantyne, Orientalism and Race; Lester, ‘British Settler Discourse and the Circuits of Empire’; Dubow, Commonwealth of Knowledge. Dubow, for example, has applauded attempts at ‘viewing the Empire as an interconnected zone, constituted by multiple points of contact [which] offers a significant advance on older often economic-based theories of core and periphery.’ 16.

Saunier, ‘La Toile Municipale aux XIX–XXth siècles’.

Although for James Belich this link was ‘not enough to revive the Tasman world’. Paradise Reforged, 69.

See Fitzpatrick, The British Empire in Australia, 166–67; Potter, News and the British World, 30–31; Harvey, ‘Bringing the News to New Zealand’, 26; Inglis, ‘The Imperial Connection’. For the ‘all-red’ mail route, see discussions at the Imperial Conference 1911. Imperial Conference 1911, 344–57.

Hietala, Services and Urbanisation at the Turn of the Century; Saunier, ‘Taking up the Bet’.

Saunier and Ewen, Another Global City; Gutzke, Britain and Transnational Progressivism.

Saunier, ‘Global City: Take 2’, 16.

Saunier and Payre, ‘Muncipalités de tous pays unissez vous!’

Hietala, Services and Urbanisation at the Turn of the Century, 38.

See Saunier, La Toile Municipale, 170.

For example, the work of the Women's Christian Temperance Union; see Tyrell, Woman's World/Woman's Empire.

For city planning, see Meller, European Cities 1890s–1930s; Miller, ‘Town Planning in New Zealand, 1900–1933’.

A fault noted by Driver and Gilbert in their edited collection Imperial Cities, 5. Briggs, Victorian Cities; Taylor, World City Network. For a corrective, see King, Urbanism, Colonialism and the World Economy.

Shaw, Municipal Government in Great Britain, v–vi.

See MacDonald's introduction to H. A. Taylor, Robert Donald.

This phrase is used in the prospectus for the journal held in Robert Donald's private papers ACC 1459 D/3/2. Parliamentary Archives, Houses of Parliament, Westminster.

ACC 1459 D/3/2, Parliamentary Archives.

London, 2 Feb 1893, 1.

Kellet, ‘Municipal Socialism’, 41.

Rodgers, Atlantic Crossings.

For non-British world readership, see ‘The Municipal Journal in Russia’, Municipal Journal, 19 Jan. 1900.

Saunier, ‘Introduction’, 16.

See Heater, Citizenship, 3.

Beaven and Griffiths, ‘Creating the Exemplary Citizen’.

Pickles, ‘A Link the Great Chain of Friendship’; Adams, ‘National Service League’.

See, for example, Kidambi, Making of an Indian Metropolis; Strange and Loo, Making Good; Fitzgerald, Sydney, Bickford-Smith, Ethnic Pride and Racial Prejudice; Brown- May, Melbourne Street-Life; Dunstan, Governing the Metropolis.

Hamer, New Towns in the New World, 66.

Kidambi, Making of an Indian Metropolis, 71, also 203–33. A deputation appointed by the government of India visited London in 1919 ‘to study the system of local government’. Indeed, the British government's first concessions to India in terms of self-governance in 1919 by the terms of the Montagu-Chelmsford reforms were at this level. See Municipal Journal 27 Aug. 1920, 821.

Bickford-Smith, Ethnic Pride and Racial Prejudice.

Dunstan, Governing the Metropolis; Bush, Decently and in Order; Brown-May, Melbourne Street Life; Fitzgerald, Sydney. There was also a movement for a Greater Christchurch and Greater Auckland in the first half of the twentieth century.

Pember-Reeves, State Experiments in Australia and New Zealand, Vol. 1, 69.

Cocker and Multon Murray, Temperence and Prohibition in New Zealand, 256–57.

During the inter-war period for example, the Labour-dominated Christchurch city council undertook measures similar to those of the London County Council in the 1890s to curb the excesses of popular culture. Using powers conferred by the Municipal Corporations Act 1933, the council forbade pass-out checks at dance halls and in some cases withdrew licences from persistently rowdy venues. Auckland city council's solicitor doubted the validity of the restrictions See 101/43 council minutes dated 12 Mar 1936, ACC archives.

For Arthur Mielziner Myers, see obituaries in The New Zealand Herald and The Press, 11 Oct. 1926. For Tommy Taylor, A. R. Grigg's entry in The Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, Vol. 2, 1870–1900, 511–13; Macleod, The Fighting Man; Nolan, Kin.

Municipal Journal, 25 Jan. 1901, 68.

Ibid.

Ibid.

‘Municipal Government in Adelaide’, Municipal Journal 3 Jan. 1902, 6. See the entry for Ellery in Cunneen, Australian Dictionary of Biography, Supplement 1580–1980, 115.

Municipal Journal, 11 March 1904, 206.

Municipal Journal, 5 Aug. 1904, 626.

Municipal Journal, 5 Jan. 1906.

‘Lessons from Paris’, Municipal Journal, 16 Feb, 1906, 171–72, 23 Feb. 1906, 199–200.

Municipal Record, 1.4, Jan. 1925, 1.

Cyclopedia of New Zealand, Vol. 3, Canterbury Province, 100–04.

Cyclopedia of New Zealand, Vol. 2, Auckland, 116–22.

Municipal Journal, 16 Dec. 1903, 1094, 19 May 1905, 516.

Donaldson, History of Municipal Engineering in Christchurch, 84. However also note the comments by Melbourne town clerk John Clayton, in a letter dated 28 Aug. 1911, where he responded to an inquiry regarding possible employment by P. H Grey, an English deputy town clerk, that ‘[b]ased on experience of past years the chances of the appointment of an English officer whilst resident in England are very slight. I only remember one instance.’ VPRS 9307. Town Clerks Outward Letter Books, Vol. 3.

Reviewed in Municipal Journal, 31 March 1905, 310.

‘Municipal Visit to European Capitals’, Municipal Journal, 19 Aug. 1904.

‘Deputation Expenses: Practices in Various Cities’ Municipal Journal, 3 Feb. 1905, 83.

Blainey, Tyranny of Distance.

Municipal Journal, 11 July 1902, 572.

Municipal Journal, 20 Feb. 1903, 167, 24 April, 404.

Donaldson, History of Municipal Engineering in Christchurch, 65.

Municipal Journal, 16 Nov. 1923, 997–98.

Municipal Journal and Public Works Engineer, 23 Oct. 1936, 2007.

Municipal Journal, 8 May 1908, 377, 15 May 1908, 398, 21 March 1924, 316.

Municipal Journal, 29 Aug. 1924, 992.

Municipal Journal, 1 Aug. 1924, 888.

The LCC minutes record that it received an invitation from the Congrès International de Exposition de l'Art de Construire les Villes et de l'Organisation de la Vie Municipale to send delegates. It was suggested that the chairman of the Buildings Acts committee and the architect should be appointed to represent the council. LCC minutes 6 May 1913, 1005. London Metropolitan Archive (LMA). The LCC subsequently sent delegates to the conferences of 1924, 1929, 1930, 1932 and 1934.

For a useful overview of IULA's history, see Revers, IULA 1913–1963.

Ewen and Hebbert, ‘European Cities in a Networked World’, 331.

The only non-European members in 1928 were listed as Brazil, Cuba, Syria, Turkey, the USA and Canada, the latter of which, with Britain, were the only ‘British world’ participants before 1939. For the indecision on whom to invite, see Revers, IULA, 1913–63, 27. At the jubilee meeting of 1963 IULA hoped it would extend its membership to Asia, South America and Africa. See Proceedings of the IULA Jubilee. A national association of municipalities was not formed in Australia until 1947, when the Australian Local Government Association appeared. See www.alga.asn.au/about.

‘The International Union – What it Stands For’, Municipal Journal, 10 May 1935, 776. See also Ewen and Hebbert, ‘European Cities in a Networked World’, 331.

The importance of the IULA was highlighted by F. B. Stephens to Auckland city council in 1936. He had travelled to Europe under a Rockefeller Fellowship. It was noted that New Zealand was not a member. Auckland city council minutes ACC 101/43. 18/5/36. I am indebted to James Armstrong at the Auckland city council archive for drawing my attention to this entry in the minutes.

Evening Post clipping dated 1 June 1963, held in WCC File 000011900:50/790, ‘IULA membership and conferences 1927–1989’. It was noted by Wellington city council, even at this date, that ‘it does not propose to seek membership of the union’ and advised the New Zealand Municipal Association to become a member.

Evening Post clipping 13 July 1971, held in WCC 00001:1900 50/790 pt 2.

Auckland, for example, declined to attend the IULA conference in 1929, see ACC minutes 101/36, 3, 24 Jan. 1929. Christchurch was invited to the Paris conference of 1925, but did not send a delegate either. Christchurch Council Minutes, CH380/39 8/6/25.

Archives New Zealand, Christchurch branch, CH 341 Box 252 Book 484. Letter responding to IULA invitation to Washington conference from mayor, George Manning, dated 27 March 61.

IULA Annual Report 1973, 30.

ACC minutes 101:35, 16 Jan. to 19 Dec. 1928. Noted in Auckland city council minutes 1928; 734, ACCA.

00233:475:1924/1159. Wellington city council archives (WCCA).

‘In the Precincts of the Global City’, 27.

Municipal Record 1.4, Jan. 1925, 1

Ibid.

Ibid.

Municipal Journal, 24 July 1908, 608.

See Municipal Yearbook, for 1942, 606.

‘Opinions of the Municipal Record’, Municipal Record 1.3, Oct. 1924, 17.

Municipal Monthly Review 1.1, 1 Sept. 1928, 1.

Municipal Monthly Review 2.1, Oct. 1928, 33.

Aspinwall, Portable Utopia; Maver, ‘A (North) British End-View’, 191–96.

Municipal Journal 2 June 1905, 599.

James Tyler, Report of Tour to USA, Canada, Great Britain, Continent of Europe, Egypt and Australia February-October, 1924, ACC 275, Box 65 File 23-820, town clerks secretarial department subject files, ACCA.

Municipal Record 2.4, April 1926.

See, for example, ‘One Year's Progress: How the City is Growing’, New Zealand Herald 20 April 1908; ‘Progressive Auckland’, New Zealand Herald 29 May 1909; ‘Progress of Auckland: A Walk up Queen Street’, New Zealand Herald 9 April 1912. The obituary of Arthur Myers described his period as Mayor between 1905 and 1909 as ‘Progressive’. The New Zealand Herald 11 Oct. 1926. For critical remarks regarding the idea of progress in Auckland city, see New Zealand Herald 9, 21 April 1908.

The New Zealand Herald 31 May 1907.

ACC 306, Mayor's Visitor Book, 1895, ACCA.

A. E. Ford's report following his tour of investigation through the United States, Canada Great Britain and the Continent of Europe and Australia, 8 June 1926 to 18 Jan. 1927. ACC 275 File 27-432 Box 130. ACC 275 File 27-432 Box 132, ACCA.

[Report by James Melling, assistant town clerk, on his tour of investigation to the United States and Great Britain 28 April to 26 Oct, 1936. ACC 275 File 36-200 Box 205, ACCA.

[Melling report, ACC 275 Box 205 File 36-200, ACCA.

ACC 275 Box 177 File 32-251, John Barr visits U.S. on a Carnegie corporation grant to study library methods and administration, 1933, ACCA.

ACC minutes 101: 36, 16 Jan. to 19 Dec. 1929, 25–41. Report of visit by W. E. Bush, city engineer, to Australia, Nov.–Dec. 1928, ACCA.

Ibid.

8–28 April 1939. ACC 275 Box 211, File 36-368; letter of 29 Feb. 1940, ACC 275 Box 241 File 3-234. Brand was accompanied by a councillor, Fee, whose visit caused some discussion in the council as to whether it was appropriate to refund his travel expenses, as he was visiting Australia for leisure purposes. He was later reimbursed to the tune of £32.5.8.

The position of Christchurch town clerk in the period 1901–40 was occupied by two men, Henry Rawe Smith (1901–25) and J. R. Neville (1924–40). Smith was born in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, while his successor was born in Lyttelton New Zealand.

From 1894 onwards a bi-annual municipal conference was held by the Municipal Association of New Zealand in Wellington. By the 1920s this had become an annual meeting, held at various centres. See The Municipal Handbook of New Zealand 1915, 15. By the late 1920s 108 cities, boroughs and forty-nine town districts were members of this association. Correspondence relating to the staging of this event was the subject of a number of letters which were sent between the New Zealand cities.

CH 341 XAAA Box 68, letter dated 27 Nov. 1928. Archives, New Zealand, Christchurch branch (ANZ)CH 341 XAAA Box 115, 22 Sept. 1937, ANZ. Middlesbrough's Yearbook acknowledged by letter dated 1 Feb. 1938, XAAA CH 341, Box 121, ANZ. Letters sent to Council and Municipal Record, Edinburgh, Manchester City News and Municipal Engineering and Sanitary Record, London, 3 Aug. 1928. XAAA CH 341 Box 68, ANZ.

Public Record Office Victoria, (PROV) VPRS 9307/P0001/1 town clerks' letter books, Inter-state and International Correspondence, Books 1–6, 1903–22. These books cover the period 1902–22.

For example, letters dated 8 Aug. 1903, and 12 Aug., 8 Oct., 22 Oct. 1903.Letter Book 1.

Stated in letter to town clerk Salford 21 July 1910. Letter Book 2.

Letter dated 26 July 1910, Letter Book 2.

Belich, Paradise Reforged, 440.

See, for example, the reports of A. E. Ford and James Melling cited in notes 89 and 97.

Ibid.

Fitzgerald, Sydney 1842–1992, 128–29; letter dated 28 July 1932, XAAA CH 341 Box 87; 21 May 1933, Box 92, ANZ.

Letter dated 4 Nov. 1924, CH 341 XAAA Box 50, ANZ.

00233:434: 1922/102, WCCA.

00233: 446.1923/704: 00233:417:1922/134; 00233417:1922/103, WCCA,

Noted in the early correspondence index, 1920–23, WCCA.

May, ‘In the Precincts of the Global City’, 22.

Town clerk's outward correspondence, letter dated 12 July 1935. CH 341 XAAA, Box 105.

For US cities' influence on Melbourne's public health measures, see May ‘In the Precincts of the Global City’, 30.

For the Americanisation of Melbourne's central business district in the inter-war years, see Schrader, ‘Rebuilding Melbourne’. Newspaper cuttings relating to D. G. Porter's visit to the USA in 1971 demonstrate that he was looking to re-develop Wellington using North American concepts of elevated pedestrian walkways. Evening Post clippings 19 Aug. 1971 held in WCC 00001:1900: 50/790 pt. 2.

Christchurch city council began a subscription to this journal in Sept. 1927. See CH380 XAAA 27/9/27.

Wellington's town clerk cancelled the council's subscription to the journal in 1923. WCC 00233: 448 1923/878.

Ewen, ‘Lost in Translation?’, 175.

J. R. Neville's obituary, for example, notes that in 1935 he was granted nine months' leave of absence, to travel to the USA and Europe as a reward for long service. See The Press, 8 March 1945.

Ballantyne, Orientalism and Race, 14–16.