312 THE BRITISH APPROACH TO POLITICS

private employment. Councils are thus considerable employers of
labour, and their behaviour as such is one of the points on which
electors have to pronounce judgment. It is, however, the first
group, and the administrative section of the second, who make
up what is usually described as the local Civil Service. It is
surprising and regrettable that there is no general agreement
among authorities as to the recruitment and conditions of work
of their servants. Efficiency varies a good deal, and salaries are
affected quite as much by the views of the authority as by the
nature of the work. There are, however, several factors at work
to improve this situation. A number of societies organise
examinations in the various types of local Government work,
and the results of these can be used as a guide by the local
authorities. The National Association of Local Government
Officers works to extend this system, and to bring some
uniformity into conditions of service. Authorities may take
advantage of an Act which permits them to arrange a Pension
Scheme for their employees. Since it is certain that local
Government activities will continue to grow, action by the
Central Government on the whole question will soon be
necessary.

Relations between the elected political chief and the permanent
official have been discussed in regard to the Central Government,
and most of the observations made apply also to local Govern-
ment. Since the local Councillor is not only, like the Cabinet
Minister, dependent on electoral fortunes, but also a spare time
worker, he requires as a rule even more help from his officials.
The volume of legislation affecting local Government, and the
problems of finance can only be fully understood by those who
have made the study of them a life v/ork. The status of the chief
officials is demonstrated by their attendance at committee meet-
ings, and the extent to which their advice is sought and followed;
this may be contrasted with the Committees of the House of
Commons where the views of the Civil Servant must be expressed
through the mouth of the Minister. If, however, the Councillor