OUR MEMBERS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1711, 14 November 1887, Page 3

OUR MEMBERS.

The following is a report of Mr w. 0 Tf blker'B speech upon the second reading of the Hoipital and Charitable Institutions Bill, brought forward by MrMacartbur :— Mr Walker,— As the mover of the jecond reading of this measure stated, there are three proposals emt odied m this Bill to meet the case of three districts which are endeavoring to secure what th»y desire for their own good government. I represent one of tbe*e districts, which, however, is slightly different from the others inasmuch as the Borough and County of Aahbarton ip the original Act were constituted a separate hospital district. The other two districts did not obtain control of their hospital administra tion, and therefore the amount of injury and hardship that the district of Ashburton sustained is not co severe as appears to be tbo case with the others. However, I approached this subject, when first introduced m 1885, with a great deal of $atißactlon, because I felt it was a Bamf&cory ttep towards solving many of our difficulties of local government, and 1 heartily supported it throughout its several stages, and endeavored to obtain for many other parts of the colony the amount of local g4?*rstnent set forth m this Bill. 1 was exceedingly sorry it did not go quite aa far as I and some others could have wished, but still, as am» asure tending towards providing satisfactory local government, I was bound to support it ; and now I venture to press upon the House the jusiice of passing the Bill which is before it, ai» still further carrying into practical effect the true principles c£ local government, So far as these tbree districts are concerned, the experience of the peri <d since the Act was passed has shown to [us that it is perfectly impossible for us to be m any way considered to hare charge of the management of our localaff airs at present, and, as far as we as* concerned, certainly itisimpo^ eiblo with a Board sitting m Christchurch. Of course vr« have a proportionate representation ; tot what Is the good of representation If your representatives cannot satisfactorily Attend? We could no doubt secure representation by nomlnatlog gentlemen who live m Christchurch and have leisure, hut they would not b& representatives m tbt proper sense of tbo word- They would not be local representatives ; they would not understand onr feelings or represent our wishes m the manner In wblob those who desire true local governaaant would wish to see representation carried out. We have an opportunity of attending the monthly meetings ; we have pressed on ua the privilege of sitting on Committees; but it ii Impossible for ua who are representatives of a county and • borough at a distance to take advantage of these offers. I have said that we have bad an opportunity of managing our own affairs as regards the hospital, and therefore I ask that as our hospital management baa bflsn satisfactory to us, and as it haa |>sen shown it will convey no hardship to the Cbrletohjjroh centre or to other parts of the provincial district, we should bs allowed, as a logical qon elusion, to manage our charitable aid In the same way. I prefer to press our claim ou the broad principle of establishing good local govern* ment, rather than take the line which the honorable member for Walrcate haß done, and press our claims purely on the financial part of the question. Of coarse we have onr financial grievances ; but I do not wish to press them on tfco House. I desire rather to appeal to honorable member** as a matter of principle, that districts which are naturally defined, which by geographical position ought to be autonomous, and which have since 1876 been autonomous, -should, In this raspeot, also be rendered self-governing end an joy the privilege of managing their own aSatrs. I therefore appeal most con. fidently to the House to give this Bill a ■eoond reading, and secure to ua the privilege which other parts of the colony eDJoy— of managing onr own affairs.