The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, MAY 31.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 195, 31 May 1878, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, MAY 31.

The Akaroa County Council is in a state of suspended animation. It possesses a chairman, a clerk, and an electoral roll, a legal status ; yet it lacks one thing needful, viz., money. The body is there, apparently perfect, but the life-blood is wanting, and for want of a supply of this vivifying fluid, it has been compelled,* for a time at least, to abrogate its functions. The Chairman has exercised his most persuasive wiles to induce the Government to relax the rigor of their decision, but the answer is still non possumus. " Though sympathising with the unsatisfactory financial position of the Council, they could not alter their decision, nor otherwise interpret the Act." We understand that the position taken by the Government is, that the moneys claimed by the Council (20 per cent, of the Land Fund) have already been allocated to the various Road Boards within the county. However differently the Act may seem to read to others, there is no use in disputing the meaning attached to it by the Government law officers, for of course it is their intrepretation which the Government is bound to accept and enforce.

We. think a mistake was made in not bringing the Counties Act into operation sooner. If this had been done at the beginning instead of toward the end of the financial year, it is probable that the present hitch would not have occurred. However, there is no use in crying over spilt milk, and perhaps the present unfortunate state of affairs may have its uses, in that the Council may be said to have been serving a sort of apprenticeship, and getting into the routine of business, prior to commencing to undertake the important functions which will devolve upon it. That the gradual absorpsion of Road Boards by the Council is only a question of time can, we think, admit of little doubt. But even before this absorption takes place, very important responsibilities must be undertaken by that body. It will become a grave question whether they should not at once assume the control of all main roads and bridges. They have the collection of s\\ license fees, and, in some instances, the power to fix the amount payable. Then there is the very important question of Hospitals and Charitable Aid. We consider that there can be no doubt that a considerable gain will be effected by those localitions, the authorities in which, be they County or Borough Councils, are prepared to take over these institutions. At. present the whole expenditure on these objects is deducted from the funds accruing to the Council. When the latter assume the management of them, they not only receive their revenues in tact, but become entitled to a subsidy of pound for pound on the amount contributed, whether by private subscription or out of rates. Our contemporary the Press endeavors to throw cold water on this reasonable expectation, reasonable, inasmuch as we have every right to expect that the provisions of the law will be carried out. Speaking of the improved position of local bodies in taking over these institutions which we have just referred to, the Press says :—- ---" There is no denying the correctness of this position. But, as we have before asked, what conceivable guarantee can be given for the continuance of the subsidy ? Some of the semi-official journals have emphatically denied that the Ministry have any designs upon the subsidies, but it is particularly noticeable that Mr Ballance did not say a word as to their continuance. . . . Tho thing is on the face of it impossible, and even though a solemn compact, after the manner of the compact of 1856 were made, we are quite confident that the arrangement could not last; the subsidies would ultimatel} 1 * be discontinued, and the inhabitants of the various localities left to bear the burden of the charities as best thoy could.' The Legislature of to-day cannot bind the Legislature of to-morrow. ... It may possibly be that the Government have no definite intention of discontinuing the subsidies, though he would be a bold man who would vouch for this. But assuredly if they had a definite intention of continuing them Mr Ballance would not have failed to say so, knowing how popular such a statement would have been throughout the colony if it could have been honestly made." Part of this effusion consists of selfevident truisms. The resi, we submit, is utterly unwarrantable conjecture. It is perfectly true that " the Legislature of to-day cannot bind the Legislature of to-morrow ; " but the moral is absurd, therefore do not act as if any given law were in existence, but always suppose that it is going to be repealed ! If &

man steals your watch, don't prosecute him, as the Legislature may abolish the laws against larceny 1 and so on ad infinitum.. As to Mr Balance's alleged silence upon the matter, we think this rather tells the other way. Surely a Minister is not caPed upon to assert "The Government of v. which I am a member do not intend breaking the law!" If such an assertion were made, it would rightly be looked upon as suspicions. If there had been any intention to alter the law, it would have been Mr Balance's duty to announce it, but the remarks he did make lead to the supposition that the Government cordially approve of the principle' of the law as it stands.