GOVERNMENT AND MUNICIPALITY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 982, 24 November 1910, Page 4

GOVERNMENT AND MUNICIPALITY.

Although the municipalities, a majority of tho members of Parliament, and tho bulk, of the public arc well aware of 'the noxious character of tho Tramways Bill, which in effect proposes to place tho Government in charge of the municipal tramway , systems, wo. do not think the full extent of the danger to which tho municipalities are exposed is properly appreciated. It is obvious, from the official facts, andeven from the figures in Mil. Birks's and Mit. Holmes's reports to the Government, that tho Hutt water-power scheme cannot but be a failure unless the Wellington Corporation buys all its current from tho State. Tho Corporation, will, of- course, do nothing of the kind unices it wishes

to waste tho ratepayers' money. But what guarantee have we that the Government, if it were so fortunate as to remain in power, would not compel .the municipalities to use its current under the throat that otherwise the Government would take possession of the'tramways and other electrically-supplied municipal cervices? "That," we can imagine some simple person replying, "is a purs bogy. The public would not tolerate such a tiling. Parliament would not sanction it. There are your guarantees." Now, the question is not an idle one. There exists positive proof of the adhesion of the Government to exactly the principle of that kind of confiscatory threat. The Government could quite easily propose a Bill containing this clause:

If in the opinion of the 1 Governor-in-Council the effect of the construction of any hydro-electric plant which tho Minister in pursuance of this Act is authorised to construct will bo materially to increase tho value of municipal services which could be served by means of it, or if upon tho construction of any such hydro-electric, plant'the municipalities in tho district do not avail themselves of the current for tramways or other municipal purposes to such an extent as. in the opinion of the Govornor-in-Couneil justifies tho existenco of the plant, the Governor may, if ho thinks lit, take as for a public work tho whole or any portion of such municipal services which in his opinion could be usefully served by means of such hydro-electric plant,

Should anybody fancy that such a proposal is impossible, and that the 'principle it involves is unheard of, let him turn to Clause 5 of the Public Works Amendment Bill now before Parliament. It reads:

"5. If in tho opinion of tho Governor-in-Council tho effect of the .construction of any water-race which the Minister in pursuance of tliis Act js authorised to construct will bo materially to" increase the value of land which could lie irrigated by means of it, or if upon, tho construction of any such water-race the landowners in ' the district do. not avail themsolves of the water for irrigation or other purposes to such an extent as in the opinion of tho Governor-in-Council justifies tho existence of tho race, tho Governor may, if lie thanks fit, tako as for a public work, in the manner prescribed by tho principal Act; tho whole or any portion of such land which in his opinion could bo usefully irrigated by means of such water-race," etc.

A comparison with our imaginary clause will show that tbo only points of difference are in the words we have printed in blaek typo—"hydroelectric plant" for "water-race," "current"'for "water," "municipalities" for "landowners," and "tramways" for "land.". Perhaps this clause, read in conjunction with tho general intent of the Tramways Bill, will help the public to understand the peril with which-the municipalities are threatened.'