LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1440, 15 May 1912, Page 7

LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

OUTSPOKEN CRITIC OF THE BJLt,

.VIEWS OF DR. NEWMAN, M,P,

Dr. A. K. Newman, M.P., Is not among the admirers of tho new local Government Hill. "Tlio more I study this Bill," lie says, "the more I wont to murder it. If it were to pass into law it would bo the worst calamity that ever befol this cifv.

'.'■T'Ot me point out the powers of this l>lll. Vov years this country lias bwn clmnoiirinß for a new- -and better form of iocnl government. This Bill, introduced mst short session by Sir Joseph Ward, is to-day fathered by tho Mackenzie Government, and is a chief plank in their policv. It proposes to leave the Wellington City Council as it is, but to put this city under a second ruling body, with power to raise loans and to impose rates. I wonder how my fellow citizens will enjoy next year—l9l3-gctHng a new set of rate notices in addition to the present ones, ihey will have to pay city rates and Provincial Council rates. They now have to pay the cost of a City Council government; next year they will have to pay in addition their share of the cost of tho Provincial Council. "The new Provincial Council will have the power to put an education rate on Wellington city. It will raise: (J) General rates; (21 special rate; (3)' education

rate. All three rales in addition to ono city rate. Tho new rates can run up to 3d. in tho .£ capital value—or, say, 4s. on tho rent of a hou.se. If tho Bill becomes law in a few months, next year it will be in force from January 1 onwards. The New Provincial Council. ''In the early days of New Zealand," said the doctor, "why, there were nine Provincial Councils, but tho people prow tired of them, and they wore abolished, lliis Bill proposes to create twenty-four new ones. The new Wellington Provincial District is to consist of the counties iUakara, Hutt, Ilorowhenua, Manawatu, Kairunga, and Oroaa, and under its government will be Wellington city, Petone, Lower Hutt, and Palmerston North. I cannot understand why these selfgoverning places—Wellington, Petone, Pn.imerston North—managing their own aftairs, should still have their Mayors unci City Councils, and yet bo over-ridden by a Provincial Council with power to rate them. Tho Wellington City Council has full powers over this city, and those powers are to continue. Yet, over and

above this, tho new Provincial Council will have further powers and tho inevitable issue of new rates—to mo a shocking evil. The now- Council is to bo elected not on a human basis, but on tho rateable value of property—a startling development of Ward-Mackenzie Liberalism.

The Abolished Boards. "The Wellington Education Hoard is to be-wiped out, and a committee of tho new Council is to manage education, and has the added power of levying an education rate. Tho Wairarapa schools will l>3 under the Wairarapa Provincial. Council. 1 believe this radical change in our education system will he hurtful.

"Iho hospital and charitable aid boards are also to be extinguished, and their powers fl.tcreis(-d by tho new council; the Wairarapa district is to bo cut off to manage its own affairs. This new arrangement will not be ia (he interest of the unfortunates. "It is not positively asserted, but seems probable (hat tho Wellington Harbour Board is also doomed, and its powers vested in tho new council.' Loans. "* ~" r> "~ "The new council will have full powers of raising loans, and raising new rates on this city to pay for flicfo loans. In certain cases the council will have power to raise new loans without the consent of the ratepayers. Cost of the New Body. . "The Provincial Council is to be elected in April next, on. the same day as (ho city councils. This election wili bo very scattered. A new roll of persons owning valuable land will hnve (o be made out for tto district from Mnnawatu to Orongorongo, and (his will bo a very costly job. Preparing and printing it, and advertising the election, will cost over •S200I). The council itself, in. travelling allowance; and JE3OO a year to the chairman, will cost ,£IOOO n year. The new council will want a home, offices for board meetings, and for » largo stuff of clerks. It will want a, chief engineer, n treasurer, rate collector, and other officers—officials many. It will- havo advertising and stationery and postages to pay for. It must havo money—therefore it will levy rates on this city 'as well as on countrv lands. Of course, at first the rate will be tma!!, but it is sale to prophesy that when councillors havo felt their feet it will grow as tho years roll on.

"You will ask: What does the city gain? Nothing—absolutely nothing as far as I can see. Perhaps tho Minister in charge will be able to tell us. Other Evils. "The Provincial Council, it will be seen, is elected by a largo area. Tho majority of the council will not be elected by this city, but outside it. Against the wish of the city, new loans can be raised, and new taxes levied. We nre to lose our education and hospital and charitable aid boards, and, perhaps, our Unrbotir Hoard. The new council is to bo elected on tho value of lands—not according to population. I have only..spoken of some of the evils in this Bill—there are many others. "I cannot see any gains whatever for this city in the proposed new system. I can sea fresh expenses put on the people; fresh loans, fresh taxation. From one end of The Dominion to the other the

country districts are raising a- chorus of howls against this Bill. In the interests of this city I shall do my utmost to help to kill it.' y OTAGO OPPOSITION. DELEGATES APPOINTED. (fly T«le|?raph—Press Association.) Duncdin, May 14. A meeting of representatives ot local bodies in Otago was held to-day to select six delegates to proceed to the conference in Wellington concerning tho Local Government Bill. Jfr. J. H. Walker, who presided, said that as chairman of the Hospital Board he considered the Bill in its present btafo a decided infringement of the powers nf local bodies. It would give them very little representation, and add very much to their liabilities. Tho board in Wellington would usurp the functions of other local bodies. Country districts wero now complaining about tl»o heavy contributions for hospital and charitable aid, but if Use Bill passed tho amount would Iw increased threefold. The power given to the board in Wellington was absolute and excessive.

A statement by Sir. Wttlkor that the Bill in its present form should be absolutely opposed was applauded. Mr. Batcher moved that the meeting approve of fhe desire and effort!, of the Government to simplify local government, unci that the reqnisilo number of doleBates be sent to 'Wellington to carry out tho instructions given them. lie enn> the framor of the Bill credit for nn linnest desiro to simplify locnl government, and spoke in support of centralisation. Sir. Mollcr seconded tho motion. A mimber of other speakers, while approving of local government reform, opposed the methods proposed in the Bill. An nmemlment-npproYiiijT.of the desireof the Government to simplify locnl government, but regretting that, the Bill now proposed did not nwf the requirements of the coso was carried. The following delegates were appointed i' Messrs. J. Wilson (Mayor), and J. H.' Walker, representing Dunedin; A. S. Orbell and H. O'Neill (northern portion of the district); and H. M. Driver and D. Si'Dwart (southern portion).