THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1455, 1 June 1912, Page 7

THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL.

Sir,—As you arc doing yonr bast to uphold a policy of sound government, as - 'apposed to irresponsible legislation, and government on non-business principles, I make no apology for the following comments. The Hon. 6. W. Russell, in introducing the Bill to North Canterbury, states that there are 622 local government districts in the 'Dominion. I say ,"so much tho better," as it only shows the large number of patriotic men we have got who are carrying on the local government of the Dominion, with the greatest economy, in tho interests of the local ratepayers, and also with the greatest efficiency possible, with regard to'the special work in (hand. . These local bodies havo become "specialists" in their own work; they are for the most part totally unpaid, and only in some cases get their travelling expenses. They aro generally personally interested in their work, and in close touch with tho ratepayers who pay for jhat work, and if that work is not well ind fairly done they very soon "get tho Back" by those ratepayers. There could have Men no greater condemnation of tho Bill as a whole than was given by the fifty delegates of Xorth Canterbury local bodies on May 13, in Christcburch. It has been repeatedly said that "the Bill has been asked for." May I ask "by ivhom"? Some of our M.H.R.'s, jvhen being "worried" by deputations, aave made tho suggestion from time to time "that a Local Government Bill was needed." This brings me to the crux of the whole question, i.e., we do want somo form of representative board of unbiased tnen set up to fairly allocate the subsidies to be paid from the' Consolidated Revenue towards such things as charitable ,nid, hospitals, education, main roads, bridges, water supply, etc., and public ■works of more than local interest, Also such local work as the progress of various districts requires. But to set up a new set of provincial councils, which in their turn are to bo under the thumb of a Ministerial Council, is only to bring into be- j ing a provincial council which, by the j Vide scope of its duties, must give most fcf its time to the work, and «ms«|in.-iit!,v must be paid high salaries and employ a large stall of officials, also at high sii:,ries. The work of the said provincial conn- j cils has then to be overhauled by a Local Government Board in Wellington, com- ; posccl chiefly of 31 material appointees,. *,vith officers to match, also at high salaries. This scheme will add largely to Hie already extravagant cost of administration oi' "God's own country." "Let well alone." Tile local bodies are 'doing an immen t e amount of vood, boiiest work, at very little (o tho country. and don't run into a scheme to cost 15100,001 .a year, with not as good results, r.nd with tie certainty that uiuclt of the local work will have to be carried on by unpaid snb-committers after all. As an example of local government at now carried on: The AVnimakariri-Anhley ■Water Supply Board was brought into operation 20 years ago by live different ftoad Boards combining, and their action has recently been confirmed by the three County Councils which have taken their place, and the W.A.W. district is continued- This district is 150,0D0 acres, valued some years ago at JE/50,000. It is heady all in small holdings, and carrying a large population, and every paddocK in the .district has a water-race in it. There are some 5(10' miles .of. At present if an accident takes place to stop the water we are "up .and at .it" the next 'dav', and the water is running again, in ' b, W hours, even if it cost £200. Under ih.e n6ir Drotjosal this effective schema

will come under the Provincial Council, with headquarters in Christchurch, 10 miles away. An accident happens at some important point, the engineer of tho council, whose report is open to question, reports at? tho next meeting ot tho 1 rovincial Council, perhaps in ten days time. Tho said council, having other important work, may or may not act at once, or may refer the question to Wellington, etc., etc. ' , . We ratepayers in the three months interval may spend our time looking tor sheep which havo gono looking for water, or pulling horses out of wells, down which they havo fallen in search of water, or putting out Sires without water. Iho damage would bo done, our .£2lO spent on "red tape," and the Government and tno water d .—I am, etc., _ SI ARM AD UK li J. DIXOX Chairman, W.A.S.B. May 20, 1912.