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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3139, 20 July 1881, Page 2

Consistently following up the rdle he assumed last session, Mr Ormond has brought his criticisms upon the administration and Ibe proposals of tbe Government to a fitting conclusion by moving what is tantamount to a motion of no-confidence. The »iews that Mr Ormond has expressed with recard to tbe measures proposed by the Government for the decentralisation of governing institutions are shared by all who have given any consideration to the subject. He has characterised those proposals as an attempt to strengthen and to stereotype centralism, thereby to prolong indefinitely the existing unsatisfactory condition of things. Rather thaD have local government continue on its present lines, Mr Ormond said be would prefer to support either of tbe schemes proposed in opposition to the Ministerial measures. Sir George Grey's Local Government Bill has at least the merit of being what it is intended to be, and there is no mistaking rhat Mr Sheehan means in hia bill to repeal the Abolition of Provinces Act. But the measures introduced by the Government to bolster up the county system are as weak as the system itself, and while they would fail to put local bodies on a sound and permanent basis tbey would only increase the power of the already too powerful and too costly central bureaucracy that now over-rides the colony. Against this Mr Ormond's aim bas been directed. He does not seek for office, and in bringing forward his no-confidence motion he does not wish to take tbe place of Ministers. What te desires to see is neither a half and half measure, nor tinkering with what is not worth repairing, but a comprehensive scheme of local government thet shall be so in reality and not in mere name, and this he does not think can be satisfactorily settled until the people have been consulted and their wishes on the subject ascertained through the ballot box at a general election. It is to force the Government to go to the country that Mr Ormond has shaped his course, and there can be little doubt but what he will be successful.