TOWN EDITION. The Daily Telegraph THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1881.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3199, 29 September 1881, Page 2

TOWN EDITION. The Daily Telegraph THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1881.

Upon entering office one of the principal features in the Hall — Atkinson programme was the stoppage of subsidies to local bodie?, and the establishment of local revenues on a sound financial basis. In his Financial Statement of 1880 Major Atkinson said, "It will be within the recollection of honorable members that I said last session that the Government would, this year, recommend the discontinuance of the subsidies. This warning was given because it was then generally admitted tbat the system of subsidies was not workiug satisfactorily ; tbat without further taxation the Consolidated Fund could no longer bear this expenditure, owing to the annual charge on >.-sr public debt having become so ; aud that the local bodies themselves might have a reasonable notice before any change was made. Great, however, Sir, as were the needs of the Treasury last session, and great as they are at the present time, the Government hold firmly to the opinion they then entertained tbat this question of local finaDce, affecting as it doe 3 the vital interest of the whole country, is one of paramount i-nportance, which must not be dealt with piecemeal, but as a whole. To propose the abolition of tbegvauts-ic-aid 1o local bodies without substituting a workable scheme in tb«ir place v/ouJu* be trifliog with the subject in a manner which, 1 ven'iure to think, would not meet with the apy-ova'. of ParlWuneat." Kveryboay ko.ows wh&t Decame oi the " workable scheme." The measures to give it iife and beiog were introduced to Parliament it is true, but, not meeting with anything but ridicule they were quickly dropped. Notwithstanding the " paramount importance " of local finance to the " vital interest of the whole country," another year was allowed to pass without anything being done to place it on a more satisfactory or permanent footing. In 1881 Major Atkinson, in his Financial Statement, thus referred to the subject: —" Let me say what, in my opinion, are the requisites of a sound local finance. These are, that local fioance should be as distinct from and independent of our general finance as possible, and that the funds should be sufficient." In the meantime the subsidies to the local bodies had ceased to be paid, and it was absolutely needful to legislate upon the subject. The measures dealing with local powers and revenues that bad been so ignominiously treated the previous session had been patched up during the recess, and these okl scare-crows wei>~ once more introduced to Parliament, and once more were they laughed out of court. Nothing more had beeu bills since ivtr Ormond expose*/ their hollo wness; aud although the/w affected to deal with a question of vitar importance, the Ministry, in two following sessions, pocketed the want of confidence expressed in them. Few Cabinets could be found to submit to the affront ths present Government received in respect to measures which they themaelves characterised a? bearing upon the vital interests of the whole country. Tbe Wanganui Hera?d may well say tbat the eccentricities ol* the present Government sadly puzzle both friends and foe.". Their line of action is so tortuoas that it is impossible to hazard an opinion as to what direction they intend to take. On one point only is it safe to venture a prophecy, and that is the certainty that they will retain office at any and every sacrifice of political honor and principle. The intention to renew the subsidies to local bodies will not surprise the colony. Introduced at the last moment by a clause tacked on to the Appropriation Bill, no opportunity was afforded for discussion, and the proposal goes to the country as the last resource of a vacillating Ministry.