THE MUNICIPALITIES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 307, 13 March 1868, Page 3

THE MUNICIPALITIES.

(To the Editor or theDunstan Times.) Sir, —It is said that an attempt is about to be made by a section of the inhabitants ■of Cromwell, to abrogate the Municipality Constitution. This is mere nimour—may be true or false-; but, as a rumour, it is desirable that publicity be given to the fact. The. report is that the Superintendent is to be memoralized to annul the proclamation of Incorpora ion. I would ask upon what grounds ? Have the Municipal Institutions ■failed in tire accomplishment of the purpose

for v/hlch. they, were ostabliahe ?.; Have: they not—on the. contrary—efficiently fulfilled them, according to" the powers and resources with which they were endowed ? The public works- executed, the public spirit elicited, and the. order that prevails, bear unquestionable testimony. Has there been any malfeasance in the administration of the revenues ? Any collusion or corrupt practices? 'Any derelection of duty and neglect of the public interest, or abuse of power- or patronage ? None -of these aecusations- is alleged or complained of. 'What then is the ground of dissatisfaction ? It is stated that the revised citizens roll does not contain the proper complement of ratepayers. The petition for Incouporation requires a majority of fifty of the res dents in the township ;.. and the aggregate number of ratepayers, in the citizens list for the present year, falls below that number. This, however, may next year be no longer a valid objection, as an 'increase appears to be taking place in the population, within the Municipality. Moreover, the purposes of the abolitionists cannot be accomplished in the manner proposed, for it does not seem probable that a small' dimuni ion in the number of ratepayers, below the original complement, can, by any Jesuitical interpretation of the law, be accounted a sufficient reason for the withdrawal of coTporate rights.' And if not,' the Superintendent has no power to revoke the proclamation constituting the Municipality. The facts an 1 circumstances which will account for the proceedings in contemplation appear to be these: ambition for official honors, amd a longing to sip the sweets of power, on' the one hand ; and, on the other, intoxication with the Lethean draught, rendering its votaries oblivious of social amenities—have divided the population into two factions, which the historians of a future day—to show the vulgarity of the times, then long past away—may designate by some such barbarous epithes as Guelphs and Ghibbelines ; but which at present, for facility of illustration, may be termned the "ins" and "outs." The numerical power of these two parties is nearly equel,. beinnin the ratio of 21 to 20 ; and, consequently, it is not improbable that matters may become so critical that .iifference can only be settled by reference to the "ultima ratio regum." And. this becomes the more probable when it is known that the chompions of the rival factions live on opposite sides of the same street, and nearly opposite to each other.

In case of a collision such as I have shown, there is reason for •anticipating the "ins" Will possess considerable advantage, arising from their position, - They have already shown their aggressive spirit by an attempt to drive back the advanced guard'of the streets. Whether these latter will be able, in the event of a second attack, to retain the position to which they have retired, it is impossible to say ; but, if not, their further retreat is cut off by the river, and inevitable destruction awaits them. But seriously, this state of division and hostility appears to be the ordinary result of Municipal Institutions in-small towns. They tend to evoke strong party feeling anl foster a spirit of acrimony and disparagment. This, however, arises from the 1 defiencies of the "personnel," and not from the principles of local self-government. However defective the Municipality establishments may be at present, in the respect above mentioned, their overthrow is impracticable in the manner proposed, and were it practicable, it would be impolitic. 1 am, 4c., ,r , March I2th, IS6S.