The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, JULY 5, 1872.

Dunstan Times, Issue 533, 5 July 1872, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, JULY 5, 1872.

Beneath the Ruleef MenEsrrußtY just the pen is mightier than' the aw oed

As the period for the annual Municipal E tee‘■ions is now so fast approaching, a few remarks pertianingto the'choice of Municipal Officers and the position which Municipal affairs will occupy for the future, may not be out of i lace, Tire days of subsidies are now over. Municipalities wi I be required to avail themselves of the “ Otago Local Revenue Ordinance” to augment their funds. The revenues to be thus derived will of course depend upon the importance and population of the respective Municipalities themselves, as, under this Ordinance, they will be entitled to all the local revenue derived in the shape of licenses and registration fees. This will include moneys derived from 'all publicans’ licenses, auctioneers’ licenses, dog registration fees, as well as other items of revenue of a purely local character not obtained under the Gold-fields Act. la the case of Clyde this should amount toa nice little annual sum, and if properly worked up, should place our Municipality in a respectable and independent position, much to be preferred to the tardily-paid Provincial dole in the shape of a subsidy on the rates collected. Citizens should bear in mind that, as the future prosperity of their Municipalities will mainly •depend upon themselves, it behoves them to be caretul in their selection of officers. No party or personal feelings should be allowed to interfere in these matters, and only such men elected to office as possess good administrative ability, coupled with the necessary qualification of filling the office with becoming dignity. .Whom to choose is a matter that we may safely leave in the hands of the citizens themselves, and this will equally apply to Clyde, Gromwell, and Alexandra. The electors in either town understand equally as well or even better than we do the abilities of their respective townsmen, therefore any attempt to make a selection would be injudicious on our part. If we have any predilections, it is always in the shape of importing new blood into any matter. Private individuals may of course best work in a groove, but the reverse is usually the case with public bodies. Municipal institutions on. the Gold-fields have, since their establishment, been productive of a large amount of good ; and, although confined to action within the narrow sphere of their respective Municipalities, they have to a very gi eat extent been enabled to extend their influences outside, much to the benefit of country residents. A Municipality, being a recognised body, is always in a position to approach the Government with some show of authority ; and, as the out districts possess no organisation of themselves to prosecute local improvements, the assistance of the Municipalities has many times been sought and given with advantage. We should much like to see the functions of the Municipalities extended into the country, or something in the shape of local self-government; but there are grave difficulties in the way. Population is too sparse tfor Local Boards, while there would also exist grave objections to tax the miners and mining property, or even tin occupiers of land—or fanAers, as people are .'pleased to call them. In the first place, the miners already contribute more than their due proportion to the revenue in the shape of direct taxation, and they are consequently entitled to a very considerable outlay more than they have as yet received in the shape of roads and tracks. The farmers are much in the same position. The half-crown an acre rent for land is out of all proportion to its value, and there being really < so few occupiers jin proportion to the extent of roads requiring to be made or kept in repair, country residents would find themselves taxed more for the benefit of the towns-

people than themselves. The Municipalities, having few roads to repair and being richly endowed, outside residents would be saddled with a burden impossible to sustain. The extension of our Municipalities to the country is about the only solution to the difficulty, and wejhink'th at’measu res’might be devised whereby all interests should work harmoniously. The Gold-fields are an exception to all other parts of the Oolony, and demand exceptional legislation. The obstacle in the way is the want of some wise head to step in and place matters iu working order. Let citizens at the coming Elections do their duty, and, if possible, return men who posse=s a soul and mind, beyond the old conventional routine business.