ANOTHER PLEA FOR LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 3633, 14 October 1874, Page 3

ANOTHER PLEA FOR LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT.

The ‘ Observer * reports, at soma length, the address delivered by Mr R. Clarke, late M.P.C., to the electors at Arrowtown ; and from it we make this extract:— As tq my first statement in the reasons given for my resignation, “That the Lakes Oiatriet has been hitherto grossly neglected in the matter of public works, especially in roads and bridges, although the revenue raised in the district has been amply suffi, cient for all requirements,” I can show figures which prove that this statement L simply correct. The revenue raised in Otago, 1873 74, was L 887,672, which, taking the population at 70,000, amounts to Ll2 13a 7d per head. If this is the average of Otago’s taxation how much greater must be the average of this district, where special taxation is a heavy and constant, fact; where there is necessarily so much dutiable goods consumed, and where the gold duty ankounts to L 2.800 per annum ? 1 do not think that the average taxation of the Wakatip district is one penny under LI 7 per head ; but taking it at Lls, and setting down the population at 5,000 souls, we have then a revenue of L 75,100 per annum. The Treasury receipts were L 519.904 for 1873-74, or L 7 10s, per head, which credits, or should credit, the Wakatip with L 37.000. This shows as nearly as needs be the average contributions of any 5,000 souls in Otago, but the exceptional or special taxation to ■which this is submitted make* it certain that it has contributed a much larger sum—and what has the district got in return for such a contribution ? On looking at the Yotes and Proceedings, I find that the district has been credited with votes for works to the extent of about L 7.500; and allowing L 4,500 for every other benefit which it obtains, we have a total return to the district of the moderate sum of Ll2 000 out of a total taxation of at least L 75,000, leaving a balance‘of L 63.000 as the cost of governing 6,000 souls, the Provincial authorities holding a balance of L 25.000, or L 5 per head for taking care of the men, women, and children, and Chinamen of the Lakes districk. Now, what right have the inhabitants of.the eastern districts of Otago to the money which fairly belongs to this district ? And what right has the Government, any more than an individual, to take any man’s money without giving giving some value or equivalent for it? But not only do 1 complain that the Council will not do us justice in the matter of works, but I complain that what has been voted by the Council has been left in many notorious casep unspent by the Executive, or spent on other works not authorised. As an instance, I need not go further than the Arrow townshin. This township contains 170 acres, or more, and as sold by the Government it must have realised some LB.OOO or LIO.OOO ; and in the course of its existence there has been voted by the Provincial Council for its streets LSOO, and out of this paltry sum only L3OO has been spent, and L2OO lapsed. Nor is this ease by any means an exception. One of the most notorious cases of direct neglect that I know of at present in the district is in existence between Arthur’s Point and Long Gully, a distance of eight or ten miles at most; along the richest part of one of the richest rivers in New Zealand, where gold has been got by hundred-weights, and which up to the present time has supported a considerable population, and where every poundo£ goods consumed has to be packed at the risk of life—and where life itself has been frequently sacrificed in the work. Some time back the residents prayed the Government for some sort of track, and were answered by that ready answer, “ No funds.” ln_Council, I moved early in their behalf, ~ u “refused, although there was ample funds ; and so these poor men must toil in danger,.and have their hard earnings taken awa * at * at ® of Lls per head per annnm, and then be told they must not have a paltry track, or indeed any other return for their mpney., This is the hardest case of the kind that I know of in the Wakatip district, and onestbat 1 cannot forget, audit is a tablet of disgrace to the Provincial authorities I might »liade to the case of your own Arrow River so rich that its fame rang to the streetsi of London-and yet it was but the other day that the first bit. of a bridle track was made up it. I have helped to carry down the. dead and sick, by clamber- - aloog tbe precipitons bpnka 0 f the

river and repeatedly fording its streams at short intervals, and in my heart I blamed the negligence and injustice which for Bed such a state of things. I cannot forget the old friends who had left this country because of the difficulties and uncomfortab’e necessities and risks attending residence in such a country without roads and bridge’; nor can I forget the numbers of speculations which have failed for want <>f means of communication, nor the deaths winch have occurred on account of the same want. All these things lie at the door of the Provincial Government. 1 have shown that I am convinced that the present form of government never will give us what is our undoubted right, and that it never has been given yet.

The ‘Observer’ adds that the audience listened to the explanation by the speaker of his reasons for resigning with marked attention, and testified their approbation of his remarks by frequent applause.