Over-Government

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 46, 30 September 1884, Page 3

Over-Government

That New Zealand it a much-governed country has long been a well-recognized fact by tbe people, but the extent of overgovernment has, we think, never been brought forward in such a striking manner as it was by Mr Pyke in a recent debate. The figures he adduced were so remarkable that they deserve being placed on record. Leaving altogether out of the question the General Assembly and its subordinate Civil Service, and confining himself to jrhat is known as local government, Mr Pyke showed that there were in the colony 70 Borough Councils, 68 County Councils, 295 Road Boards', and 44 -Town Distriot Boards. This section of local government is therefore carried on by 477 bodies, with 4293 members That is the number of persons charged with the management of streets, roads, and bridges. In another section Mi Pyke showed there were 15 River Boards, 25 Harbour Boards, 10 Waste Land Boards, 12 Education Boards, 384 Licensing Coinmicte.., 7;»0 School Committees, and 51 Hospiial and Charitable Aid Committees, giving in all total of 1772 local bodies, comprising a membership of 16,200 persons engaged in managing ibe affairs ot some half million of people, or 1 in" every 30 of the population. Taking the number of adult males at 125,000, every eiehth man is apparently engaged in governing his neighbours. Going a little closer into the examination, we find that there are 1920 licensing committeemen to look after 1591 licensed victuallers ; and there are upwards of 5600 *school committeemmen to look after the interests of 108,000 scholars, or one com mitteeman to every 20children. We should be a happy, well-behaved people — Post.