The Feilding Star. SATURDAy, OCTOBER 4, 1884. Local Self-Government

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 48, 4 October 1884, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAy, OCTOBER 4, 1884. Local Self-Government

We are informed by the Press Association that on Thursday last Mr Macandrew gave notice to move, ." That in view of the steps which are to be taken during the recess towards submitting to this House at its next session proposals for securing local self - government, tins House is of opinion — (1.) That no proposals for local government can be efficient in themselves or satisfactory to the country which do not provide that the people shall be relieved of all taxation at the hands of this House other ;han such as may be necessary to cover the interest on the colonial debt; the cost mt defence, (other than local police) ; of the Supreme Court, Telegraph and Post Office... Immigration, Ocean Lighthouses, and Legislative Departments. (2.) That all other matters affecting peace and good government, inclusive of construction and working of railways, shall be placed under the control of local governing bodies; and that to enable such bodies to perform their functions they shall have tho whole of the railway revenue and land fund arising within their respective territories, and also should possess such powers of legislation as shall enable them to raise the necessary funds in such manner and from such sources as they shall see fit, and also to provide for the proper locil government of their respective districts." Since tho first meeting of Parliament in New Zealand we question if ever such an extraordinary motion was submitted to it. Mr Macandeew cannot free himself from the prejudices of provincialism, and now towers aloft in the remarkable height to which he has raised himself as a monument of an exploded system. Tlie moderation he displays in dec'arine the inability of local bodies to manage the Supreme Court, Post and Telegraph Departments, and especially the Ocean Lighthouses, cannot be too much commended. With the peculiar mental bids of Mr Macandbew it is strange that he did not think members of local bodies capable of looking after lighthouses. In our opinion there are hundreds of them fit for nothing else. The idea of giving local bodies charge and control of the working and construction of railways is simply absurd and utterly impracticable. Or if a workable scheme were discovered it would prove so expensive and cumbrous that the whole of the local bodies so burthened would be hopelessly insolvent in less than a year. We devoutly hope that the House will not accept the " opinion" as proposed by the member for Port Chalmers, but will reject it on the voices. Provincialism is dead, and we do not wish to see it raised to life again eyen to please those nmiublc fossils, Messrs Montgomeby and Macanduew.