The Feilding Star. Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1895. LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 245, 19 April 1895, Page 2

The Feilding Star. Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1895. LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL.

A section of the people of this oolony who are neither property holders nor ratopa3 r ers have far some time past been striving directly or indirectly to be put on the same tooting aa regards \ local franchise as those who by thrift aDd industry have acquired hind or houses. Under what right or for what reason they wish to deprive the present holders of the franchise of their privileges is not very clear, but possibly the feeling is to take by legislation what the} r are too idle to earn for themselves. Our contemporary, the Canterbury Press, gives a forecast of the proposed new Local Government Bill, but whether it is accurate or the reverse of course we do not know. However, it is so far in perfect accord with the expressed views oi some o! the alleged Liberals in the colony and, therefore, may have a solid basis of truth. The following is the extract : — " We understand its provisions are likely to include the ssveepiag assay of all o.si&ti«j County, Borough, and Muuicipal Councils, all Eoad Boards, Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards, and in fact all existiup,- machinery for local self government, and the substitution of four local bodies for the whole colouy, which shall exercise all tho powers that the general Goxernment does not care to retain. One feature of the Bill, it ia reported, will be to give the franchise, and with it the power to lew rates and taxes, to every resident of three mouths in the colony." Our local ratepayers, whether in the Bo rough, or in the several Counties and Eoad Districts surrounding it, should take warning from this " writing on the wall."