The Globe. THURSDAY, JULY 19, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 957, 19 July 1877, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY, JULY 19, 1877.

The resolution passed by the Chairmen of Road Boards the other day, in favor of a Central Board _ for the whole provincial district, is very similar in nature to the decision arrived at by the representatives of County Councils. The proposed constitution of this central body has the merit of simplicity. It is suggested that its members consist of one member of each Road Board comprised within its boundary, who are to meet and decide on all questions which affect the whole provincial district, such as the distribution of funds, bridges, ferries, drains, &c. This Central Road Board is in fact to be a County Council, called by another name. Its proposed powers are almost identical with those given to the counties. The principal difference, of course, is that it makes the Road Board system the bases of our local form of Government, whereas the Counties Act places the Road Boards in the subordinate position. Now, had the colony been about to adopt during the present session a form of local Government to take the place of the extinct provinces, it might have been worth wasting time in discussing this question. But there is UO urgent necessity for the change There is no great principle involved, Besides, the County Act provides the macul ner T ica J securing all that those want. The various County w. nuCl - 8 in Canterbury, for example, can unite if they care to do it, and can confine their work to the distribution of the funds at their disposal amongst the various Road Boards. We freely admit that for the sake of economy, as well as for other considerations, it wo aid be bettor that the County Councils in Canterbury should be fewer in number. Two, or at the most three, would have tended to economy, and uniformity of action throughout the whole provincial district. As long as there is a surplus land fund to administer, it will be advantageous for all concerned, that the distributing authority should be as nearly a possible a representative one of the whole district. The chairmen of Road Boards themselves evidently feel the want of such an authority, but they dislike the Counties, as likely to interfere with their powers aud privileges. One gentleman even was

anxious to inaugurate a new form of Government in these colonies—a purely personal one —in the shape of a resident Government agent, hut he wisely did not press his proposal. A Dictatorship has, on more than one occasion, played an important part in the history of the world, but we hardly think the crisis in our affairs is such as to demand this heroic remedy. Notwithstanding the opinion of the mover, we look upon County Councils as better fitted, than an irresponsible Government agent, to supply the link wanted between the Road Boards and the central authority. 'With a few minor amendments, it could he made to meet exactly the requirements of the Eoad Board chairmen. Nor must it be forgotten that, in other parts of the colony, the Act has been found exceedingly useful. Road Boards are not wanted in many districts. It would therefore he unwise, on mere sentimental grounds, to seek to upset the legislation of the last two sessions, especially when the Acts complained of really contain all the machinery needed to supply the very demands which the proposed legislation is intended to supply.