THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 1880.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1854, 31 January 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 1880.

It is wo think to bo regretted that the Ashburton Borough Council should have taken upon itself to summon a municipal conference. Had it studied well the records of the past, it would certainly have hesitated. And even if it were bent, in spite of precedents, on trying the experiment, the time selected for the conference was inopportune, and its scope far too limited. The most sanguine spirit would probably agree that to have any chance of success the conference should have included not only the municipalities of the South Island, but of the North also. But in point of fact the whole question has been tried by practical experiment, and no elements of success have been found to exist in it. The general conference of municipal delegates which met in Wellington in 1877 represented the whole colony. It had a number of members of the Assembly belonging to it in their municipal capacity, and it held its meetings while the Parliament was in session. Despite all these advantages and the great influence brought to bear upon the Assembly, the conference terminated without having obtained one solid concession to the municipalities. If this be the case with regard to an important and influential assemblage such as this, what hope have our Ashburton friends of success. The fact is that these conferences are useless for all practical purposes. A number of gentlemen meet together and ventilate, it may be, a pet theory or hobby with regard to municipal government. Resolutions embodying these are passed, and go up to the Government to be quietly pigeon-holed in the offices of the Ministry of the day. If perchance they do see the light and are incorporated in a Bill, they are ruthlessly slaughtered in committee by other gentlemen holding opposite views, and firmly believing in different hobbies. As we have pointed out no conference could have commenced its labors under more favorable auspices than the general one referred to. Every municipality of any importance was represented, and every effort was made to carry into effect the determination arrived at by it after a long discussion. But practically the municipalities of New Zealand did not benefit one iota from it. All the concessions that they have received hare been through the medium of the members of the various districts in the House of Assembly, In case of gaining concessions through this channel, the process is as simple as it is complicated with regard to conferences. Correspondence is opened up with the member or members, and the position of the borough put clearly before the House. There is no loss of time or useless discussion. If a member sees there is no chance of getting what the borough requires he says so, and there is an end of the matter. If, on the other hand, the Government are favorable, the borough obtains what is wanted in onethird of the time it would were a confer-

ence to be summoned and all the routine of debating, forwarding resolutions, &c., to be gone through. Seeing therefore the inutility of such gatherings, we hope that the Councils represented at the recent meeting will proceed no further in the matter. If any of them wish for alterations in the present law or desire some local work undertaken, it can always be brought before the Assembly whilst iu session by the member for the district, or, when Parliament is not sitting, by correspondence with the Government. The Christchurch City Council—and we think rightly too —do dined to take part in the proceedings of the recent meeting, recognising the uselessness of such meetings. If the records were referred to we feel sure that it would be found that Christchurch is indebted for nearly all the municipal benefits received by it. to tho exertions of her members. With the results of past experience before them we think it is extremely unlikely that many of the municipalities of the Middle Island will join tho proposed association, which if it over comes to a head will iu the end most probably contia’. of three or four of the more unimportant boroughs. This being so, it would bo far better, in the interests of municipalities generally, that no steps whatever in tho direction of holding a conference should be taken, . and we hop# tho promoters of the one lately held will sea the matter in the same light. ;

A little affair is on the tapis in Taranaki, which carries one back to the old days of volunteering and Native war. It. appears that in the year 1861 a sum of money was given by the Government for the purchase of a suitable uniform for the Taranaki Volunteers. The money, however, was not needed, as the force was otherwise provided with clothing, and the sum was therefore invested in the name of trustees, and has been lying out at interest since the above-mentioned date. The corps has been disbanded years age, and a proposition that the trustees should, in con junctionwith the agricultural society, obtain with the money a piece of ground, and put thereon a building suitable for drilling and agricultural show purposes, giving to those who had an interest in the fund free admission to the ground and building on all occasions, was defeated in favor of a proposition to divide the sum amongst the survivors out of the original corps. This.however.havingbeenfound impracticable the matter has cropped up again, and Major Stapp, has, says the “ Taranaki Herald,” appealed to the old Volunteers to give up their personal claim so that the fund, together with £3OO offered by Government, might be used towards the erection of a drill shed. This satisfactory solution would have the effect of laying a burning question, and providing the Volunteers with what they are much in want of. The only people who would have a grievance would be the tailors of 1861, who by unfortunate circumstances were deprived of the privilege of clothing the New Plymouth braves of those days. Perhaps by representing the matter in the proper quarters they too, or such at least of them as remain, might gain the privilege of a free pass to the building and ground. A sprinkling of the sartorial element in coming festivities might keep the New Plymouth dandies up to the mark.