THE Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1868.

Grey River Argus, Volume V, Issue 322, 6 February 1868, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1868.

The experiment now abpufc tp bp cpmmenced in the County of Westland will be anxiously "watphpcl by a]l cjasses of politicians thrqughout thp colony. As we have befoi'e remarked, a great constitutional ch.auge in the government of the colony depends upon the result. The provincial system has already given way in some of its parts, and the remainder is shading, and n^ay at almost any moment.tumble to pieces. Auckland is bankrupt, her machinery of government entirely dislocated, and incapable of doiug its work. Southland is little better : and Marlborough whose small revenue is devoured by the various officials which, flourish under the provincial system, must change her constitution or remain prostrate. The central authority is gradually encroach, ing on the powers of the Provincial Governments, and the inevitable tendency of recent legislation is the reduction of the Provincial Councils to mere municipal bodies. The only substitute for that which is undergoing the process of destruction that lias been attempted is the county system, the trial of which is first to be made in Westland. Should the experiment prove successful, other parts of the colony will embrace it. Should it break down, the fate of the present Ministry will be sealed; the provincialists of Otago, Wellington, and Canterbury will take advantage of the opportunity to strengthen their own hands, and the result may possibly be the indefinite postponement of that grand scheme of local government under one supreme con trolling power which alone can make New Zealand ( a great and prosperous colony. The County scheme is as yet in a crude state. Little more than the barest first principles have been discovered — in fact, it is just one of those experiments whose method and application have to be developed as they proceed. The County Council — that body which is supposed to exercise the chief influence in the general administration of government — commences its work with undefined powers, and subject to resti*ic~ tions which, may be relaxed or tightened according to its moral influence. We have always approved the idea of the General Government retaining a controlling position over the Council ; but that control must be constitutionally exercised, aud constitutionally only By " constitutionally," we mean that upon all matters of purely local concern, the decision of the Council must be acquiesced in by the General Goverrment. Any undue interference on the part of the Governor's delegate will surely resuit in the complete disorganisation of the Council. On the other hand, the Council will have to guard itself against that common fault of Provincial Councils — attempting to exceed its legitimate functions. Great discretion will have to be exercised by the Council, or it will not exercise its proper influence. Whilst fully aware of the many dilficulties and obstacles in the way of complete success, we still think that under wise management the County system may be made a success. The risks of failure, however, are great, and this should the more urge every member of the County Council to apply himself to the work determined to make the experiment a triuuiphaut one. Time will tell,.