THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 1868.

Grey River Argus, Volume V, Issue 338, 14 March 1868, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 1868.

Iy our List we endeavored to point out the necessity of some efforts being made $o abolish the anomalous condition in which the Grey district is placed, owing tq such an inapproprite boundary as the Grey River. "We briefly alluded to the various alternatives which presented themselves ; one of which— annexation tq Nelson— r we abandoned for rcasous then stated. We will now disepss the t\vo other plans which seem to be the m.ost suitable to the circumstances of the district, viz. : — The extension of the present County of Westland to some point north of the Grey Jfyiver ; or the fqrmat;on of a distinct County uorth of the Terernaktui. "We will deal with the latter first' and "will endeavor to -show what probable advantage is to be gained by its adoption, and whether it be preferable to the former plan. To begin with, it is necessary to inquire whether the subdivision of the present County is desirable or not, and whether it is likely that the Government or As T sembly would view such a sub-division favorably. There are some reasons which, in the abstract, favor the proposal to form a new County as far as this district is concerned. Applying the principles of local government as the test, it may be said that the more the administration of affairs can be localised the better, and no doubt the formation of a separate County for the Grey District would ensure this condi tion. But would such an arrangement actually give the inhabitants of the district greater powers in controlling their own affairs than they enjoy under the present system ] As matters now stand the people of the Grey District, as part of the County of Westland, are endowed with perhaps as much control as they could obtain if the district were a separate County. They are fairly represented in the County Council, and by the machinery of Local Boards and Municipalities, are able to exercise immediate control over their own revenue. More than this they could not obtain if they had a separate County, whilst it is certain that the Government of the district can be more economically managed in union with the southern portions of Westland. A separate County would necessitate a separate establishment, and, of course, a greater proportionate cost of administration. On these grounds it is most probable that the Government and Assembly would not approve of a new County. It is also very certain that were the existing County divided, neither half would be able to exercise so much influence on the Government as they would if united. Besides, if the County scheme wad to 1 c cut up into small divisions, it would be. simply retrograding from the principle which led to its initiation. 1b would be a reproduction on a petty scale of the division of government which is the evil of Provincialism. So long as ample local powers are given to Road Boards and Municipalities, it is by far the most advantageous plan to amalgamate the various districts whose relations are intimate and whose interests are identical iuto one body so far as matters of general administration are concerned, leaving the details of local management to the various bodies constituted for that purpose. There is one powerful argument why a separate County for the Grey would not be desirable. The County Council, in its i-ecomin.encjations regarding the amendment of the County Act, laid down the principle that all public works of a general character — that is, those which will benefit; the county generally — should be placed in the hands of the County Council. The same reasons which hd to this recommendation may be advanced in favor of retaining one county, and centralising so to sneak the general administration of affairs. We will suppose for example that it would be generally advantageous for the whole ot Westland that a main

line of communication should be established — whether it be a railway, a tramway, or ap ordinary road. It is jilst ])oshible that if divided the two counties could not agree, and that in consequence the needed work would not be done. But our' chief objection to the formation ot another Cpnnty is that it would needlessly increase the cost of government, would create conflict, and WQitld nqt confer any appreciable advantage. We must not forget also that the rest of the existing Cqunty has a right to be consulted, and its- objections would certainly be cn r pitied to consideration. Qur readers will, from the foregoing remarks, doubtless arrive at the opinion that we are in favor qf extending the jim.its of the existing County, and pre? serving the machinery now in operation, So. far as the general ad ministrar tion of affairs is. eppcerneel it can be better managed ffpm Hokitika, because there all the departments of government are centralised, and there all the multU t\]diuous records and documents are kept. Our idea is that the northern boundary of the County should be extended as far as, say, the Eazorback, and back to the dividing range, and thus include t]ie whole basin of the Grey. This arrangement would be an immense advantage to the inhabU tants ■vvho would jjbe taken into the County, as it would extend to them the right of expending tb,eir own re* venue, and of appropriating the produce of the sale of their land to its legitimate purpose, Of course, if carried, one or mote Road Boards J woukl be created for the district north of the Grey. Furthermore we think that this proposal would receive the support of the Government, because it is the only feasible plan of terminating the anomalous condition of things which has led tp the division of the Customs' duties collected at Greymouth, and the expenditure of a large proportion qf that revenue outside the district which contributes it.