THE Grey Riber Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 1872.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1209, 13 June 1872, Page 2

THE Grey Riber Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 1872.

Whether the scheme for reconstruction and reformed Government, proposed by _ME_Hjunaaon^_ftucneeds__or _not, it has at least had the effect of raising discussion, and so impressed is the General Government with the necessity for radical changes that they will undoubtedly Sbe effected under any circumstances. We ; were quite prepared for the West Coast Time? opposition to any project having for its end the abolition of the existing County system, and the contingencies, possibly the losses, thereunto appertaining, but we did not expect that a journal of its pretensions, with even the reflected -glory of the past upon it, would condescend to substitute vituperation and personal inuendoes for argument, and, in the absence of the latter, turn to and adopt the ruse of the attorney of happy memory who endorsed on his brief, "no case, abuse the other side." The real point at issue is whether the Coast, in which we include the coast literally, that is to say, the Gold Fields from the Earamea downwards, has been governed in accordance with the needs of its inhabitants or not ; whether reforms of any kind can be introduced, and what those reforms should be. In the article, presumedly a reply to our remarks: on the subject, of our contemporary, the writer has evidently forgotten, wholly the real point at issue, and ha& devoted a foolish and illogical column and a half to " abusing the other side," that other . side, on the present occasion, being the member for the Grey District. Happily for himself, the gentleman in question is quite able to take care of himself against such assailants; and we are not called ' on to answer the silly personal atiack made on him. We will, however, out of the bushels of chaff, endeavor to winnow out the lew grains of wheat— or, in other words, the ghosts of argumeots— that the Times affords, with the hope that the journal in question may yet be won over to better things. It must be apparent that the reign of misrule hitherto characterising the Coast, whether under the guise of Nelson South- West Gold Fields; or Westland County Council, must come to an end. It should be equally clear to those who can read the "signs of the times " that the changes must be speedy, otherwise the population will leave for other parts, or that an organised resistance to the powers that be will be initiated. We had hoped that the Times would have argued the question out dispassionately, whether favorable or otherwise to the proposals, and it is with much regret that we -find its only resource is to be abusejof the originator. Notwithstanding the course taken by our contemporary, we will endeavor, as far as possible, to avoid his errors, and reason on the propositions, instead of maligning their author. On this ground, as we have already stated, we will endeavour to make fair comments on the article in question, and at the same time put the case fairly before the public. We may premise that the scheme submitted, crude as it was, was never endorsed by us in its entirety. On the contrary we thought, and have had no reason to change our expressed opinion, that it might with great advantage be subjected to material improvements. At the same time, -the general pnnciple involved, viz., the establishment of one form of Government to run throughout the Coast; the abolition of those authorities hitherto painfully bnrdersome, and the unity of a large and influential portion of the Colony we then, as now, firmly believed in. Up to the present time Westland North and South has really had no political existence. It is true that it has been allowed

to return three members for a population of about 25,00(r people, along the whole coast, to the General Assembly ; indeed, four, we may say, if we include the Hon. J. A. 1 Bonar, who so values his political position as not even, during the last session, to have taken t^Arouble to attend' the' Council. TakingTio notice of the personal reflections of the West (hast Times, we find that the payment of County Council members is the first point insisted on. There may be very good reasons for ; this., advocacy,but at present we do not care to discuss them. The next point is in effect that if the present ruling power were dispensed witfy and the minor County Councils constituted "larger and more intensified stains would very soon make their appearance. , Experience has shown clearly enough what petty bodies of the kind will do when entrusted with the expenditure ; of public moneys, if the members are not paid for performing the duties "with which they are entrusted." We do not care to go into the idea contained at length, for, as we understand it, it means neither more nor less that unless representatives of all kinds we paid they cannot be honest. Unhappily the history of the County tells a different story, and its records show defalcations of a serious nature where payment has been large. :, As to the County Council, its members have had the rare privilege of valuing themselves, and paying too out of County finances. It must be very evident that the writer, does not believo in the existence of such a virtue as public honesty ; possibly his associations have been such as to induce such an opinion. Be this as it may, there are men on the Coast, and plenty of them, who are willing to do public service without fee or reward, and would estimate the honor at a far higher value if it was unpaid. Passing by this part of the subject we find our remarks as to the unpalatable character of the extension of the County referred to. We repeat that the miners of the Grey Valley, the people of Westport and : the Buller, the inhabitants of Greymouth, ' arid the population located on gold fields this side of the Teremakau, would not for a moment submit to being governed from Hokitika as the metropolis or, capital of any uew form . of Government or boundary. The old song in which we fiHd "Will you walk iuto my parlor said the spider to the fly," would be altogether too near realisation, were such an agreement entered into. Our contemporary says--" What we proposed was simply this ; We have an organised staff of servants, too large for our needs, ■ which we offer to share with our next door neighbor, thus relieving him from the trouble and cost of setting-up a separate, aud equally expensive establishment, while all we ask in return is that he shall pay his due proportion of the cost, retaining the rest of his income for his own requirements." Very kind indeed! but we would rather not. If we followed out the same style in reply, we would say that your staff of servants is too large and too expensive, and that by adopting a more economical mode of living we can do more justice to those dependent 61 us and clear away several reproaches that have hitherto attached to your housekeeping. The County has simply been an emasculated province, with all the responsibilities, but without the privileges .or powers of the latter. Lot us hope that in future discussion the real points at issue may be regarded, and that those alone may form the basis of any lucubrations of which our contemporary may feel compelled to deliver himself of. One word more, and . we are done for the present. The Times, in conclusion, says, " we believe that there is no district in Westland which can say that its interests have not been equitably cared for by the. County Government, so far as its limited means would allow. Complaints there may have been, as there always will be, but instituting a fair comparison, we will maintain that in no part of New Zealand has the expenditure of revenue been so fairly and equally administered as in Westland, under the system of County Government." We can only" say that, however Belf-satisfied the authority in queation may be, the public, who have had to endure the County rule, are by no means as contented, which is easily capable of proof. We agree with one portion of the extract, " as far as its limited means would allow." That is the very point we object ori to the County system, as it dee's not go far enough, and is, politically, "neither fish, flesh, nor good salt herring." It is a lumbering form of Government, without power or, prestige. It has failed, specially in Westland, and surely the general public will, to a man, seek its abrogation, and the substitution of an administration of Coastal affairs more in consonance with the wants of its population, and at the same time of a far less costly character. That this can be achieved by the adoption of the leading principles of Mr Harrison's proposals there can be no doubt, and we trust that Ministers will adopt them, at least in a modified form. In future, let us trust the West Coast Times will make an effort to reason on the subject, however unwonted the exertion may be.