Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1871.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 18, Issue 1174, 17 November 1871, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1871.

When mention is made of the moderate post at which municipal affairs may be conducted, and (his is used as an argument for bringing the town of Napier under the Act, w £ are forcibly reminded that this is the very style of argument used years ago by the advocates of the provincial system of government. It was argued by Mr Fox that the office of Superintendent would be regarded as honorary, and that no salary would be necessarily attached to it. The stern logic of fact«, however, soon proved the contrary, and Provincial institutions have proved even more costly \o tibe people than their most bitter opponents ventured to predict. Similarly f,t the \\me of the agitation for the separation of this province from that of Wellington. It was urged what economy might b,e exeicised; the cost of goit was said, nees tse a mere

ijothing; the Government could "be carried on by the Superintendent himself and two clerks. Those who predicted otherwise were laughed at and called croakers ; but the event speedily showed that they were in the right. All the claptrap about possible economy is simply a bait for the deception of the unwary, the advocates of more government knowing full well that it is not what might be done, but what will be done under the circumstances that will be of concern to the people. The first Mayor and Councillors may possibly take office without salary, aiid possibly hold it until they have a chance of voting it to themselves, which we know has been done, and will be done again. It will then be small consolation to the duped taxpayers that they have but themselves to blame for the state of affairs they have allowed to supervene. This is, perhaps, an argument for the exercise of caution before taking a false istep ; certainly it is not one in favor of taking it. While talking of possibilities and probabilities, it seems to us to be far the more rational course to consider how the}' trend in the direction of reckless extravagance rather than that of economy. When was it known for the governors to exercise this much talked of economy over the funds of the governed ? Certainly New Zealand cannot show sufficient instances in point to make people sanguine of the future. The scheme of a Municipality may be introduced with a gieat boast of intended economy, but a very short time would elapse ere the cost of administration would show something like the following—Mayor, MOO; 8 Councillors at £25 ea?h, £2OO ; Town Clerk, .£2OO ) besides a .staff of inspectors, &c , which would increase the total cost to an expenditure of from £IOOO to ,£I2OO per annum. Then as to the power of imposing taxes, we shall find ii t )on examination that the Council will have actually the power to levy to the extent of 2s 6d in the £ on the assessed value of property, and we may rest satisfied that they will not be long in existence before this power will be exercised to bs full extent. Napier will then cease to offer encouragement to settlers ; on the other hand the inducement will be to quit it as soon as it is possible to do so, and seek some Other province where taxation is less heavy and more scope is given for the enjoyment of the fruits of labor. It is much easier to yield cne's neck to the yoke than to cast it off when once it is borne and its burden felt. Should the Napier public be so misguided as to fall into the snare now laid for them, we predict that in lev< than one year nine-tenths of them will regret their mistake, and wish themselves well put of it. Therefore we say — Beware of the thin end of the wedge.