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Hokitika Guardian, 4 November 1924, Page 2

Tm: President of the United States is due to be elected to-day—the Tuesday alter the first .Monday in Nuvembe". The presidential election, outside America, has been overshadowed by our own British elections, but though the cable news has been hare of items of interest on the subject, we may be sure the keenness of the fight in the United States is not dimmed in any respect. Tlio presidential scat is worth an annual salary of £15,000, plus £5,000 allowed for travelling expenses. But apart from the monetary reward, the national honor is greatly sought tor, and this contest is lio exception to those which have gone before in regard to the applied energy to secure victory. There are three parties counting on this occasion. Hitherto the contest lias been virtually a- fight between Republican and Democrat, but on this occasion the Independent candidate counts, and it is believed to such an extent that the voting to-day will not determine the resnt—lint that it must go evciitualy to a vote of the United State Senate. This possibility invests the contest with greater interest than ever, for it menus that all parties will strain to the fullest extent to make the voting to-day decisive.

In the Public Works Statement this year the author, the Hon. J. G. Coates, returned to a twice-told tale—the re-

form of local government. Previous Ministers iliavc talked the subject threadbare—but nothing came of it because of the vested interests. Nothing but talk is likely to eventuate now,

because the political parties are so even that with the political pull possible, local 1 todies likey to pass out woud prevent the law being changed. It seems rather paradoxial that the Minister of Public Works who has been responsible of late for the creation of so many fresh local bodies—including Electric Power Boards, Highway Boards and Councils—should realise now that there are too many bodies. The legislation of his Department has been responsible for creating numerous bodies, and having created them, the Minister begins to deplore the fact that there are now too many local governing bodies. This was realised full twenty years ago, and Ministers in charge began to combat the situation, but they never got anywhere practically. As soon as a group of local bodies, as for instance, Road Boards, were threatened, political influences and agitation blocked the legislation. Since then the number of local bodies have

iiic-reaseTl substantially under tbe eye of the successive governments, ar,d uo-

tiling has been done to cheek the growth. The pious protest of nil occasional Minister is of little value without the backing of effective legislation, ami that, as we believe at the moment, is impossible in the present state of parties. In times past the reform of local government was a foremost plank in election, policies put forward; but it was all talk from the hustings. Bills were prepared at great cost and pigeon-holed All the same the reform is needed. There is a tendency in all forms of govern meat in New Zealand to o'-enlo matters. In the general government there are too many' depnrtcinnts, as in local government there are too many local bodies. There is a great army of officials increasing and not diminishing, and adding enormously to the cost of administration. The liberal form of Government we suffer under is growing out of hand. It is far too costly for the benefits derived and is a burden upon the country. It is to be hoped that the note Mr Coates has sounded, belated though'it is, will be heard both near and far, and that some attention will lie turned to a subject which is of great public importance in tliis Dominion.