WESTLAND COUNTY JUBILEE.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 January 1927, Page 4

WESTLAND COUNTY JUBILEE.

(From “West Coast Times,” of January 3rd 187 G). ; To-morrow, the first County Council of Westland, under the now Counties Act, wifi meet in the Supreme Courthouse, Hokitika, and within the week the most, if not all, of the Councils of Counties in the Colony will have assembled. The future of the islands of New Zealand will depend, a good deal, on tho deliberation and acts of these bodies, and it is to be hoped that they will come to their work fully impressed with tho responsibilities and the importance of the duties devolving upon thorn. Tho Abolition Act was destructive in its nature, hut the Counties Act is constructive, and is the constitution under which we now live and breathe tho air of liberty. As far as the Westland Council is concerned, the freedom of the people is tolerably safe in their hands. It is, essentially, a democratic council. The members likely to take tho prominent part in tho proceedings, are men enjoying the confidence of the electrics of "Westland generally. If not remarkable for any great amount of ability, they, at all events, enjoy tbe reputation of being men of integrity and honesty, and several of them are thoroughly experienced in such public business as will devolve on tbe Council. Perhaps the worst vice of the abolished Provincial Councils was tbe immense amount of superfluous oratory inflicted by the representatives, on the listeners, and, through the press, oil the community. Tho framers of the new Counties Act, hlad apparently a lively recollection wholesome appreciation of this windy vice, in framing the Rill. A deadly blow was levelled at oratorical display by limiting the number of Councillors to nine. An audience more numerous would bo more attractive to tbe fluent utterer of 'laboured and inflated periods of perorations, and would induce him to continue bis remarks on subject# on which lie bad long since repeated ojverything necessary, perhaps three or Thirteen times over. It might have been desirable to have gone even further, and to have enacted that no member should stand while addressing the elmir. In Standing Orders, this rule is found to have a sedative effect. However, amongst our own councillors there are none who promise to develop info wind flags, and that is m fortunate thing. The majority of tho members indeed are no speakers at all, but we hope they will not come to the Council with any misgivings as to their “shortcomings” on that score. M hat we want is, not speeches, but s.nfacitr and intelligence, and a practical comniun sense, enabling tbe chosen ones to deal in a bard beaded way with the business in hand. For tho work to ho done will almost invfiriably he of a practical kind, as councillors have no legislative functions whatever. They will merely administer the Act, and they cannot go beyond It, or outside of it, to legislate on any matter. They can recommend of course, the form that in their opinion, legislation should take in certain instances, but they can do no more in this direction. No doubt their advice and suggestions will often lie worthy of attention, and will receive careful consideration in the House of Representatives.- But they should confine themselves chiefly, and indeed almost exclusively, to the administrative acts devolving on them. What then, are these ? We have said that tho functions of County Councils were of a most important nature. The care and management of all County raids is vested in them, and by clause 180 they are given power to contract with the Minister, for the execution of certain public works, either within or without the County. They may also airree with anv Road Hoard within t.lu County for the execution of works, and subsidise them out of the general account oF the County fund. Power is given them to erect and maintain. or contribute towards charitable institutions. and they are permitted to appropriate such portions of the County fund as they may determine, for tlje relief of poor persons, either at their own homes or elsewhere. In like manner they may erect mid maintain public libraries and reading rooms, anil the Ooveriior-in-Council may vest in them the management of all reserves for public recreation. They will provide market places within the County, and. issue pedlars’ 11 ncl hawkers’ licenses. Thev are to provide slaughtering places, and authority is given, them to prohibit the slaughtering of animals under certain circumstances. They may establish land maintain public pounds, appoint and remove poundkeepers, and fix the fees and charges to be paid for animals impounded. In order to enable thorn to maintain old, and form new County rends, and supply other public works, ample pouei is’given to enter into contracts, and this part of their duties will, no doubt, demand their chief attention. Counties have also power to borrow money for special public works, their indebtedness however, in this respect being limited to four times the amount which „iav be'levied bv way of general rates j„ 'anv one year. Tbe County Fund consists (section 191) of rates, to Is. Parliamentary grants, moneys payable, to tbe County under tbe Financial Arlvinceinents Act .18/0. rents of property. fees and fines, proceeds of loans, subscriptions and voluntary donations, and other moneys the property of the County. There is considerable dilleren.ee of opinion as to the amount which this fund will place at the disposal of the Westland County. One candidate at tho late County elections, estimated it at £25.700 per annum, while Mr Seddon, who said lie had carefully gone into the figures, could only see from £IO,OOO to' £IB,OOO a year from all sources. Tho latter sum will, m nil probability, ho found very near the mark at the end of the fii;st year, but afterwards, if things are well ordered and managed, and if the Council and County prosper, vis we hope an believe they will, the income will show a steady increase every year.