PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 7, Issue 395, 26 September 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

[_Bt Telegraph.] (From our Special Correspondent.) , Wellington, Thursday evening. That New Zealand is a much-governed country has long been a well recognised fact by the people, but the extent of our government has never been brought forward in such a striking manner as it was by Mr Pyke in last night's debate. The figures he adduced were so remarkable that they deserve being placed on record. Leaving altogether out of the question the General Assembly and its subordinate Civil Service and confining himself to what is known as , " local government," Mr Pyke showed that' there were in the Colony 70 Borough Councils, and 68 County Councils, 295 Road Boards,and44 Town District Boards. This section of local government is therefore carried on by 478 bodies, with 4294 members. That is the number of persons charged with the management of streets, roads, and bridges. In another section Mr Pyke showed there were 15 River Boards, 25 Harbor Boards, 10 Waste Lands Boards, 12 Education Boards, 384 Licensing Committees, 790 School Committees, aud 51 Hospital and Charitable Aid Committees — giving an actual total of 1772 local bodies comprising a membership of 16,200 persons engaged in managing the affairs of some half-million of people, or one to every 30 of the population. Taking the number of adult males at 125,000 every eighth male is apparently engaged in governing his neighbors. Going a little closer into the examination, there are 1920 licensing committees men to look after 1591 licensed victuallers, and there are upwards of 5600 school committemen to look after the interest of 107,000 scholars, or one committeman to every 200, i children. There is nothing of a specially local character to report. Of course the event of th_ past week haa been the'debate on the Financial Statement. It is not exaggerating to say it was one of the best debates which haa taken place in the House of Representatives for some years. It came to a conclusion last night, when the Government's policy as embodied in the Financial Statement was endorsed by an overwhelming majority. The division was not, however, in any sense a party one, nor does it carry with it any real political significance. Mr Moss, without any justification, had moved an absura amendment, but only a few went into the lobby with him. The debate throughout has proved the mettle of the Ho'ise. A few words may be devoted in. this place, to the excitement of last evening. The gr_at mystery man of the period, Mr Ormond, was listened to eagerly. Mr Ormond is not a pleasant speaker ; his style is singularly plain, and his delivery monotonous. There !is no attempt at eloquence, no striving after effect, but whnt he does say is unmistakably clear and to the point. He would probably bear verbatim reporting as well or better than any other man in the House. Every word he utters is evidently meant, and every statement to which he commits himself haa certainly been well considered. His summing up of the policies of the late and present Ministries was judicial in its passionless impartiality, and his reasons for supporting the proposals of the present Government were most lucidly stated. His views are not hastily formed or on insufficient data. He does not charge them readily. The main objection Major Atkinson could .take to his speech was that it was a repetition of one made in 1881. There are probably few politicians in the House who would be open to the same reproach—if it is one — that they have been thorougly consistent for three years. Mr Ormond's speech was a great gain to the Government, and his emphatic declaration that if the House would not accept the policy I put before it an appeal to the country would be justifiable and proper carried with it no small weight. Major Atkinson made what must be regarded ac a very lame attempt to defend himself and his colleagues from the very serious charges of maladministration which had, in the course of the debate been made against his Government, and brought down on his head on absolutely crushing exposure from the Premier, who held up his sophistical explanation of the improper transactions of the Atkinson Administration tp t^e public scorn and condemnation which tbey must excjte when understood.