Manamatu Herald. SATURDAY, AUG. 24, 1895. The Local Government Bill.

Manawatu Herald, 24 August 1895, Page 2

Manamatu Herald. SATURDAY, AUG. 24, 1895. The Local Government Bill.

Ministers have set themselves a mighty task in attempting to frame a local government Bill which shall include large areas and yet give satisfaction. Experience has shown beyond the question of a doubt that what the settlers want is real local government., and that no matter what price it is attainable, they will have it. The great objection to Provincialism arose from the fact that the administrative officers resided too far away from the settlers, and grievances were borne with, though loudly proclaimed, rather than incur i the expense of a journey to head j quarters.; Idl large arears it is impossible for the representative of a I district to make himself properly ac- '

quainted with the wants of each .settler) and the work thus getß left t'ri i the paid servants who also have no lime to travel the distances needed to Qualify them to Jjpfeak authoritativelyi Take the days of Provincialism when one member was supposed to represent the views of all living within the boundaries of land now known as the Horowhenua, ManaWaiUi Oroua and Pohftngitta counties! Oontraßt that with the number of local bodies now Carrying on the work of opening up the iJdutt* try. l?he authors of the Counties Act hoped that some finality might be given to the growth of local bodies, but after a few years the Manawatu County got divided* until now four counties cover the original area of the first; Boad^ Boards Work in the same Manner Once upon a time the Manawatu Road Board covered the Whole cbaet from Palmerston to beyond Otahij arid we had otie Representative. Everyone will admit that he was unable to give satisfaction and the first chance of having a separate board was aeized by the ratepayers. Again the Horowhenua County Was , originally one Read Boards but owitig to its area the representations was found unsatisfactory until now it is divided into three or four boards. It is very evident therefore that the settlers living between Paikakariki and the Rangitikei river believe most strongly in purely local management, and we fancy the same feeling holds good over the whole of New Zealand. We notice that the Premier in introducing the new Bill sng?est3 that an enormous cost is incurred in the management of the present local bodies, but as these bodies simply administer their own money and not the colony's, if they approve of this expenditure it cannot possibly harm anyone else. The suggestion that there would be a saving in the salas riesof the various elerlis to these bodies is the purest moonshine, the work will be as heavy; if not far heavier, administered from a distance, and the Cost instead of being less must be more. Those who reinemher the past will not need being reminded that Provincialism created a second civil service but little short of the present huge army now employed by the Statei The worst part of creating large areas under one management is the destruction of interest on the part of the settlers in the developement of their district. Whether they are right or not, and the experience of the past rather proves they are right, settlers believe they not only know what they most want, but also that they know best how to carry that work out. They are the men who have to find the money and it seems only right that they should be permitted to do as they please. The cry that we are over burdensd with local government is made time after time and therefore justifies the Government in endeavouring to offer something else in its place, which may be called local Government, but which will be very far from it. The question is of so much moment, the upsetting of all machinery with which settlers are only getting accustomed to, so serious, that we do not expect the government will do more than oarry the second reading this session, even if they do that. Local government as understood in this colony is so local, that when the proposals now before Parliament get before the country, the settlers will raise so many objections that improvement in this respect will be allowed to wait to a more convenient season. We are writing upon the broad question only, the Bill not yet being before us, but from long experience we ara assured that the people will demand the right to manage their own business and superintend the expenditure of their rates, a tax, being a direct one, they feel much more than the burdens of the indirect taxation of the general government.