PUBLIC MEETING.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 390, 1 September 1876, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING.

I A public meeting, ci>lled by the Mayor, wns field in the Town Hall, on Wednesday evening last. The Mayor occupied the Chair, The Matob said that lie had called this ineeting at the request of a number <J the residents for the purpose of affording an opportunity for an expression of opinion in reference to the Counties Bill. There was also another matter, and to us ol much more importance than the proposed Counties system—viz., the management of the Public Works in this district, which would also be considered. Under the County system all public works in Counties are to be handed over to the proposed County Councils, and to be managed by them. It would be next to impossible for members of Council, chosen from remote ridings, to devote thai time and attention tc works of such magnitude that their immense consequence to this pert ot the district demands. I will not detain the meeting longer thau by reading the resolutions unanimously carried at die large meeting held in Dun-

edin on Monday night last, condemning the entire County proposals of the Government : " That whilst thanking our Representatives in the Assembly for their action in the interests of the Province, this meeting deprecates any further attempts to resuscitate Provincialism as in the past, or to obtain Separation, but earnestly requests them to unite in obtaining such a form of government for Otago as will, under • the present circumstances of the case, best conserve tho interests of the Province, and to secure for tho* future as large a share of the land revenue as possible."— "That this meeting, while desirous of seeing the Provincial form of government simplified in many of its details, is yet strongly in the belief that it is the form of government best suited to Otago under existing circumstances ; and feels assured it is also the form of government best enabling the whole body of the people to closely watch and take an intelligent interest in the administration of their own affairs."—" That in the opinion of this meeting, the County system proposals of the General Government are unsuited to the requirements of the people of this portion of New Zealand ; that they would be expensive and cumbrous, if not unworkable, and the result would be a dwarfing and deadening of that political life which would animate a free people." —" That in the opinion of this meeting, should the Eepresentatives of Otago fail in securing for the Province the administration of its own laDd revenues, and a satisfactory measure of local self government, it will become their duty to leave the Assembly en masse, in order that the political situation may be considered by the Provincial Council."—" That a copy of the resolutions be forwarded to the House of Bepresentatives at Wellington." Mr. E. T. Geobge moved the first resolution : " That, in the opinion of this meeting, the County proposals are entirely unsuited for the tbinly-populated and wide-ly-scattered districts of the interior of Otago; that the Counties, as proposed, would be almost penniless, and would be found to be unworkable." lie had little to say in support of the resolution, which would commend itself to the meeting. Every legitimate means should be used to prevent the Bill ever becoming law, and it was evident that the Government was guilty of committing a grave error in forcing upon the people, against their wishes, such an unpopular measure. Mr. B. Gobdon, in a few pertinent remarks, seconded the motion. Mr. J. Dillon entirely agreed with the spirit of the resolution, and said that New Zealand was not yet prepared for the County system, and that the expense of maintaining these County Councils would be enormous. The 39 proposed County Councils, he thought would cost the Colony far more than the 9 Provincial Councils. In thinly populated districts the principle would be unworkable. It required population to make a County, and not a wilderness. The Mayoe put the proposition to the meeting, which was unanimously carried. Mr. W. Indeb, in proposing the next resolution said—that it was a most important one, and connected with the management of the Public Works.—" That this meeting views with alarm the proposal in the Counties Bill to hand over the entire control of water works, such as tho Mount Ida head race and channel, to a County Council, and is of opinion that, for the efficient management and financial success of works of such magnitude and public importance, a special trust should be constituted by Act of Parliament, with powers similar to those conferred on Harbor Boards ; said trust to be elective." The necessity of getting an Act passed, constituting a Board for the management of these works, was very apparent, as no County Council could manage them. He submitted that an elective was preferable to a nominative trust. If the Abolition or County Council proposals ever become law, one of the results would be that a large number of officials at present in the employ of the Government would be dismissed, and, unless this Board was an elective one, perhaps some favorites of the Government would be nominated to manage these works—the nature or purpose of which they had not the slightest knowledge of. The Board should be an elective one, and composed of practical men. If these works were to be mismanaged in any way it would be a serious loss to the district, but if properly managed would be a source of great gain. He was of opinion that to make the works a financial success the members of the Boards hould be elected from the district. Mr. Bbookes, who agreed with the observations made by the proposer, seconded the proposition, and said that if a trust had been constituted two years ago the Government and the district would have been reaping the benefit long since. Mr. Shannon observed that the trust should be elective and chosen from the district. After a few observations from ifr. Inder and Mr. Dillon, the resolution was put, and carried. Mr. E. T. Geobge proposed, and Mr. W. Inder seconded, " That a copy of the foregoing resolutions be forwarded to the District Member at Wellington." Carried. A vote of thank 8 to the Chairman, concluded the proceedings.