Over-Government.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 261, 1 October 1884, Page 2

Over-Go ver nme nt.

(Post.) 1 That New Zealand is a much-go-verned country has long been a wellrecognised fact by the people* but the , extent of over-government has, we think never lieen brought forward m j sach a striking manner as it was by j Mr Pyke m la«t night's debate. The ! figure* he adduced were so remark- ] | able that thoy deserve being placed I lon record. Leaving altogether out of; the question the General Assembly j aud its subordinate Civil Service, and j confining himself to what is known as local government, Mr Pyke showed that that there were m the colouy 70 i Borough Councils, 295 Road Boards, and 44 Town District Boards. This j section of local government is therefore carried on by 477 bodies, with 4293 memheis, 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 Harbour Boards, 10 Waste Land Boards, 12 Education Boards, 384 Licensing Committees, 790 School Committees, and 51 Hospital and Charitable 'Aid Committees, giving m all a total of 1772 local bodies, comprising a membership of 16,200 persons engaged m managing- the affairs of some half million of people or 1 m every 30 of the population. Taking the uuinber of adult males at 125,000, every eigth man is apparently engaged m govei ning his neighbours. Going a little closer into the examination, we lind that there are 1920 licensing oommitteemen to look after 1591 licensed victuallers ; and there are tip wards of 5600 school comn'iiUeemon to look after the interests of 108,000 scholars, or one cnuiinitlcem«n »o every 20 children. We should bo a happy, well-behaved people.