The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1878.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5538, 27 December 1878, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1878.

So much has been said by the different members of the present Ministry on the subject of the shortcomings of the present county system that many a well-read politician predicted a new form of provincialism, disguised' perhaps under a now name, as most likely to prove the resistance .. .oL . tho Premier’s programme. That some modifications of the present Counties Act are needful has not beetr disputed, and whenever the question cropped up in the debates of the House last session, the smouldering ashes of provincialism blazed up with a vigor that was quite surprising to the uninitiated. The tendency to an. undue expenditure of public money round vote-supplying centres of population that marked the provincial form of government was so abundantly proved at the time of abolition, that it would bo hardly necessary to refer to the fact but for the attempt made by. some of the more violent provinoialists to raise a cry of indignation against those whom ; they endeavor to represent as the ruthless destroyers of a/well-nigh perfect system. During the past session, when a debate took place in committee, in which tlio Government were urged to give effect to the resolutions passed by the County Conference, tho senior member for the Wairarapa boldly got lip and deprecated any amendment in the present law, oven though it were needed. The country had abolished provincialism, and now tho people should be allowed to suffer for the political crime that had been committed in their name, ’was tho gist of tho argument made use of. It is difficult to believe that tho Premier has adopted a course so contraiy to tho statesmanlike spirit upon which he plumes himself.- The damage recently sustained by tho'West Coast road, with which the

Hutt County Council found themselves unable to copo, the floods in the other island, which caused so mu'oh destruction ■ of property, and induced tho Minister of '.Public Works to make a successful request for a special grant of £OO,OOO to lend to the local bodies in aid of restoring the interrupted communications, are both cases which may again arise, and . which should be provided for upon aome.deflnite /principle. Two years-from now,, the period during which the continuance of , tho present subsidies has been promised will oefisp,.and,. as_ ypt, no attempt has been made to ' lay down any fixed basis upon which to treat so large a question as the maintenance of bur system of internal communication.' Any proposal that would do away with the present somewhat anomalous system, under which the richest districts receive the most Government aid, and the poorest the least* and which .would encourage a thoroughly self-reliant spirit among the local bodies, would .he hailed with general satisfaction. If mbreased assistance were given in proportion to the increased amount of rates levied, those who felt the pressing.need of improved roads, bridges, or hospitals, might be expected to put their shoulders' manfully to the wheel. By submitting to heavy rates they would reap their reward by receiving increased aid from the Consolidated Fund. The difficulty , .of ( tho , present ; situation has been abundantly recognised •by the Ministry, and was plainly put before'the members of the Hutt County'Council by the Colonial Treasurer not many days ago, when 'he stated that the Government de-clined;-to, qccept any (responsibility in . regard to the maintenance of roads, either main'’ o*'' county roads, . and that it the counties proved unequal to the task the work would . have .to bo handed over to some other bodies. Butthere is no sign of any attempt being made to grapple with the question, or to lay down any principle for adoption in similar cases that may arise in the future. ■ The question of charitable aid,' which may bo regarded as of even greater importance, stands in"intimate relation to this question'd! subsidies- to loeai; bodies! It has. been, discussed with: much warmth tliroughout the colony, and when it came before the County Conference, after ample discussion, on ,a division being taken, it was left in stain quo through the casting voice of the chairman. Tn almost every county containing an hospital the advisability or . otherwise of taking over the management has: been debated by the Council. In respect to these institution!, a practice has been adopted by the Government of paying oyer to the local body the amount deducted from county subsidies for charitable purposes, plus a subsidy of a pound for every pound raised by voluntary subscription for the same purpose. Up to the present, and as a temporary method of meeting the requirements of the case, this plan has given satisfaction. But there have been many persons' hoping to ' see these important questions, Which affect the practical business of local self-government, taken up and dealt with l in a comprehensive and ! statesmanlike manner, bpt up to the present they have been disappointed. Duringithe past session the House,passed a resolution to the effect that land should be set aside for the endowment of hospitals, but nobody knows as yet. in what way this resolution will be given effect to. The Premier admitted at the time that ho didnot agree with .the resolution,.and that the Government : did not feel equal to the task of-dealing with the subject during the session ; but ho doubt the wish of the House will be given effect to daring the recess.