Local Government SCHEME.

Patea Mail, 14 July 1881, Page 3

Local Government SCHEME.

MAJOR ATKINSON’S PROPOSALS. In the House of Representatives on Tuesday evening, the Colonial Treasurer moved the second reading of the Crown and Native Lands Rating Bill, to give effect to the scheme of Local Government foreshadowed in the Financial Statement. Major Atkinson took the opportunity on this occasion to expound the whole scheme of Local Government which Ministers propose to give effect to by bills. Major Atkinson said this question he believed was agitating the minds of members a great deal more than it was the mind of the country. He did not intend to press the second reading of the Bill that night. The first difficulty in the question was that no two members seemed to agree as to what local government was. Thus Sir George Grey wanted the re-establishment of provincialism, not local government, while Mr Wood’s desire was for the establishment of soverign states with a federal government, and Mr Ormond wanted, not local government, but something between local and general government, and Mr Murray wanted something else. None of them touched the real question of local government. If members wanted something else they should say what it was, and call it by its proper name, not miscall it local government. COUNTIES AND ROAD BOARDS, The Government held that the country had got local government already. If people were consulted, the Counties and Road Boards would remain the local government of the country. What the country desired was the simplification of what it already possessed, its extension in certain directions, and sufficient funds to work with. He denied the assertions frequently made that local government had disappeared with the provinces, and that all local administrative powers had been centred in Wellington. He had in his hand a return of all local powers so centred. Of all administrative provincial Acts only twenty were now administered from Wellington, and of these thirteen must, under any circumstances, be so administered, as being of general application. Of the other seven, four might, with advantage, be dealt with locally. These weio animals protection, licensing* cemeteries, and auctioneers. The others were land, neglected children, and bankruptcy. The remaining Acts were either administered locally or jointly, and must necessarily be so. Instead of centralising* Government had decentralised, and were decentralising administration as far as possible. They had given local bodies many powers formerly centralised in provinces. As to Mr Ormond’s allegation that grievances had now no remedy, it was the first duty of that House to remedy all grievances, and they could not hand over the duty to any inferior body. He reviewed at length the present constitution of both general and local governing bodies. The first question was—Were all these bodies necessary, and could they not be amalgamated and made more efficient? He thought very little good could be done by abolishing any of the existing bodies. There was great difficulty in getting competent men to administer affairs. It was therefore better to get men interested in special subjects who are willing to give up their time to deal with those subjects only. This was the case with River Boards, Harbor Boards, and Education Boards. There was no leisure class here able to give up time to form large bodies dealing with all the sesubjects, ABOLISH LAND BOARDS. As to Waste Land Boards he had no great love for them, and Government had it in contemplation to abolish them, and to consult Countj' Councils on all questions affecting land within the Counties. As to Boroughs, local government was working very satisfactorily, although they perhaps wanted more money. As to County Councils and Road Boards, no two persons seemed to agree as to what should be done. In some places the County did the work, in some the Road Boards, but in no case had they been asked to join two counties. If the ratepayers wished union of this kind they could effect it. One point on which all these bodies were agreed was a desire to get more money. There was still a feeling abroad that money could be obtained in some other way than out of the pockets of the ratepayers. They must recognise the fact that there was no other wav of getting money than out of their own pockets. This was the view on which

the Government scheme of local finance was founded. It was founded not on partnership or land fund, but on the. principle that all obtained from the land should be expended on the land. Ho hold that the scheme would supply all the wants of the local bodies. If the Opposition would riot accept this scheme, they should in duty to the country bring down some other proposal to meet the necessities of the country. Government held that every facility should ho given for Counties amalgamating, and for merging Road Boards. INCREASED POWER TO COUNTIES. They proposed to take power to delegate to Councils all power of administration under local or general Acts which could be delegated safely, also to give power to Counties to levy rates for Road Boards, and, where the Road Boards desired it, to spend'the money for them on definite works. It was proposed also to give County Councils the power now exercised by Government as to Road Board boundaries, and, until the Property Tax valuation roll was available, to allow the existing valuations to be used with annual amendments. Then as to Road Boards, the Government proposed to introduce an Act to simplify the Road Board machinery, especially in regard to elections for which the Local Elections Act was too cumbersome ; this would be a permissive Act. Extended power for merging would also be given to Boards. No portion of Counties should be outside of Road Boards. As far as possible Road Districts should be electoral districts of the County. As to Hospitals and Charitable Aid Boards he considered them absolutely necessary* and that the districts must necessaril}' be large, in order to provide suitable buildings and medical aid. Unless they were to have a law administered by officials, they would require these boards to consist of people doing the work for Jove and administering local contributions. He believed these proposals would meet all legitimate demands for local self-govern-ment. OPPOSITION CRITICISM. Sir George Grey said the Government had arrived at a lame and impotent conclusion to satisfy the wants of 500,000 people. He contended that qo real local government now existed in New Zealand. The way votes in local districts were proportioned to property, rendered real local government impossible, and for this Government proposed no remedy. He denied that there was no other way of getting money than out of people’s pockets. There were other means which could easily be got at, and which the House, he was sure, would get at sooner or later. He had been taunted about not really meaning to introduce a Local Government Bill, but the only hint he had yet given on the subject had been eagerly seized on by the Government, and that was as to the rating of Native land and the method of collecting rates. The Government, he was glad to say, had taken his suggestion. His bill was now in the hands of ths printer. He was not afraid to show his hand. All his cards were the property of the people of New Zealand, and it was for them to say how they were to be played. LARGE LOCAL BODIES. There should be large bodies constituted, taking in whole counties and boroughs, and then full powers should be given to people in those districts to determine the form of their own administrative local institutions, so as best to meet their own requirements. All the present woes of the people arose from the abolition of provincial institutions without any commensurate substitute being provided. The people should be given full power to manage their own affairs, and determine the forms of institutions best calculated to meet their own necessities. A very short measure could provide a complete system of self-government. Ample powers for making by-laws should be given. The geographical formation of the colony rendered such a scheme necessary and desirable., The local bodies should have power to make by-laws on almost all subjects on which the provinces used to legislate. While he would not give them power to legislate on external or internal defence, he thought the Volunteer force might be placed under local control. He thought the Volunteer Force likely to become the finest force in the world. They should not bo allowed to pass by-laws about telegraphs, and one or two other matters, but should have power to make all regulations for mining purposes. REDRESSING LOCAL GRIEVANCES, He denied that the House could ever do justice to the whole colony in redressing grievances. It could not sit long enough

to bear the expense. The power to redress grievances promptly and on the spot should bo given to local bodies ; to establish courts having large powers, but inferior to the Supreme Court ; and powea to appoint their own judges should be given ; and thus justice be brought to each man’s door, and then they would no longer have the Bench occupied by Judges actuated by strong party feelings. By reducing the work of the Central Government to one-half, if the House could be reduced, and the other chamber found to be a redundant blessing, with which they could dispense, there would be plenty of money available for local bodies. The surplus revenue, after providing for general purposes should be divided amonst the local bodies in proportion to population. Rates on Crown and Native lands should be enforced by local districts and be expended by them, the rate being the same .as on all other property. LAND RESERVES AND NO TAXES. Large landed endowments should be granted to the local bodies, and rendered inalienable. In time the rents from these should free the people from all taxation, and provide for all their wants. Future generations would bless them, if they did this. But the Government proposed a continuance of a system of legislation belonging to an expiring civilization, instead of welcoming the new civilization which was dawning on the earth. Mr McLean said he would like to see SirJGeorge Grey’s Bill, and consider the whole matter more fully before going on with the debate. He accordingly moved its adjournment. This was, after some discussion, agreed to, the debate to be resumed on Tuesday next.