PATEA COUNTY MAIL PUBLISHED Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. SATURDAY, JULY 28, 1881. THE STRUGGLE.

Patea Mail, 23 July 1881, Page 2

PATEA COUNTY MAIL PUBLISHED Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. SATURDAY, JULY 28, 1881. THE STRUGGLE.

Local Government is being pitched into chaos. Every political doctor has his separate scheme, most of them, turning things topsy-turvy. See what a medley of local reforms they are wrangling over in Parliament ! Hardly two speakers agree.' Four schemes have come into prominent discussion. Major Atkinson proposes a slight change in existing local machinery ; a change that shows minute official knowledge, but not much consciousness of the general discontent with things as they are. To go to the country on that scheme would be a fatal mistake. It excites not a shred of enthusiasm. It has fallen on local bodies like a wet blanket. It is like tinkering an old pot too full of holes'. The scheme does not recognise that the country is kicking against centralism. It does-not recognise that local energy requires freer play. It does not recognise that local knowledge ought to be the best ally of a central Government. It aims at repressing local activity by keeping at Wellington all power- for initiating local works. Local development has to await the convenience of a Minister, and be dependent on his whim or his fad. It is a slow-going, safe, centralised plan ; calculated to promote the happiness ot Ministers, and provide settlers with. the. recreation of rating themselves more and more. Great is the power of rating !

You settlers who have to work local machinery should know what you want. Major Atkinson is prudently making little change till he sees his way to some larger reform. He is above all things a man of business, and would appreciate suggestions. The pressure for local reform had been too scattered in its force before this debate on “ no confidence ” began. The direction in which reform is desired now becomes more apparent. Out of the confusion of many voices comes some general idea. That idea appears to be against the centralisation of all initiating power at Wellington. The work of the Government should be, not to retard but to wisely supervise the activities of local bodies ; driving with a loose rein, and letting each team have its pace. The tendency has been to rob local communities of all independent life. The activity of one district is - repressed and sat upon till it counts lor no more than the lethargy of some sleepy community that lives come-a-day go-a-day. We are not all fossils. A community that lives in a breezy air, and knows neither langors nor laziness is not to be controlled like a slow bullock-team,. The race-horse and the tortoise should not be forced to keep company.