South Canterbury Times, WEDNESDAY JULY 13, 1881.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2593, 13 July 1881, Page 2

South Canterbury Times, WEDNESDAY JULY 13, 1881.

The fight of the session has commenced. Last night in the House of Representatives the Colonial Treasurer enunciated the proposals of the Ministry on local government reform. There is no uncertain sound about the utterance. Briefly stated, the Government has taken its stand upon the present system. There is now sometangible in its attitude. We have said over and over again that there was no other way of obtaining money for local improvement except by taking

it out of the pockets of the ratepayers. Major Atkinson, in the plainest terras, said the same thing last night. The question arises, how will Ministers now stand in relation to certain of their supporters ? It is obvious that the Government proposals will not satisfy Mr Ormond, and he is thoroughly independent. The member for Clive has lately strongly advocated a return to Provincialism, The views of the Ministry are in the widest sense opposed to Provincialism. Local government reform is regarded as the burning question of the session. Mr Ormond, if he acts according to his often and vehemently expressed opinions, must enrol himself in the ranks of the Opposition. If he refrains from doing so, he will be actuated by purely personal considerations. His antipathy to Sir George Grey is notorious, and he belongs to the old section of politicians who refuse to have any connection whatever with Mr Macandrew. As far as a personal following is concerned, Mr Ormond would be powerless, but his open desertion would disorganise the Ministerial party. This is the last session of the present Parliament. On the question of local government Ministers are on the unpopular side. The subject is sure to be brought prominently before the electors. Indeed there is every probability that it will be made the cry of the hustings. The contingency cannot fail to have an immense influence upon members. The allegiance to party may be found to be subordinate to the chances of reelection.

Mr Wakefield, another apostle of local government, is not worth considering in the matter. His name has been frequently mentioned in connection with the vacant portfolio. The Colonial Treasurer’s speech of last night has reduced his chances of office to a minimum. If aught is to be retained of political principle in this colony, Mr Wakefield must remain outside the Ministerial fold. Of the two evils, Ministers had better elect to risk the upbraidings of disappointed maliciousness rather than sacrifice their principles by admitting amongst them one so opposed to a cardinal point of their policy. The member for Geraldine may be ready, for the sweets of office, to go back upon his recently professed opinions, but no Government which claims to be guided by political principle could receive Mr Wakefield as a colleague. In the debate, Sir George Grey followed the Colonial Treasurer, and gave the bare outlines of a scheme of local Government. In another column will be found an epitome of his speech. His scheme appears so Utopian that, like the cautious Mr George McLean, from Otago, we would like to see Sir George’s Bill before making any comment.