MUNICIPALITIES.

Southland Times, Issue 659, 19 April 1867, Page 2

MUNICIPALITIES.

Local self-government is the kernel of into prominence and political importance. /The colonies have not been slow in cultivating this time-honored institution of the home country. In Canada and Australia, city and district councils are to be found in every locality that can number even a few hundred inhabitants, and wherever they do exist progress is most conspicuous. In New Zealand up to a recent period the establishment of Municipal Councilor-institutions worthy of the name— have been censurably neglected, and hence has arisen the discontent that has been displayed iii the major number of districts throughout the- colony. —In almost every province the country has been at war with the town. Provincial Councils have been hurled from the pedestal of legislative respect, and their members have fallen to the position of Pedlingtonian special pleaders and local advocates. The result has been that no systematic plan of public works has been carried out. The Government might conceive schemes of the highest value, but they were powerless to carry them out ; local jealousies destroyed them all. A comprehensive municipal system is the only remedy for this evil. It is therefore a matter for rejoicing that the success wliich attended the working of the Municipal Councils of Victoria, and the applause that such success has called forth, has been wafted to the shores of New Zealand, and that able men are advqcating their establishment throughout the length and breadth of this colony. For many years a-Munici-pal Board has existed in Auckland, and more recently in Christchurch and Dunedin. The Christchurch and Auckland Councils were formed under a very old enactment ; they are, in consequence, crippled in resources, and unsatisfactory in their working. In Otage it is otherwise. A new Bill was drafted, based on acts in operation in Victoria and South Australia, which is comprehensive and workable: Otago again took the initiative, and prepared a District Council Bill, also based on the Victorian Act. The Act has so far worked well as toinduce the General Government to prepare a. Municipal enactment suitable to the whole colony. This Bill, we understand, is being prepared with great care, and is likely to prove acceptable to the people. A Municipalities Act for Southand is much required, and an expression of public opinion upon the question should be elicited. The inhabitants of Invercargill and Eiverton are deeply interested in the question; In both of these towns a Municipal Council is required. As far as Invercargill is concerned, the necesssity is so transparent that argument "is not needed. This town has been well laid out, large sums have been expended in extensive drainage and street making, but owing to the absence of a local body scarcely any attention to keeping it in an efficient state of repair is observed L .Riverton and the country districts, although not so immediately interested, have a prospective advantage scarcely less important. Should the contemplated Railway scheme be carried out, townships will spring up with great rapidity, roads and streets will be necessary, and local self-government become of the veryhighest moment. In taking up this subject we have no intention of making it a tqwn_ qstSS&gJi*. Jtfe Jegke^.to^ejokg Municipal Government for both town and country — a Government founded oh equity and yielding justice to all alike. , The time has come for action. |