LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT.

Southland Times, Issue 915, 13 March 1868, Page 2

LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT.

We present to our readers the debate which took place last Council on the question of local self-government, at the last session. Mr PsAßSONrose and said : — Beforeproceeding, Sir, to reply to my friend, Dr Hodgkinson's arguments, I will dismiss the light brigade. The member for Oreti has compared the expense of I our form of government with that of America, and quoted Adam Smith's ' Wealth of Nations ' in support, in which that author states that three millions of people were well governed for £64,700 a-year. But Adam Smith merely notices the effect, he had not time to ascertain the cause : De Tocquevilie did. He ascertained from personal observation that the key to this social problem was to be found in the virtue of the people, a virtue which stimulated every man to exert himself and assist the Government in the repression and punishment of crime. He observed that while the police system was defective, and the number trifling, which was also the case with the Custom-hoiiße officers, yet; that in no country was there less smuggling, or where " crime more rarely eluded punishment." \nd he proceeds: — " The reason is that every one conceives himself to be interested in furnishing evidence of the act committed, and in stopping the delinquent." Where a community is sufficiently virtuous to clearly discriminate between right and wrong, and sufficiently energetic to determine that right shall be done ; then, aud then only, will a country be cheaply governed. I need hardly say that Adam Smith wrote a day or two ago. The "Inquiry into the nature and .causes of the Wealth of .Nations," was published in 1776. From the statistics of 1867, 1 gather that iliu civil expenditure alone, of the United States, for the year 1866, exclusive of the army and navy, interest on debt, &c, amounted to £9,229,032 4s 6d, while the total for the year was £1.17,187,550 15* 6d. Thus, this pattern of government, so far as cheapness is concerned, has developed into as foul and rank a luxuriance as the most corrupt of the monarchical or despotic Governments of the old world. It has fully real sjd Do Tocqueville's prediction of many a bj -gone year. - " Wherever the poor direct public affairs, and dispose of the national resources, it appears certain, thai as they profit I by the expenditure of the State, they are apt to augment that expenditure. I conclude, therefore, without having recourse to inaccurate computations, and without hazarding a comparison which might prove incoi'rect, that the democratic government of the Americans is not a cheap government, as is sometimes as-erted. And I hare no hesitation in predicting, that if the people of the United States is ever involved in serious difficulties, its taxation will speedily be increased to the rate of that which prevails in the greater part of the aristocracies and the monarchies of Europe." The present taxation in this vaunted democracy, proves the soundness of the prediction. As to the statement that the people do not desire any change in the form of Government, I have no hesitation in giving it my most unqualified denial. The people, the bone and sinew of the Province, don't want twenty solons twaddling about what they do not understand. They want roads, and bridges, not abortive legislation. My friend, the member for Invercargill (Mr Lumsden), is generally unfortunate in his metaphors and similies, as is perhaps natural, but he is singularly unfortunate on the present occasion. With that grim fauetiousness which is so pleasing a feature of his character, he has illustrated his argument to prove that I desire to place the Province under the yoke of the General Government, with the story of the Highland mother, who encouraged her reluctant son to suffer himself to be hung, by saying, " gang awa* Donald and be hung, it will please ta Laird." Now, sir, it seems to me that we have been hung long enough to please "ta Laird," and so far as I am concerned I "will see " ta laird" huug first, before I will be hung for him. We hare had enough of this fun. I don't believe in natural cheftianism myself, and it is to prevent the possibility of such recurring again in so small a community that I bring forward my resolutions. He has also been good enough to liken me to a kingfisher, looking out for fresh fishing grounds. The simile is not appropriate to myself, inasmuch as I am perfectly satisfied with my present fishing grounds. I can presently obtain as much fish as will satisfy my moderate requirements. I think, however, the analogy ia very appropriate to my friend, Mr Lumsden, he is always fishing to find a hole in somebody's coat. Indeed, I may consider him as the chief of the human family of kingfishers. In Australia, the laughing jackass is, I believe, considered by ornithologists the head of the feathered- tribe of kingfishers, I am justified therefore in concluding that he may be classed as the head of the human kingfisher species. My friend Mr Lumsden, has entirely mistaken the purport of my resolutions. If there is to be a change in our form of Government, I maintain it should be in the direction of simplicity. I do not believe in the "Local Government Bill " brought forward during the last session of the Assembly, it is too complex ; nor do I believe in the " Westland Bill." What I propose is simpler and more constitutional. The chairman of my County Board is elected as well as any other member composing it. I merely advocate one municipality without legislative powers, whose duties ought to be solely executive; whose attention and time should be concentrated in developing the resources of the country, instead of being frittered away in attempting useless and abortive legislation. Ido not believe in mayors and corporations, in shire councils, arid road boards. They have been tried in Victoria and signally failed. They are too expensive, the light is not worth the candle. I might, Sir, be more severe on the member for Invercargill, Mr Lumsden, particularly on the

score of consistency, but he is useful in his way j he is not a bad hone on which to sharpen the edge of oipe'B wit ; I will therefore, be meroifal and dismiss him. And now, Sir, to answer I seriatim, the arguments and objections of my friend, the member for Kiverton, Dr Hodgkinson. First as to the simile of the banyan tree. If " the indefinite number of smaller stems supply with nourishment the main trunk," well, but if, striking into Btony soil, ' they do not, and instead, sap the parent stem ? To again quote De Tocqueville, " Minor parties are on the other hand, generally deficient in political faith. As they are not sustained or dignified by a lofty purpose, they ostensibly, display the egotism of their character in their actionß. They glow with a factitious zeal; their language is vehement, but their conduct is timid and irresolute. The means they employ are as wretched as the end at which they am. * * * * * Society is convulsed by great parties, bp minor ones it i* agitated j it is torn by the former ; by the latter it is dig aded, and if these sometimes save it by a salutary perturbation, those iuvaribly disturb it to nj good purpose." As to the "geographical configuration " of the two Islands whatever may have been the difficulties of communi- » cation with a common centre in the earlier days • of colonization, the telegraph and steam fleet at 1 the command of the General Government have overcome the impediments imposed by nature ; not to mention the internal development of intercourse in the Middle Island. When Cobb's coaches can drive from Invercargill to Nelson, I cannot but conclude that nature has been conquered. It matters not, therefore, whether the distance from Stewart's Island and the North Cape is equal to " that from the Straits of Dover to the Straits of Gibaralter," when Invercargill is within half an hour's hail of Wellington by telegraph. My honorable Mend has instanced Ireland as an illustration of the evils resulting from centralisation. I need hardly remind him that "the Green Isle" at onetime enjoyed the blessings of Self-Government and a pretty messshe made of it. The little weakness of " potting" obnoxious parties from behind a hedge appears to have accompanied the change in the form of Government. Had, Oliver Cromwell lived a few years longer I do not'doubt that the Ireland of the nineteenth century would have eventuated in a very different and more posperous realm than she is likely to be, either as a self-governed country or an integral portion of the British Empire. In my opinion the best way out of the Irish difficulty . would be to cut the painter, and allow th«m to govern themselves for say a year, at the end of which they would be in a similar position to that of the Kilkenny cats, nothing left but two tails, when respectable people might settle the Island. As to the comparison of areas in square miles between the New Zealand Provinces and the American States, possessing a federal form of Government, I maintain that when it comes to a question of taxation the area is of very secondary importance ; it becomes a question of the number of people contained in that area. I will take the smallest State, Rhode Island ; its area is 835,840 acres, but its population in 1860 amounted to 174,620. The estimated value of the property in ■ the state was £30, 450,952 6s Od. Here we have then not only a large population out of which to choose representatives to fill seats in their local legislation, but we have wealth to enable private citizens to devote sufficient time to politics without interfering with their private concerns, and we may not unnaturally presume, education. For where a people is wealthy, the cultivation of the mind is more likely to be attended to than where they are poor or struggling ; where the perfection of the physical rather than the intellectual or moral powers is an object of practical ambition. In the six New Zealand States in 1860 the inhabitants to the square mile was 49. 55. In the six middle states 69. 83. It appears to me, therefore, that a comparison between these States and ourselves is absurd, and the sam* arguments are applicable to the Canadian provinces. It is a question of population not area. But Dr Hodgkinson tells us, and with great truth that when these States were first started many a year ago, the pup uiation was small, and yet they managed to govern themselves efficiently and with great success. Yet he knows as well as I do that the Pilgrim Fathers of America were an exceptions! rule ; that to quote his words, " English colon tts were Men in those days." The early emigration to America was the most wonderful the world has ever seen, or will probably ever see. It was an emigration of men who went forth to conquer the wilderness, not because they could make two pounds for every one in the Fatherland ; but because they/ were not allowed to worship their God according to the dictastes of their conscience, in the home of their forefathers. Such men might well found a state and govern it peaceably, equitably, and profitably. The primeval forests which echoed the Puritan hymns, reverberated with the breath of stern, determined and upright men; who, worshiping their God, not with lip service only, did not forget the golden rule to deal with their fellowmen as they would wish to be dealt with. They did not attempt to govern by party, or spend their time squabbling for the loaves and fishes, miserable as they might have been. These men had learned the first great, lesson in all government, to govern themselves. The very ; example adduced by my friend of the successful conquest of the Peguod tribe of Bed Indians by a handful of the early settlers of Connecticut, is evidence of the absurdity of comparing these men with ourselves. Here we have a colony backed by three millions of money, with a spec and span General, a large body of the finest troops in the world, an unknown quantity of cooked hats and gold lace, Armstrong guns, Enfield rifles, and all the rest of it ; and we can't lick two or three hundred Maories. And last scene of all, the spec and span General, and troops, and the unknown quantify of cocked hats and gold lace, and all has gone home, and is doubtless blackguarding the colonists as an excuse for their own imbecillity. If the Americans had taken possession of New Zealand I have no doubt they would have driven the Maori off the face of the earth long ere this. It must be recollected, however, that they are not troubled with maudlin philanthropists in the colony, and Exeter Hall old fogies at flome, who seated comfortably in arm-chairs, by their own firesides, pity the poor peaceably inclined Hau Hau Maori, but take uncommon good care not to come out here to be eaten by him. I must beg, however, to remind my friend, Dr Hodgkinson, that the America he speaks of, and the America of to-day, are two very different things. I can share his enthusiasm for Roger Williams, but where in all wide America will he find a Roger Williams now? If he did he would find him shunted into a corner by the i: loco focos," or " know nothing, or "blue nosed democrats," or "red hot republicans," or some other of the political sects which, are fast making the finest country God ever created, a pandemonium on earth. Irrespective, however, of the great moral advantage enjoyed by the early settlements in America, from ' the character of the first settlers, an advantage which lasted for, at any rate, three or four generations, inasmuch as the example of the Pilgrim Fathers could not but influence their children, and their children's children. There is another reason why it is easier to govern a province during its earlier stages than afterwards, and it is that at firat starting there is very little money to spend. There is no taxation requisite to be provided for, no large public works to be undertaken, not only because there are no funds wherewith to execute them, but baciiu© the first settlers spread about the sea-shore ; as population increases a steady advance is made into the interior. ' These pioneers of civilization are generally content to force their way by their individual exertion, without clamoring for public aid ; if any such is extended they receive it with. gratitude. Thus the duties of government are simple in those early days, they require no great. amount of education or capacity. Loans cannot bd raised, so able finance is not a necessity in the official programme. Large and expensive public works are not constructed, so there is no occasion for great care and caution to prevent wasteful expenditure, which leads to heavy taxation. The I hordea of mercantile wolves, who having no stake,

further than paper, and make the province a lumtin-e; ground so long as the chase is remunerative, have not arrived to bring a pressure to hear on the Government and so tha Provincial ■Council can twaddle and dozo iway -without much jnjury to the community. Governments, Sir, are like private individuals in the management of money. If «i man has only a shilling, the investment of it does not cost him much thought or consideration. He either lias two nips or a feed, according to his tastes; but if he has fifty thousand pounds, he requires time, care, ability, and grave consideration before he invests it, •otherwise be is very lilu-ly to lose his substance. It is easier to make mo:iey than to keep it, at any rate I have found it so. The Appropriation Acts for the year 1854, passed by the Provincial Council of Otago, amounted in nil to £5676 10s <6d ; the last passed by it amounted to £390,235 12s. Now, I should ask any man of business or common sense, whether it does not require more ability and management to judiciously administer the latter sum, than the former, whether the responsibility is not greater, "whether the maladministration of the one would :not lead to more disastrous consequences than the mismanagement of the other. And mark you, that while the responsibility is fearfully increased, -while taxation is being heavily imposed, in consequence of past blunders, and is looming heavily in the future, the social position and intellectual ■calibre of the Provincial Councils throughout Jfew Zealand is deteriorating. The best men either ■will not come forward, or, thanks to democracy, are not elected. At a recent election in another province, a man was returned to the Councilwho had just left the Lunatic Asylum. I presume his friends thought that, having got out ■of it, the best place for him was the Provincial ■Council. I believe, however, he has shown evidences of reason, as I learn that he was met in the •street by a friend, with a large book under his -arm. On being questioned he explained bis ■reason for having it, as follows : — " When a man ;gaes intal the Cuncil he mauna use lang-nebbit •words he disna ken the meanin' o', so I thocht I buy a dictionar." I think other members of 'Council in- other provinces might with, advantage the public weal follow the example of my lunatic friend. As regards ourselves we have just had a dissolution. I leave "honorable members *o determine whether t<he present Council i 3 equal to its predecessor. I think, Sir, I have success--fallj rebutted the charge of inconsistency made by my friend Dr HodgMnson on the ground that while I acknowledged the Provincial system was well adapted for the work of colonisation in the early days I deny that it is so now. My friend himself is a remarkable instance of the correctness of my deductions. He has only very recently been elected, and he talks of resigning because he ; cannot spare the time to attend the Council twice a year. Now, Sir, I need hardly say that Dr Hodgkinson is one of the best men we could ha\ c to administer public affairs. Socially, intellectually, morally, he is admirably adapted to fill a seat, not only in a Provincial Council, but to represent us in the higher legislature ; yet he grudges the time, and there are many of the best men of the same way of thinking. ISow, if all the best talent and intellect is to be left out, the Council, if it is to exist, will consist of men of inferior education and intelligence, who, however honest in intention, j cannot, from the circumstances of birth, early habits, and the hard struggle for bread they have fought in their morning of life's battle, efficiently perform. (To be continued) !