LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 19, 20 May 1912, Page 5

LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

ARE THERE TOO MANY LOCAL BODIES ?

In returning thanks for his re-mec-tion as chairman of bhe Moa Road Board on Saturday, Mr. frimble remarked that he wished to refer uo one aspect of the Local Government Bill, and that was bhe question as to whether there were really too . many loca bodies. The constant agitation that there were too many local bodies m. oneWbhe causes that led to the present Act, which certainly limited the number to a dangerous total. "' fact it amounted more to centralisation which was previously the general principle, in allowing each district to lover? its own affair.. The number of local bodies in the Dominion, some six hundred, seemed an enormous quantity tor such a small f>P« lat but it must be remembered that c ; s population was scattered over a very large area, so that there must be, necessity bo a large number• oi loca bodies. Besides, he continued it . o peared to him that it was wtheran advantage that a number ol people. should be trained up in this way take part in the governmeiit or he country. Of course local bodies could be uone witncoio altogether. An Aus trian diplomat ot hign rank had ,u ten a book, in which he said that jjew Zealand could be governeu oj a govei , nor and six policemen It comd_be done ne admitted, but was it ccmnSe with a popular representative «!i as English speaking peoP?e understood itr The trend nasi Seenfor'the whole people, to.take paro in the government. It the.v went Mi enough back, to the beginning. <rf this form of government, they would hnu S only' wealthy people took pan, , but that was because they only oneshtted by education to do so J But with the spread of whole people were gradually fatted to lake Part This could only be done effectively by dividing.the conn rym-, to small districts where the people elected their, own representatives. xNo hndv like the Moa Road Board with KVeing brought to look a.things on a larger plane ot view than then on farm or road.: Certainly, local; a little more expensive, but lie thought that the advantages to the people interested far outweighed that. , Various letters were received in connection with the Bill. ' . I The secretary of the New Plymouth, Harbour Board forwarded a copy ot the resolution passed by that body pro-, testing against the proposed basis ol representation at the forthcoming conference on the Local Government Bill, and suggesting that each class ot local; body should have separate representation The chairman remarked that it was too late now to take action Mr H. Okey also wrote, acknowledging receipt of a copy of the resolution passed at the meeting ot the ratepay-, crs of the Moa Road District re the Local Government Bill. . The undersecretary to the MmiStei of Internal Affairs wrote similarly. The clerk also intimated that MT J. B. Bine. M.P., had also interviewed him, acknowledging- receipt or the same resolution.—" News."

EFFECT ON EDUCATION. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, May 20. A conference of delegates representing the various Education Boards of Neiv Zealand was opened to-day tor the purpose of considering the. sections of the Local Government Bill which deal with Education. Mr. Dalziell, the Chairman, said the delegates were present to discuss the Local Government Bill, which proposed, to set up a new svstem of local government. The North Canterbury Education Board was strongly of opinion that education should stand apart, and the cost be provided out of the Consolidated Fund, and not out of local revenue. The Bill proposed to take the power of election out of the school committees' hands, and consequently | out of parents' hands. If it could be shown clearly that the administration of Education Boards at the present! time stood in the way of a more effi-1 cient and economical system, they. would have to renew iheir awitwle, but no such data had been put forward. Personally, he was of opinion that the system would suffer through a| plunge. The conference decided to fcarite the Minister of Education to bei