The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 1881.

Temuka Leader, Issue 404, 23 June 1881, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 1881.

For some time back a lurking discontent has prevailed in many quarters with the working of the County Council# Act. This discontent could bear concealment no longer, and now an almost universal cry for a change is got up, which threatens to upset the Hall Government. It cannot fora moment be denied by the wannest advocates of local self Government that 80 far it has been an utter failure.

Tho blame is not to be laid at the of the promoter, however. Sir Julius Vogel, with that boundlessness of grasp which characterised all his workings, surrounded the Counties Act with certain harriers as a protection, which he knew quite well if removed would lead to its utter failure. Men with smaller intellects followed Sir Julius to work out his Public Works policy, men who could only see through a glass dimly. The result is, these barriers (the 20 pei cent, of the land sales and the usual other subsidies) have been withdrawn, and local self-government is a failure. When the Sdwyn County Council opened the ball for the Canterbury Province, every other part of the Province looked to it for guidance, but after a great flourish of trumpets it has ceased to show any signs of life. The Geraldine County Council, through the blin Iness of their first Chairman, neglected to adopt the Act, consequently it lost all emoluments and has now only a name to live, and those gentlemen who constitute its members when they meet month after month and have nothing to talk about but sheep and dogs, must feel heartily tired of it. It may suit one or two gentlemen who have a fancy for being always on their legs, and who wish to air their eloquence through the Press, but if the founder of the order were an eye-witness, and his ears were to hear the irrevelant gibberish, he would scarcely understand that it was a specimen of the County Council that be had the honor to frame. Throughout the length and breadth of the Colony a change is demanded. This has taken the Government aback ns it bad evident’}' no intention to disturb the Local Government Act this session. Various are the propositions for amendment; some demand a renewal of die endowment system of subs’dies ; others demand a form of Provincial inst’tuiiona to take the place of County Councils. For our part w« wish neither tha one ror the other. The first would o ly be opening a door for the Government to put on heavier ’• xes to supply these subsidies, and thus be taking money out of one of our pockets to put into the other. The second would lead to considerate expense without bringing any correspondent good. We know, too well, what Provincial Governments are, and believe that the settlers in South Canterbury des’re no more of them. A return to the pomp and splendour of former years might suit very well for a few gentlemen who, devoid of brains, are generally food of empty show, but the settlers in these parts we trust have more sense than to go in for such vanity of vanities. In Canterbury our Road Board* have worked very we 1 !, and have been able to manage the Jimi.ed business which the Road Board Ord : nance allows. Why not extend their powers, and increase the number of the Board to nine. Instead of seven or eight men meeting to yawn and bile their nails, they would have the work of the district to look after. Some will say this is strange language for a journal to use that was once so ardent a supporter of the County Council system. Bo it may seem, but it must bo recollected that all we ever asked for was a fcr-al; now that it baa turned out a failure through the bungling of a feeble, incapable Government, it is surely more honest to acknowledge lire utter worthlessness of the present system, than seek to conceal it and go under a false name. Recently a conference of representatives of County Council* in the North Island met in Wellington, and came to the conclusion that the Government be asked to continue the per centage of tire land fu*»d. There does not appear to have been any delegates from the M ddlo Island, and we hope none will support the movement, which would only throw more mouey into the hands of landowners in the North Island at the expense of those in the South. If we are to be taxed let ns have the right to Impose the tax, and the right to collect and keep it too. We have no objection to the North Island doing tho same. Hitherto tho North has got all the attention and all the money. Hence the present prosperity of Auckland, and hence the peace of that crying-out community. Taranaki, also, has got the lion’s share, and is prosperous. How long the settlers in the Middle Island will permit a Government thus to pay for the seat of its members by Middle Island money it is difficult to say. The present apathy of the Southerners puzzles us. In any case a return to ibis system of land funds would only aggravate the evil. The present agitation does not, we fear, spring from pure motives. Mr Wakefield, for instance: Does anyone believe he is sincere in advocating for a return to Provincialism ? Is it not a proof, rather, of the gall that embitters his feelings at the repeated slights of the Hall Government in passing him by when begging for a colleague. This is the fourth Government that the Member for Qeraldii-e hassumed enemy to because they did not meet hia views. Why does not the Hall Government give him a portfolio, and so make a friend of him—as well as give him a bait as the four Auckland rats.