The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 1881.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3891, 18 June 1881, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 1881.

Local self r goverement is apparently the question of the day, if we may judge from the remarks of the members of the General Assembly who hare already'spoken. We hear the demand made for fresh legislation from both the friends and foes of the Gorernment, and yet the Cabinet -most unaccountably failed to foresee the requirements of the Colony, or as Mr Bowe would say, failed to " dirine the signs of the times." Sir George Grey scored the point against the Government, although it appears other members were only waiting to do the same, notably l Mr Wakefield. It is said because Sir George Grey anticipated him in this matter, that he so fiercely attacked the old statesman; However* Mr Wakefield, in his, address, spoke very earnestly on this subject, and even admitted that if Sir George Grey introduced a. bill dealing with the question, however much he disliked being on the same side with the; honorable member for the Thames, his desire to /see the question dealt with j would lead him to support it. This is yery candid, on the part of the member] for Geraldine, who is very marked in his likes and dislikes, a man often led by the heat of his temper to act against his; contictions, in brder to thwart ah adversary. "The Government ought to bring in a scheme," said Mr Wakefield, and he continued—" I still hope that when those hon. gentlemen speak, as they will, no doubt, in a few minutes, they will tell us that although they hare not placed in the speech any sketch of their plan, or any-, thing more than a general reference to the' subject of local government, yet they do intend to give us, at all events, before we go to the country, an outline sketch of the scheme. If any scheme is introduced by the member for the Thames, which has anything in it of the elements of right, it will bevery difficult for hon-gentlemen, feeling as I do, not to vote with him upon this matter, even if we differ from him oh most of the political questions of the day, lam bound to say I am disappointed that my hon. friends on those benches hare not ere this, given us a plain assurance that they will face this question boldly. It is not a small question —it is the largest question in the politics of this country at the present time by far. It is the only question in the politics of this country that is worth considering seriously at all, because it involtes all other questions in its comprehengive grasp. Let us go back for a few minutes to see in what position we stand. In 1875 the provinces were abolished. We were then told by Sir Julius Ypgel that it could cause no dislocation, that it would cause no disorder in; the country, no dissatisfaction whatever; that in three months all departments would be administered, either . locally or . by the General Government, just as smoothly and satisfactorily as they were under the Provincial system. On that assurance the country consented to the abolition of the provinces; and, speaking for myself, on that assurance I supported, with what humble efforts I could use, the abolition of the provinces. Sir, that assurance has been absolutely broken, and I say, without the least hesitation, that if at that time I for one could have seen what would have occurred, nothing would have induced me, even if it had kept me out of politics for the the rest of my life, to sapport the abolition of the provinces." The speaker shows bow the County's Act was introduced and passed, with its optional clause inserted to make it in some way acceptable to the House. The system of subsidies {he characterised as the most vicious ever introduced into* "country—a system which utterly debauched the loeat bodies, which operated in a most unjust manner, and which had the effect, that rich districts^n the country that wanted money least got most.

It was calculated to stop the progress of civilisation and settlement. Then he goes on to say how that the circumstances of the colony -rendered it necessary to abolish subsidies, upon which the present Colonial 1 ■•"Treasurer promised to make adequate provision for local finance. " That was the year before last, but everything was io confusion. We had bad a general election; we had had a bad attack of the hon member for the Thames, and we were then slowly recovering., from.. him; and the hon Treasurer truly interpreted the feeling of the House, and said, "Do not raise this difficult subject now for goodness' sake; let it alone, and next year I promise you I will make adequate provision for • Local Finance." Last year the hon. gentleman came down with a scheme which I have not got over yet. I hope he will never '■ bring down another like it. M r Wakefield shows the position of affairs in a fproeable light, and ends by recommending to the Government to deal with the question at once, not to dream of "political rest." or a change, and not a pleasant one, : will assuredly come over the spirit of their 1 dream. ,