HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES.
Wellington, Thursday. LOCAL aOVEBNMEIfT. .
Mr Murray moved, " That, in the opinion of this House, local Government is conducted under great disadvantages, which he expressed as follows:—First, from the defects in the system ; second, from local funds for payment of rates to effect local improvements being absorbed by the General Government taxation; third, from committees having been deprived of 20 per cent, of land fund (except in the case of JSew Plymouth), and that Government be requested to bring in a bill this session to remedy the above causes of complaint, and others which may be established during the debate upon this resolution. After reviewing the present unsatisfactory state of things, be said he thought Parliament should consider the matter, and remit the result to their constituents. What he thought was wanted was a system which for a minimum of official expenditure would do the largest amount of useful work, and that those who spent the money should provide it. The principle by which a portion of the price of land was returned to the land to render it available for profitable colonisation should be again restored; the 20 percent/land fund and deferred payments should be paid to the local bodies toward road making approved of by Government, and counties and boroughs should be amalgamated into shires with real powers. Mr Ormond seconded the resolution. After the promise made by Government to bring down a scheme of this kind, he telt himself somewhat -embarrassed. He hoped that during the debate Government would see its way to indicate the direction they proposed going in this matter. It was a question which should have taken precedence o ver such matters as hospital, charitable aid, or the latter, the subject-of local administration, the counties and road boards clashed, which, in some instances, had eventuated in litigation, thereby dissipating the ratepayers' money in law costs. The first step towards reform was decentralisation ; and next, to make permanent provisions for the expenditure of the local bodies. He could make no suggestion as to what was likely to be the best mode of finance to adopt further than to say that direct taxation was the proper mode. The counties should be enlarged, care being taken that the enlargement was made so as to preserve a community of interests; waste lands administration should devolve upon the local|bodies, and by that means much of the complaint at present existing, that these lands were not properly administered would be obviated. They should also have a voice in the opening up of land for settlement, and the powers exercised by the Education Boards should also devolve upon them. The Charitable Aids and similar institutions should be relegated to them, and also the management of railways situated within their rrespeotive districts. By that means he predicted a great deal of much needed railway reform would be brought about. Means for obtaining redress for local grievances similar to those provided under Provincialism should likewise be secured Tiie present Parliament was not at all likely to deal satisfactorily with this large question. What he would suggest was that it should be relegated to the people themselves at the election, and in the meantime Government should pass its Eedistribution of Seats Bill, and let them go to the country with this matter at as early^iijlday as possible. The Hon. J. Hull said that after the statement made by the Treasurer, (government would not be expected to tak e part in the debate until, at all events, opportunity had been afforded by brii tging down the measures alluded to by the Treasurer. .'
Mr Moss demurred to the ques tion being left to the constituencies, a;nd maintained it was their duty to face libe whole question with the view of providing the remedy required. Mi" Bunny moved the debate be adjourned for two weeks, to give Oovernment an opportunity for submittin g their proposal. Mr Wood blamed Government for not taking the matter at an earlier da>te. It would be delayed until a late period of the session, and then, as on former occasions, they would be told there was not time to go oa with it. The whole question was one of ways and means. It migJht be made an electioneering cry, bat that would do no real good. What was wanted was money, and until that' difficulty was solved, no real good would be achieved. The people asked for money, and we gave them institutions.
Dr Wallis talked out the motion to the adjournment at 5.30. ; .
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THS18810624.2.11.1
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Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3896, 24 June 1881, Page 2
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753HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES. Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3896, 24 June 1881, Page 2
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