The Tuapeka Times. SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 1868. " Measures, not Men."

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 25, 1 August 1868, Page 2

The Tuapeka Times. SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 1868. " Measures, not Men."

Public opinion' has verged rapidly to the decision, that » change in some shape, in the form of Government, should take place, though it canmot Ite affirmed that the Provin•Ul iyttem should 1* wholly done

away with. The Provincial system for a new country ii the best that can be adopted by its division of labor and close supervision of all parts, bringing forward equally the various portions of the country under its sway, and tending gradually to solidify and prepare for one whole, or a more central form, the various portions of the country — at first rude, savage, and unproductive, until the influence of Provincial Institutions was brought to bear upon it, and to introduce population, under fixed laws of protection to life and property, The question now is, Is the Middle Island sufficiently brought together in its several parts, by easy communication, | as to render it fit to be placed under i one central Government 1 In older countries, where roads, canals, and railways traverse all parts, and render communication from the most distant points easy and regular, a central form of government, by this artificial diminution of tim» and distance, renders a central form of Government easy to be carried on and suitable for the wants of the country; but in New Zealand, it may be stated that we have not | arrived at this measure of solidifij cation and rapid communication; and that until we attain to these, the islands are better under the present Provincial form of Government. It may be expensive, but probably the equally bringing forward all parts of a new and thinly peopled country more than repays the great apparent expense of such a wide-spread subdivision of the responsibilities of government. Perhaps the best form of procedure that ! the Provincialists on this question could now assume, .would be, to be willing to hand over to the Municipalities now in existence, part of their duties and responsibilities, and bo satisfy, in this way, the demand now rising up for increased "Local" Government. For instance, the Police Department, now very expensive and burdensome to the Province, might be handed over to the Municipalities, according to the various populations of such Municipalities ; and the Police constituting th« present force, so subdivided, placed under the control of the Mayors and Councillors, and paid ! by police rates levied upon the community getting the benefit of this protection to life and property. The Survey Department, another expensive Department, and showing few results, might also be reduced, and to some extent be made selfsustaining. The Roads and Works Department might also be handed over to the District Road Boards, and terms made between the Government and the Boards for the necessary means to carry out such public works as the appointed Road Boards might judge necessary for the improvement of their various districts. The schools, also, might be handed over to the Municipalities, and the patronage lodged in their hands ; and whatever endowments these schools may possess, to be also handed over. In Dunedin, there is now a harbor trust; this Trust also to be handed over to the Municipality- of Dunedin, or other Municipalities wherever such, in time, might be required; and so placed under the. control of men responsible to the public for the fit performance of their duties, and not under any irresponsible body, however respectable and intelligent they might individually be. If such increased duties were handed over to the Municipalities to be managed for th« public by them, a large and increased amount of local Government would be obtained, and, being managed without fee or reward, a large saving in expenditure would aocrue to the Province. The landed estate of the Province would still remain with the Provincial Executive, and the revenue from the Goldfields, and present proportion of Customs Duties. By the proposed transfer of present provincial duties, now in the hands of the Executive, to the Municipalities, the various Departments now so costly, could either b» lessened or wholly done away with, as the constituencies by the plebiscite might deem most fit; and whether or not a Provincial Council should continue to exist, would also become a question for consideration. The last appearances of the Provincial Council did not raise it in public estimation, and led to the supposition that this travestie on the Imperial Parliament, bore a strong resemblance to that ancient sport in tho Catholic Church, when the Abbot of Misrule led the games, and what should be reverenced and prized, is made a source of ridicule and scprn The public does not now look with favor on the Provincial Council, and its late appearances have tended much to throw undeserved discredit on ProvinciaLlnstitutioa*}

still, it is to be hoped that the constituencies will take the subject of the change of Government into earnest consideration, and not be led away by any mere transient and passing political excitement. The Provincial' system has done great good, and may still do more by throwing aside into the hands and control of the Municipalities many burdensome and non-paying Departments, and allow the Executive, whoever may be in office, to give their attention to such great works aa will solidify and bring closer together the various scattered districts of the Province. '-