Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 1911. MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10145, 23 January 1911, Page 4

Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 1911. MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.

The system of municipal government in New Zealand is just now in a state of ,transition. The widening of the franchise, and the prohibiting of a certain section of. public men from , serving pn municipal corporations, will throw the onus of local government upon those- who, by 'reason of circumstances, are the least qualified to undertake civic responsibilities. Although it will be impossible, without the sanction of the ratepayers, for the corporation to negotiate large borrowing undertakings, it will be quite possible to involve the municipality in great expense in the taking of polls and in other extravagances. It is of importance, therefore, that the ratepayers,of a community should combine with the object of placing the control of civic . affairs in the hands of those who, if not actually business men, are possessed of a modicum of sagacity and a reputa-t-ation for honesty of purpose. It has been unfortunate, in the past, that those having leisure and business aptitude have not identified themselves with local government administration. The result lias been the treatment of important local projects with a measure of indifference which has developed into either stagnation or deplorable waste. The widening of the franchise should quicken those with business and property interests into greater activity. . It should impress them with the fact that unless they com'bine they will be at the mercy of irrespqnsibles. The Legte«

lature, in its wisdom, or in its desperation, has endeavoured to placate the workers of the cities, and every municipality in the Dominion, is face to face with a crisis. One would have thought that Parliament, before experimenting with the boroughs, would have brought down a comprehensive Local Government Bill, which would, have removed anomalies and straightened out the system of local government. But no. We have government by expediency in this country, and it is hopeless to expect anything of a statesmanlike character. The people, therefore, have to grin •and bear the perplexities-which arise from hasty and ill-adivseu legislation. The only hope for ratepayers under the new-fangled Municipal I Corporations Act is that they immediately form themselves into associations for their mutual protection. Will some publio-spirited person take the initiative in Masterton ?