THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1912. LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10566, 23 February 1912, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1912. LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL.

We are indebted to Mr G. R. Sykes, M.P., for an advance copy of the Ix>cal Government Bill, a measure which has evidently been in the incu-bator-box for some months. It is a most voluminous document, containing no fewer than 410 different clauses. The primary object of the Bill is to extend the functions and powers of local l>odies, and to institute a system of Provincial Councils. These Councils are to be representative of the 'boroughs and counties in extended district's. For instance, the Wnirarapa Provincial Council will represent the Counties of Pahiatua, Akitio, Eketahuna, Mauriceville, Castlepoint, Mastorton, Wairararoa South, and Feathorston, with the intervening boroughs. The number of members shall be, as the Gov-ernor-in-Oouncil determines, not less than twelve and not more than twenty. Tho Councils are to take over, not only the administration of the local (bodies, but the work of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards, and of the Education Boards. It will thus be seen that a position on a Provincial Council will he no sinecure. As far as can be discovered on a causal perusal of tho Bill, no provision is made for the payment of more than, actual out-of-pocket travelling expenses, although tho President of each Council is to receive an

honorarium of £3OO per year. The rating .Duivers of the Councils are to be considerable, but are to be subject to tlit* control of a Local Government Heard. The County and Borough Councils are to bo retained, but the Ridings of Counties are to be abolished/and the franchise is to be so altered that resident ratepayers have I'.ivo votes tine! residents who are nonratepayers one vote. The Bill is of so revolutionary and contentious a character that it has m> possible chance cf becoming law. There is much in it which will commend itself to tile country. There is a great deal which is absolutely impossible. The impress of the. Hon. G. Fowlds is on the measure, and it would not be surprising to learn that since he left the Ministry he has been engaged in the task of- manufacturing something which will be acceptable. "Why a discredited Ministry should have introduced such a Bill at this stage, one is at a loss to know. There would appear to be a desire upon the part of Sir Joseph Ward to contemplate the work of Mr Massey, so that he may be able, when the latter frames his local government legislation, to be able to say, "This is my work, all my work!" At this stage it is almost a waste of time to seriously discuss the Bill, for nobody believes that the present Ministry has the .slightestnotion of Dressing it through Parliament, even should it .survive the nocon fidence motion.