The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1882. LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1191, 28 September 1882, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1882. LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

Our Masterton contemporary regards local self-government as a sort; of universal panacea. It is, in its opinion, the remedy for turbulent countries like Egypt and Ireland.; In the latter instance we-fail to see how local self-government will correct the principal difficulty under which the Green Isle labors, viz, a superabundant population, engendering poverty and distress. As for the land of Pharoah, we cannot admit that it is at all fitted to carry out local government institutions. There are conditions efsential to the success of any system of local self-government, and we venture to say that none' can be established in a country where there is no strong central administration founded on a national sentiment. America, Switzerland, and Franco are quoted as instances of countries in which industrial areas have been, fertilised, and peace, .comfort, and contentment brought about by the introduction of a popular form of local self-government. The intelligent and enterprising .citizens of thgse countries can hardly be compared with the semibarbarous races which Jive on the bai)ks of the Nile. However suitable local self-gownjlient 4 may be for civilised European coi)itmi)iities, it is ill adapted for the Copts, Turks, Arabs, Negroes, Syrians, and Armenians who constitute the people of the land of Egypt. Local self-, government must, fall "to the ground in any country where security to life and property and equitable laws are not enforced by a strong central legislature. In a state where bribery and corruption is recognized as the almost only method,of administering the laws, what chance has any system of local government? Inferior local bodies must on the one hand be proceoted by superior central bodies, and on the other they I must be. manned by persons capable of discharging the duties of administration. If England withdraws its. hand from over Egypt who is then left to make the laws of the country respected and obeyed t Arabi might possibly have' made himself master of the land had-he been permitted to do so, but there is no reason to suppose that he would have ever giyen the people.of the country local governing institutions, We consider every community] which is fit to exercise looal governing powers should have the benefit of them," but we feel certain that they will be of little use on any soil which is unfitted for their reception. Even in a country; like France they have practically been a .farce, and in Egypt they would simply be a misfortune. ./ v V:';!