Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] MONDAY, MAY 6, 1895. THE DOOM OF LOCAL BODIES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5018, 6 May 1895, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] MONDAY, MAY 6, 1895. THE DOOM OF LOCAL BODIES.

The Government is anxious, at the present time, that local bodies should put in band as much work as possible, and to encourage them to do so, bangs a drawn sword over the neck of each one of Ilium, No local body is assured of six months' existence, and all arc in a state of suspense altogether unfavorable to active operations. .Local bodies are sharing the fate of local industries, by becoming paralysed, and soon there will be nothing- loft in the Colony but Seddon and the peopleSeddon with a capital S,, and the people, with a small p. Well informed people differ" us to whether Counties are to be suspended or tod Boards abolished, or whether both are to go into the melting pot. during the coming session. As yet, the Government is reticent about its plans, and is not confiding fhciu to oven its own supporters. It is understood that the Government is strong enough to do anything it pleases in this matter, and that Mr Seddon carries sutlieicnt pledges from legislators in his pocket to kill cither Counties or Bond Hoards, It is of the utmost importance that the country should know the intentions of the Government, though it is of course possible that even Ministers have not as yet decided the fate of either Counties and tod Boards, and may, in the absence of the Colonial Treasurer, be in a dillicnlty. Mr Ward is the only Minist envbo is credited with any considerable knowledgo of finance, and finance is the kcv-notcto the local government problem. Jf the Government bus to await Mr Ward's return to the Colony before it can formulate the changes which it has pledged itself (o bring about, the present period of suspense will be unduly prolonged and the House will bo called upon to legislate _ in baste and repent at leisure.on a vital question. That certain local bodies are doomed to dio during the coming session we know, because Mr Seddon himself has told us so, and wo can trust liitn to keep a public pledge of this description, but we, have absolutely no trustworthy guide as to which bodies are threatened by the Seddoniim menace and wo fear that a very considerable number of their employes will have their billets cut away jyjien the Government measure passes The manufacture of an unemployed people appears .to .be a specialty with the present Ministry,