The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 220, 15 April 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 1868.

The question of the future system of Government in New Zealand is every day forcing itself more strongly upon the public mind. The general opinion seems to be that Provincialism is doomed, and that one General Government will be established in its place, by which all the provinces shall be governed, and by which their revenues will be collected and disbursed. Provincialism, so far as our town and the other towns on the Coast in the province of Nelson go, is really valueless, and reform as far as we are concerned is urgently needed. It becomes a matter for grave consideration, then, what form of local government is best adapted to meet the exigencies of our particular locality. At present we are large contributors to the provincial revenue, and as our representation is limited, we are virtually at the mercy of those who wish to obtain the largest slice of cake for themselves and their own particular localities. Westport is now much in need of street repairs and other improvements that could only be met by local boards, and it is necessary to ventilate the subject of provincial governments, likely soon to attract serious attention. At the present time a Municipal Institution is much needed, to carry out our desires, and should the system of Provincialism die out soon, as far as we are concerned, nothing would be more satisfactory than the establishment of the offices of Mayor and Council—men chosen from our midst, having our interest at heart; and men whom it shall be in our power to oust after one year's service, if their acts are not according to our wishes. It would of course be necessary to send one, two, or more representatives, and the various qualities of members of Council brought out in our midst, would enable a good choice to be made; and would, by initiating many into public ways, render them fit to enter the larger arena of political strife, which would engage them at the Assembly. Whatever the form of Local Government that will take the place of Provincialism is to be, the subject cannot be too well ventilated, and as the subject may be mooted sooner than many of us anticipate, this notice may have the effect of bringing out public feeling on the matter. There are plenly of people who would be fit to undertake the duties of a Municipality ; and at the present, we cannot see what form of government will be better suited than it to meet the exigencies of the case.