WESTPORT SELF-GOVERNMENT.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 819, 1 June 1871, Page 2

WESTPORT SELF-GOVERN-MENT.

(To the Editor of tJie Westport Times and Charleston Argus). Sir, —I cannot better evidence my appreciation of the recent endeavours to secure the blessings of self-govern-ment, than by warmly endorsing the letter of your correspondent " Civic," appearing in last Thursday's issue. That letter, and the speeches of the movers in the matter at the recent meeting, have, to my mind, satisfactorily demonstrated the necessity for some change in our institutions. They have shown that for years the administration of our affairs from Nelson have been worse than mischievous, and that in escaping from Nelson mismanagement, there can be no Charybdis so paralysing as the Scylla we shall have eluded. I think it supererogatory therefore to go through the many arguments which present themselves in favour of securing some form of self-government ; and I shall confine myself to noticing briefly the only objections which have been urged by the opponents to the movement, as enunciated by their eloquent apostle Mr Sheahan, and his reticent but not less demonstrative disciple Mr Christopher Brown. I shall not affect the brilliant imagery which characterises the native oratory of the one, nor shall I imitate the elegance of diction employed by the other. I have not the taste, nor your readers the patience to deal with dry hard matters of fact except in that plain and unvarnished vernacular in which such matters ought to be discussed. The leading objection taken was the increase of taxation which would accompany the adoption of municipal action. Now of all the weakest of hackneyed objections this is superlatively the weakest. Do those who advance this cry really believe that any one iu reason is misled? Do they themselves for a moment expect in other matters to derive a benefit without paying for it 1 Or do they not rather use the cry as a mere argumentum ad captandum to ensnare the simple or unwary 1 That the people of New Zealand are taxed — heavily taxed—taxed beyond all necessity or repson, will not be disputed by me. But that fact is no reason why we should deny ourselves the advantages of local self-government, even though to attain those advantages we should have to make a small sacrifice. But on the other hand is it so clear that any sacrifice at all is necessary 1 I think not. Granting that the making and improvement of our streets —the improved organisation of our police—the suppression of the many nuisances, moral as well as physical, which surround us—granting, I repeat, that these will cost money, will that cost present an unmixed evil 1 Certainly not; the money will be spent in the place ; employment will be given to many at present unemployed ; more bread-winners and bread-eaters will be attracted, and so by a natural process of circulation the money spent will return with increase to the rate-payer's pocket, and with it the satisfaction to his mind that the town, both materially and socially, has improved in a greater ratio than that in which it had before been retrograding. Retrogression has been the result of our connection with Nelson. Shall we be deterred from trying a system, which elsewhere has produced improvement, merely by the shadow of such a bugbear as that of " increased taxation" 1 The only other reason advanced on the same side was the comparison of "Westport to a sickly enfeebled old man." Now I am free to admit, indeed it is a part of my argument, that such is unhappily the condition of Westport. There can be no denying the fact that the " old man" has been sick—sick for a long time—near unto death often; almost in articulo mortis at the very present. Nor can it be gainsaid either that the " old man" has been enfeebled—so much enfeebled that had he not possessed a vigorous constitution he must, long since have collapsed. But I would ask is this seriously put as a reason for our allowing the " old man" quietly to die without making an effort to save him ? I cannot conceive anything more monstrous, especially when an undoubted panacea is available, and, when I remember that the sickness and enfeeblement have proceeded entirely from a pernicious treatment administered by worse than incompetent hands. To descend from the allegorical flights of Mr Sheahan to prosaic every-day life, would we thus act with a languishing friend whose life wo valued ? Would we tolerate the nostrums and the blundering of a quack because forsooth the dear one was fast sinking ? Would we refuse safe remedies and their skilful application by a man of proved scientific attainments ? Surely not! And yet, this is what we are asked to do ! Westport is admittedly yet valuable, has yet vitality despite the cruel treatment of that veriest of political quacks Dr Nelson ; and wheu it i 3 proposed to call in Dr Progress to stimulate the wasting frame, to infuso new blood, and to renovate the only enfeebled constitution, we arc demurely told to leave things alone, even at the risk of having ultimately nothing to leave. Further illustration of the weakness of the opposition to the movement in question is scarcely necessary. Enough

lias been advanced to prove its utter baselessness. I will conclude, therefore, by expressing my earnest hope that the question will not be allowed to rest. Those who have taken the matter in hand should consider that such feeble opposition must, soon pass away before resolute aiid combined actiou. Let them prove themselves men of action as well as of words, and I venture to say that the "consummation devoutly to be desired" will not very long be delayed.—Yours, &c, Vigil. Caledonian Terrace, May 27th.