The Westport Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1873.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1118, 24 October 1873, Page 2

The Westport Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1873.

Eefebkino on the 26th ultimo to some captious objections raised against the operation of the Local Eevenues Act within the boundaries of Westport, we endeavoured to point out that the Act was iu " no wise antagonistic to municipal rule, and would in fact prove a valuable adjunct thereto." This opinion has not changed, notwithstanding much that has been said in opposition. Willingly conceding that the illustration then given as to the possible working of the rating powers of the Act was bad, as an illustration —based as it was upon a too hasty assumption that such powers were iu all respects identical—the principle set forth was not unreasonable, and will even yet be accepted ■iis correct by those who, interesting themselves in public business, do so from some more honorable purpose than mere concern for their individual interests. The principle sought to be instilled in the.public mind in Westport is this. Having craved and clamored, as the public have, for years past for local government, and having at last, notwithstanding much selfish local opposition, obtained Municipal rule, aud abo District rule under two distinct enactments, the men elected to fulfil the fuuetions thereby created, will act more wisely in endeavouring to amalgamate the working of the two Acts than in creating opposition one with the other, on the plea of mere local interest. It surely is an insult to the common sense .and ordinary business aptitude of the people of Westport, when it is sought to make them believe that they are not capable of managing anything beyond the merest parish vestry business, and that they cannot and dare not, in regard for their own pockets, attempt to exercise any scope of public duty extending be-

yond tho limits of their own habitations, tho conservance of their own gutters, and tho sweeping of their o%n highways and byways. And yer> in effect, they have been told this by one of the chosen tnefnbers of their Municipal Council. There is no need of entering into wordy warfare on this subject, because the intent of all honest journalistic writing is not to wage war against individuals or individual opinions, but to note the actions of public men, to reflect public opinion, to guide it when guidance seems necessary, and to suggest new ideas for public discussion. Although in these the Press, like all other human institutions, is liable to frequent error. But in the matter of the Local Act strong protest must be raised against any too hasty jumping at conclusions as to the mischievous working of the Act even before it has come into operation. There is a charity that thinketh no evil, a sterling British legal maxim that maintains all men innocent until proved guilty. Disregard for such precepts indicates either hidden selfish motives or mistrustof one's neighbours, much to be deplored in any community. Prom the minutes of the last proceedings of the Town Council it appears that a committee of three will propound certain questions to the At-torney-General as to the working of the two Acts.. As a suggestion embodying the principle of co-operation advocated in these columns, and as a basis for conference between the two Boards, the following propositions are now stated for consideration by the public, as also by members of the Town Council and tho District Board;— The revenues of the District Board will be derivable—l, From District rating outside town boundaries. 2. Prom rating within the town. 3. From halfshare of local goldfields revenues. 4. From special-appropriations from Provincial Council. The first should be spent on the outside districts. The second should be not only spent in Westport, but the levying of the same, or the withholding of power to levy tho same, deputed to the Municipal authorities. The third, accruing solely from the goldfields phould be wholly spent thereon. The fourth should be subject for mutual consideration by the Board and Council. The two bodies jointly recommending to the Superintendent such appropriations as would tend most to benefit the district collectivelv, apart from mere town or country interests. The final proposition is that such co-operation would tend to the expansion of local self-go-vernment.