GOVERNMENT REFORM. TO THE EDITOR.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2074, 22 October 1885, Page 3

GOVERNMENT REFORM. TO THE EDITOR.

Srn,— Such action as that of the Piako County Council exhibits the weak points of local government in their worst aspect, and simply justifies Mr H.ilcomlte and others m protesting in the strongest uianner against (iLth« law precludes their resisting) the ckwß wiong which local oppressors are, it ieb>i, empowered and pleased to inflict upon them. Mr HalcomlKj complains that about £1200 will be Uken fiom his association, " w ithi>ut one ponny given in return, and he is powerless to pievent it. If Mr Ilalcombe was a j)oor man it might mean that, say, 3000 to 4000 »heep would I*9 confiscated off his farm, and his means of working and improv ing it destroyed, or he would havu to go into tho hands of the banks and such usuiers tit borrow the capital to replace that of which he had been despoiled. Fortunately, Mr Halcombe can afford the loss ; hut that is no justification. If a man was to steal one sheep he might have to study geology on Mount Eden foi some years, even though his family stan ed, but Loc.il Authorities, it appeals, can take thousands of sheep, or their price, without giving any value, and we call it justice and popul.ir government, and yet we are without redress ! •' One murder makes a villain, A thousand a hero. Princes are privileged And numbers sanctify crime." The valuations of propeity, too, are j arbitrary and eccentric, and some ratepayers 1 know would be glad if the county council would take their properties for half the value at which they are rated. The Thames Valley has been singulaily unfortunato in its local government, and Mr Halcombe may be thankful that his experience has been confined to the actions of the Piako County Council. If a system permits a jjowerful clique to arbitrarily inflict an injury on a large number of industrious settlers, if local government means that great powers given for the public good may be made subservient to personal ends, if government— general and local — means prodigal waste and reckless extravagance, everlasting and universal meddlesomeness, continued tinkering with public laws and tampering with pnvate interests, multiplying government and officialism, burdening and strangling industry by every imaginable device, taxation and restriction, and sinking country and colonists over head in debt, it is clear that thore must be some sweeping change, and that soon, if we are to remain hure. Heavy and increasing taxation and expenses, dear money, high freight charges, and the low pi ices for all produce are dcs troying the hopes of those now on the land, who cannot, with nil their anxious toil and colonial experience, " keep their heads above water unless there in a great improvement. Of what use is the one cry of political parrots " Settle people on the land," and for that purpose to borrow money to import tinkers and tailors from English cities ? We should rather consider what can be done to secure contentment, hopeful prospect^, and a fair measure of prosperity to tho |>eoplc who arc now in New Zealand, and then we will have plenty of ponplo coming here to share in our pros j>erity ; but handicapped as we are by overgovernment, and by the enormous public and private debt, chiefly incurred (thanks to Vogelistn) during the last 13 years, we can at best only offer them a «haro of our burden*. Struggling like drowning men, catching at straws of promising industrie*, it may be a hard matter to regain firm ground And recover lost opportunities, more ©specially with severe external competition in our htaple products ; yet with pruoViue, well-directed enterprise, industry and thrift, something may still be donu. But life is short and time i* fleeting, nnd vision-; of thf greatness of New Zealand in a remote future afford but poor in our pre sent preening difficulties. Farmers should combino and form a well organised Fanners' Alliance or Colonist •« Union. Its functions would be, 'irst, t defend the rights and advai cc the mten -t of the farming class ; second, to arrange • Government elections, and decide tli> articles of the political creed to which candidates must subscribe or bf» opposed by the whole power and influence of the organisation. These would be matters for earnest consideration and discussion, but generally we might formulate our programme to boil down the 1,700 local governments into 100 to 200 ; that in each district— city or lural — <>ne local government, annually and popularly elected, should have, so far as possible, the absolute management of all local government business ; that central legislation should not inflict on the local bodied needles lustnctioiis, expenditure and formation; that the taxpayers should have prompt and effective control over the tax spenders ; that, in addition to existing revenue, the taxation on pioperty should 1* local government levenue, let.s a proportion to make up pait of the deficiency between interest and the net earnings of general (Jo\ eminent public works ; that the Hou-*-of Representatives should be reduced in number ; that city electorates should contain from fOOO to 12.000 inhabitants, and rural from 5000 to 8000, and be, so far a" practicable, defined by an impartial nonpolitical judic.il commission eveiy 10 years, according to affinity of interest*, and according to natural boundaiies and public convenience nnd advantage ; that the Council should contain half ns many members as the House of Representatives, and be elected for five years ceitain by the two Houses sitting together during the last session of the Council's term, extraordinary vacancies being tilled in like manner ; that the func tions of the General Government should be rwtrictW to legislation, and certain welloVairned matters of colonial importance ; that the General Government should not be permitted to levy more taxation than in absolutely requisite to pay the charges on the public debt, and meet tho mont ntnctly economical and necessary expenditure for the public service ; that in a province or provincial district, well-defined powers may be given by statutes to the associated local governments to elect boards for managing the following under the law: Railways, Crown lands, education and charitable aid. These are some of the most important considerations. Successful in these, other reforms would naturally follow, but farmers must act if they would arert disaster. They must organise and combine, and understand that in nnion is strength. The approach'ng Agricultural Show in Auckland seems to afford an opportunity ! for action, and meantime I trust that you and others will stir in the matter, and in the words of Hongi Heke, " Be m«n if ye would livt."— l am, &c, Wm. Arch. Mi/brat.

Or tjrpw, the Times uses 2,2f)0,000, and the other morning newspapers not quite 1,000,000 each, in tneir daily iroprewions. £1W RiwAßD.— They cure all diseases of the stomach, bowels, blood, lirer, nerves, and kidneys, and £100 will be paid for a case they will not cure or help, or for anything impure or injurious found in them— Hop Bitten. Genuine o»Jy made by American Co. MeMM W. J. Hunter and Co. will sell at Canbridge on Thursday, the 29th inst., fat cattlr fat sheep, store cattle, dairy cows, &c. O Saturday, the 31st, they will hold tbrir usual Cambridge hmse market, when 40 useful animnU of all kinds will be affered. On Tuesday, the 3rd November, they will offer at Qhaupo, 700 head of cattle, comprisiof all descriptions, is p«r lw».