The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. SATURDAY, NOV. 9, 1889.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2704, 9 November 1889, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. SATURDAY, NOV. 9, 1889.

Ax Order-in-oouncil was gazetted a few days ago which makes an important alteration in the constitution of the Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. The number of representatives from the contributory bodies which compose the Board at present is nine ; the Order just issued has, for some unexplained and mysterious reason, provided for an increase of five members, namely Waikato and Piako counties from two to four members each, and Waipa an additional member, Raglan, with the boroughs of Hamilton and Cambridge continuing to have one representative each. If this now regulation is allowed to come into force when the election takes place at the end of the year, the new Board will consist of fourteen members. Up to this time the Board lias been found to carry out its functions with care and general satisfaction, and there has been little or no friction between it and tho public. There has boeu no fault found with the present representation, and, as far we know, no one has ever harboured the suggestion that it was an inadequate ontf. It is quite certain that no demand was made to the general authorities or to Parliament for an increase of representation. There was no indication of such an intention in the Bill introduced by the Government during the late session to amend the District Hospital and Charitable Aid Act, and which was dropped in consequence of the general condemnation it met with. No allusion appears to have been made to it during the time the House was sitting. The Ordcr-in-Coun-cil has been a complete surprise, and the more so that its purpose is wholly unnecessary and uncalled for. The present number of members who constitute the Waikato Hospital Board is quito sufficient; if anything, it would not inflict an injury or impare its e'ficiency if the number were reduced to six. Apart from the additional expense that would be imposed on the Board's revenue by the increase of five new members, and the hindrance to the despatch of business which would arise from the presence of an excessive number of members desirous of giving a return, iu some shape or the other, for their travelling allowances, there is also in the proposal an. objectionable departure from the principle involved in the policy of economy adopted by the colony. Whilst the people are demanding a large and important reduction in the number of members in the foremost of their assemblages —the central Legislature, -which is an acknowledged necessity, it would be a glaring inconsistency to consent to any increase of the kind in the representation of the lesser assemblies—tho local bodies, which is absolutely unnecessary. It proves how impossible it is for the authorities in Wellington to understand the practical side of local administration. We have here an illustration of absurd tinkering with purely local affairs, and which exposes the evils of an arrogant centralism. Additional strength is afforded to the growing demand for local government reform and decentralisation, to achieve which we might take a leave out of the book of our Home Rule friends, and agitate systematically.