GENERAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20612, 30 July 1932, Page 11

GENERAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

MR T. D. BURNETT'S OPINIONS. The opinion'tliat the government of the country could be safely left mor« in the hands of local bodies "was advanced by Mr T. D. Burnett, M»P.j when speaking to a gathering of fanners and their families at Temukii on ~ Wednesday evening. For years, hj« > said, the province of Canterbury had been particularly well governed by local aduiinistration. New Zealand would undoubtedly have to go in largely for . decentralisation in the next few y6VS» lie felt that outside the Borough Councils a form of provincial council should be reconstituted to administer *ll County Council business. Those who belonged to local bodies and had th« spending of its money also h&d to M- : sist in the provision of the finances, and. rash spending was thereby considerably curbed. There was no doubt that in the last thirty years New Zealandors had become slack, Mr Burnett continued. Th» tide would only turn when people prepared for its turning. Before brighter times returned a reduction in the number of members of. Parliament to at least one-third would, be necessary. That which was standing up to New Zealand in this time of adversity was its savings. Some form of compulsory paving could be beneficially introduced. As one intimately conneeted with the position, he could say that too many young farmers had spent their savings in good times, and then been compelled to borrow from the State Advances in order to make homes for themselves. Again, thousands of pounds had gone to America to pay for cars, while New Zealand found herself compelled to tax her old age pensioners. Continued abuse of democracy would lead to autocracy, which would be infinitely worse.