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Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 218, 13 September 1878, Page 5

In compliance with the wishes of th^ .settlers of Inch Olutlia, Mr Thomson has in- j trod need in tlio House of Kepres ntaiives | a moasivre to provide greater powers of self-government for the Island. One alteration 11 10 i>in seeks to effect is to create Inch Oiutha a separate Riding oP the Olutlia County, to be represented by one i member. This virtually is dividing Richardson Fading into two — Richardson and Inch Glutlia — each sending one member to the Council. This is scarcely what the settlers wanted, as their great aim is to be altogether severed from the Clntha or any other County, and to bo left (unfettered by any external trammels) to work out their own destiny. The Bill now before the House also provides for a separation of the Inch Clutha and North Molyneux sub-divisions of the Matau Road District, aud the constitution of a Board to perform the duties both of IJoad Board and Boai'd. of Conservators for the Island. Here, again, we think the wishes of the inhabitants will not be carried out, they preferring tha • the roads and river should each be attended to by a separate Board. The Bill, however, is a step in the right direction. It creates the Island a separate Riding — a course the ratepayers lately petitioned (he Council to take ; and it separates the two sub-divisions of the Road Board — a coxirse which all parties have agreed to. But we confess we are not over confident that the measure will pass in the Assembly in its present shape, unless it be got slipped through without attracting special notice. Being a purely local Bill it may do this. But it seems so inconsistent with several existing Acts of Parliament, and would form a precedent -that would be sought after by every disaffected locality, that if the measure should receive that attention every measure passing through the House ought to receive it is certain to meet with considerable opposition. We understand Mr Mosloy has communicated with Mr Thomson, explaining the amendments the Bill requires in order to its meeting the wishes of the inhabitants of the Island. It therefore may yet take a shape more in accordance with existing laws, and so as to give a greater amount of uncontrolled local government than the measure as it has been drawn provides for. A very short time, however, will decide, and we can only express the hope that the result will prove such as will meet the long-cherished wishes of the inhabitants of Inch Clutha.