THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 47, 23 August 1895, Page 2

THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL.

9 If we thought the Local Government Bill meant or portended a roturn to Proviuoial institutions in any form or shape, the single faot would induce us to give ie a most unswerving opposition. To talk of Provincial Governments having been the best form of local government ever established is tho rankest nonsense, the most palpable untruth. To find suoh a statement put forth by the organ of a Ministry whioh professes to bo carrying out the policy of John Ballauoe is enough to make that statesman turn iv his grave. Mr. Bullnnce was a determined foe to Provinoialism, and he was right. It had its uses as a form of government when the Provinces were really almost separate colonies, but the system had run to seed and outgrown ils usefulness long before it was abolished. For years beforo that, most of the Provinces had been existing on the land fund, and wasting it in riotous living aud Bhameful extravagance. The oauso for regret is not that the Provinces were abolished, but that they were permitted to exist so long. At the same time it might have been advisable to have abolished Frovinoial institutions more gradnally than -was done, and not to haro swept them away in toto until better provision for oontinuing their more useful functions had been mado. They wero swept away, and thero was nothing provided to take their place in regard to looal administration. The legislation in this direction whioh has taken place since ban all been of a more or less experimental and makeshift character. We hail the present Bill as un attempt tfi grapple with tho subjoot in a comproboußiTO and broad spirit. Tho Bill is full of incongruities and objeotionable provisions, but with time and care it am possibly by shiped into a useful and practicable measure. It will, however, require great alterations. If it proposed to restore Provincial institutions it would be hopeless. We can find no trace of such a design in it. Of course, any large county or other looal governing body must possess many of tha powers which Provincial Governments did, and deal with the same Bubjeats, but never, we trust, in ' the same manner or by a similar procedure. Tho Provincial Governments controlled the land administration, the police, education, harbonrs, and scores of other things whioh the Bill does not oontemplato restoring to looal control. We objeot to the Bill being damnod in advance by being described as a measure which virtually offers a return to Provincial institutions. If it were Bnoh a measura it should be hooted out of the Houte.