LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 85, 24 June 1881, Page 2

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM.

♦ , — The temper of the noise as to the necessity of local government reform lias been very plainly shown since the session began, and theve can be no doubt that if the question is not denlt with during the present session its consideration will be postponed only until the new Parliament meets. The necessity for reform is admitted on all hands, but there seems to be just as much diversity of opinion as to the best means of remedying the existing defects. Sir George Grey, Mi* Moss, Mr Wakefield, and several others have point edly referred to the matter in their places in the House ; while Mr Murray was yesterday to move the following :— " That, in the opinion of this House, local government is conducted under great disadvantages : (1) from defects in the system ; (2) from the local funds for the payment of rates to effect local improvements being absorbed by Gonersil Government taxation ; (3) from the counties hay- J ing been deprived of the 20 per cent, j of Land Fund (except in the case of Xew Plymouth) ; and that the Government be requested to bring in a bill tins session to remedy the above causes of complaint, and others which may be establised during the debate j upon this resolution." We hope that during the debate the whole question of local government will come up for discussion. At the same time we agree with the Evening Post that the most pressing phrase of the subject is local government finance. Various improvements are needed in the system of local government, but the x'eal question is, how can the local bodies be supplied with the money necessary to carry out the duties imposed on them by the General \ssembly ? Certain it is.that the abortive measures proposed by the Co onial Treasurer in his Local Pubi lie Works Bill last session will not pass the House, unless on being re- : introduced it is shown to be a more I practicable scheme than that he laid before the country a year ago.