LOCAL PUBLIC WORKS BILL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 87, 1 July 1881, Page 2

LOCAL PUBLIC WORKS BILL.

There is considerable speculation just now as to the nature of the proposals the Ministry intend to lay before the House regarding local government and local finance. They have not yet given any indication of their intentions, except in so far as they were embodied in the abortive Local Public Works Bill of last session, which it is understood is to be reintroduced this session in an improved form. It will be remembered that under the Bill of last session it was proposed to constitute a Board consisting of the Minister of Public Works, the Engineer-in-Chief, the Surveyor-General, and the Public Trustee, whose duty it would be to allot the moneys placed at their disposal to the looal governing bodies

for approved works. Local wcr:s were divided into two classes, (1) main raads, and (2) district roads and river workd With regard to the former, certain distinctions were drawn. Main arterial roads of colouial importance, ami declared to he such by the House of representatives, were to be made out of funds placed at the disposal of the Board of Works. Theßoardwerealsoto be empowered to give to County Councils grants in aid for tha construction of roads declared by the Governor to be main roads, and placed by him under the control of one or more County Councils. The work having been approved by the Board, after tho Council had furnished estimates of cost, &c, a poll of the ratepayers would be taken,aud if the result were favorab c, a specinl rate sufficient to pay back one fourth the total advance m ten years would be levied. With regard to district rjads, it was proposed to give the Board of Works power " from time to time to make advances on loan to my local governing body in aid of the construction of roads within their jurisdiction, not being mum roads." Che proceedings regarding these loans were to be the same as with reference to county loans for main roads, with this alteration : — " If the application be grouted, such local governing body shall in each case make and levy a special rate of 9 per cent, per annum upon the amount advanced, for the tepayment thereof, and shall repay the same by 30 equal half yearly payments." Perhaps one of tho woiv-t features of the measure proposed last year was tho constitution of the Board. The Minister of Public Works, backed up by his subordinate, the Engineer- in-Chief, would be almost omnipotent on the Board in allocating the moneys at their disposal. The Surveyor-Geuoral and Public Trustee would hardly risk the displeasure of an unscrupulous Minister by resisting a " job," while the large powers nominally given to " the Governor," but really to the Minister of Public Works, would open the door to cor ruption of the grossest character. As the Government appear to be deter mined to bring in their Bill again, it is satisfactory to note that the Post publishes a rumour that the Government intend to propose a Board from which the Civil Service element will be excluded. What the constitution of the new Board will be has not yet been made known, but it is probable the Ministry will learn a lesson from last year and make the Boards elec tive aud directly responsible to either the people or the local bodies. We do not, however, believe the Bill will this year be-ome law. One central Board of Works at Wellington cannot act for the whole colony in such a way as to give general satisfaction. Local knowledge is necessary in such matters. A Board of Works in each provincial district, elected by vote of the individual members of the local governing bodies, would probably give greater satisfaction than one central Board. We shall wait with interest for the Ministerial Bill.