THE New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY). MONDAY, JULY 23, 1888.

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 8446, 23 July 1888, Page 4

THE New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY).

MONDAY, JULY 23, 1888.

With which are incorporated the VTcllinjlci, Independent, established 1845, and the Ifet: Zealander,

Fnoxr what passed at the interview which took place on Saturday between a deputation and the Government, we are forced very reluctantly to infer that Ministers intend to drop the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill for this session. We sincerely trust that this course has not been irrevocably determined upon, and that strenuous influence will at once be brought to bear in the direction of urging the Government to carry the Bill through this session. 'Jhe Bill is one of the most useful and even necessary measures introduced during the present session. To a very large extent it embodies thereforma in municipal law which, according to almost a consensus of opinion on the part of the various municipal bodies in the Colony, are pressinglyneeded. Theßillispractically the result of recommendations from the New Zealand municipalities, and many of its provisions are exceedingly important and valuable. Some, it is true, are debatable, and others are little more than verbal or technical corrections, but these latter have in nearly every instance been proved by experience to be highly desirable. Moreover, if the Bill were gone on with and got into committee, other improvements which still more recent experience may have suggested might bo brought forward as amendments to the Bill, which would thus virtually cover the whole question of municipal government reform. Among its most urgent features is the clause to which we referred a few days ago—that dispensing with the necessity of a special Act in the case of a contractor with a municipal body for the public lighting of a borough. A doubt has been suggested as to whether such a contractor enjoys the powers, privileges, and immunities which are vested in Councils by the Act of last session. That is to say, a Borough Council can undertake the electric lighting ox a town, doing the work by its own employes, but it has been questioned whether a person contracting with the Council for the work would be in a similar position. The point is so very urgent in relation to the electric lighting of this city, which has been undertaken by the City Council, that should the present Bill be dropped, an effort will bs made to get this one clause carried as a separate Bill. But there are other reforms of much value which the present Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill provides, and which it would be a great pity to be deprived of for a whole year. For instance, there are numerous technical amendments as to the power of Councils to make by-laws, and these amendments in some cases make all the difference between the powers being conferred in a real and workable shape, and being merely paper powers practically inoperative. Again, the proposed enactment that a Council may compel every person selling coals, or hay or straw to have the article weighed at some licensed weighbridge before delivery, and to produce the woight-uote on de mand, is a most fair and desirable provision in the interests alike of buyers and sellers. It protects the latter against fraud aud the former against the imputation of attempting it. Both vendors aud purchasers should therefore endeavour to get this passed. Another similarly beneficial feature is contained in the clause empowering a Council to, inspect all animals slaughtered iu the borough for human food, and to condemn them if unfit for consumption, also, imposing penalties for the sale or attempted sale of diseased meat. A third valuable reform is the empowering of Councils to appoint gas inspectors to test, at the request of consumers, the correctness of gas-meters used by any gas company iu the also to test the quality of the gas supplied, aud to report annually on the equitable price which should be paid for gas by the inhabitants of the borough, also imposing penalties on gas companies for allowing defective meters to remain in use. Now, these points which we have but briefly touched ou are sufficient iu themselves to show the importance aud desirableness of the Bill, and we earnestly hope that it will not be dropped. It would be far better that Parliament should sit a week longer if necessary and devote the time to this Bill, than that it should be lost on the unsound pretext of insufficient time. Why should Parliament leave so important a part of its duties undone ? It can waste days and weeks over matters of far less moment, and might surely devote a day or two to a measure which is of direct aud immediate practical value and urgencyMembers on all sides of the House should endeavour to keep the Government “ up to the mark ” on this question. It will be most discreditable if the Bill be shelved on the inadequate pretence that there is no time to deal with it. Members of the House should at ouce move in the matter, aud we hope to hear of a deputation waiting upon Ministers at an early date to advocate the carrying through of the Bill. Also the resi dents iu this city and in other boroughs should strengthen the hands of their members, by meeting and passing resolutions favourable to the immediate passing of the measure. It is quite conceivable that certain adverse influences may be brought to bear, and it is essential that these should, so far as possible, be neutralised by a plain and unmistakable expression of public opinion. The only possible pretext for shelving the Bill is that Parliament might have to sit two or three days longer. And why should it not? What are its members elected for and paid for but to do their duty? Aud surely it is their distinct duty to see that so valuable a measure as this is not withheld for a whole year on the plea that members want to do so many

days’ less work. Nor do we believe that this is the desire of members themselves. If the Government will only do their duty in the matter, we feel sure that they will be cordially supported.