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New Zealand Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 3264, 22 October 1897, Page 2

Ix we are to pay due regard to the signs of the times, it is evident that Municipal Reform is not far off. And while we believe that it would be inexpedient to go all the length of the more ardent spirits of the movement, it must be admitted that the first step taken should be to admit all householders to the franchise and lower the maximum of the plural-vote. At present any one man may exercise five votes in every ward of a city or borough, provided ho is possessed of sufficient property, and it is perfectly well known that through the exercise of so great _ a power by individuals the work of Muni’oipal.Reform has been retarded. A remark made by Mr Gilbert Carson, the member for Wanganui, is worthy of consideration by legislators when any well-defined measure comes before the House. Mr Carson stated that in Wanganui all Wards have been done away with, and since then more representative men have been elected and a greater public spirit displayed in the carrying on of the work of the municipality. Pointing to results, he instanced the providing of public baths, better water supply and drainage, and he might have added public abattoirs. There is no doubt the Ward system has led to division and opposition to general works, and it might bo well to early consider the desirableness of compelling all municipalities to adopt the one Ward principle. Certain of the powers advocated by Mr H. D. Bell, our present Miyor, might well bo conferred upon Councils, more especially with regard to the widening of streets, the abolition of slums and the provision of more breathing spaces and beauty spots. We feel confident that a Municipal Reform Act on these lines and which should at the same time grant to every bona fide householder the electoral . franchise in -.boroughs would meet the reasonable demands of the people.

Yesterday’s debate was nob without its lessons. The “forward” section of the House spoko with no uncertain sound as to what is . their aim in the matter of Municipal Reform, but the more cautious of the members sounded a warning note and advised the adoption of a middle course. The Liberalism of certain, mem* hers on the Government side was put to the test, and it was rather remarkable to find that nob a few of them spoke of the extension of the nmnicipal franchise as though it wec©-*Cxo volutionary proposal that*must bring rum and desolation in its train. Members of the Opposition were , not more pronounced in their opinions than were some of those who declare that they are for progressive legislation, yet hesitate to confer anything like the powers upon the burgesses of this colony that are enjoyed by the citizens of the cities of the United Kingdom*.’ The Leader of the Opposition reiterated.his objection to anything in the shape of one-man-one-vote, and declined to acknowledge that the trial it has had in this colony in connection with Parliamentary elections has been in any way satisfactory. Mr Wilson, the member for the Suburbs, argued from this that, despite what Captain Russell had said on the platforms of the colony as to his party not wishing to repeal any of the progressive legislation of the Liberal Party, he (the Leader of the Opposition) might be found seeding-the repeal of the one-man-one-vote principle. This, Captain Bussell explained, was not what he wished*

to imply; nor do we think that he or any other member of his party would dare venture upon any snob retrogressive step. For good or ill, the colony is committed to universal suffrage, and he would be a foolhardy man who would attempt its repeal. The principle has been admitted, and though it may not always work out as well as its promoters can desire, there need bo no fear as to its ultimate use and benefit in the hands of an enlightened Democracy such as ours is destined to become.

Ma W-. W. TiwNEa has every reason to be dissatisfied with the conduct of his fellow Liberals towards the Bill. Those who were in its favour talked about it at such length that it became impossible to put the matter to ihe test ul aivisiuU, audit snared the common fate of ruauy such measures by being “put on the shelf,” with the risk of being lost sight of altogether. But, as wo commenced by saying, the demand for Municipal Reform is one that must be satisfied and the proper course is for the Government to push on with a comprehensive measure that shall bring about, not only Municipal, but every other phase of local government reform. That we have far too many local bodies must be admitted and it will _ not do for our legislators to hesitate, when the proper time arrives, to do away with numbers of these and substitute a system very much on the same lines as that which haa been found to work so satisfactorily in Great Britain. It we understood the Hon VST. fiolleston aright, he is in favour of a modified Provincialism, and it is manifest that any reform which may be attempted will have to go in that direction. The difficulties which must naturally beset tho reformer in dealing with the local governing institutions of the colony are manifest, and the “ Little Peddlington” politician may be expected to strenuously resist the wiping out of the smaller boroughs, district, town and road boards, reserve trusts, &o. But the time has come when all these small bodies should be merged in central councils with increased powers.

With reference to the statement contained in a letter received from Western Australia by a New Plymouth resident, and commented -on in The Times yesterday, that the name of New Zealand'butter in the markets of that colony is rapidly growing worse, wo learn that the .Now Zealand Farmers' Dairy Union, has had an offer from a merchant in Western Australia to send to him as much butter as it oan, the merchant agreeing to pay the best prices ruling in victoria. The Union has not yet decided whether the offer can be accepted, but this proposal of the merchant alluded to certainly does not support the statement in the letter which has been received in New Plymouth.

A cable message announced the other day that a canal to connect the Baltic with the Black Sea is '• contemplated-.*’ As a matter of fact this great wort lias been in contemplation for ybilrs past, and we suppose that what the message was really intended to convey was that the project is now taking practical shape. The United States Consul at Chomuits (Saxony), reporting recently to his CtyVefnihent on the questioflv afiott* some information of value to British manufacturers and the outside world generally lie points out that groat changes will be effected in trade economies by the completion of so vast ft Scheme, and he i oints to the tact that there are some "pickings” to be gathered daring the process of oonstruotion. Eeferring to the canal itself ho says it is to connect Eiga, on the Baltic-, with Cherson on the Dnieper, hoar the Black Seat it is to be 1000 miles long, 213 feet wide at the surface and 115 feet at the base, with a depth of a little oter 2t foot. It is to carry easily the biggest battleships of the World. Freni Eiga, the candl is to run in the Elver Dwina, which rises not far from the sources of the Volga and Dnieper, thenbe by canals ftoiii.Dwiuaburg to £epel> through the Berosina and Dnieper to ChelrsOn. It is further projected to cover all the riVet regions with such a network of canals as will aid very materially in developing the whole surrounding ooiintry.

Ships that have hitherto gone by way of the Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea and Sea of Marmora, taking more than 13 days, will, when the work is completed, need less than six days. Basins are to be built near Pinsk, a town of West Eussia, 98 miles by rail east of Brest-LitoVsk, and harbours at all ImpOrtant hoints along the canal. Traffic, it is Said, will bo carried on day and night at ft possible or permitted speed Of about seven miles an hour. The oo3t of the work is stated at 420,000,000 •sterling. Of course, it will cost more than this amount; such huge works always do. The canal, it is estimated, will be ready for traffic in five years from the date of commencement. Germany’s interest in the canal is two-fold, and it may be that the meeting of the Emperors the other day had something to do with the great work. Germany sees in the prosecution of the canal scheme a new need for her iron and steel products; she sees also a possible cheapening of food products. Her eagerness to participate in any and ovory effort made by her Northern neighbour is justified by the large trade, at fair profits, of former years. ,