LICENSING ELECTIONS.

Opunake Times, Volume II, Issue 76, 26 March 1895, Page 2

LICENSING ELECTIONS.

The attempt to curtail expenditure, by centralising the system of licensing and enlarging the district has proved an utter failure. In nearly every instance in which comparative figures have come under our notice the cost under the present system has been increased to nearly three times the amount on each local body which it used to cost them under the old system of each district doing its own work, aud the Government has decided on devoting £B,OOO to refuuding the half of the extra cost to local bodies. This is reasonably generons on the part of Government, but the fact still remains that the alteration has been productive of a much heavier cost of government and great inconvenience to those engaged in the licensing trade, without any corresponding benefit of which we are aware. It is also an object lesson far the Government in view of their intention to introduce an Amending Local Governing Bill, which is supposed to have for its object the centralisation of local government and the curtailment of tbe number of local bodies. We are of opinion that centralisation will not result in a reduction of cost of government, and will not likely prove so satisfactory to ratepayers. There may be individual instances in which advantage may be gained, but these had better be left to be adjusted by those directly concerned.