Local Government.

Opunake Times, Volume IX, Issue 412, 23 August 1898, Page 2

Local Government.

DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER. Wellington, August 19. A deputation from the Counties Association waited on the Premier tonight, and brought under his notice the resolutions passed by the County Councils Conference with respect to Government Local Government Bill, charitable aid, and other matters. In his reply the Premier said the time had arrived for a radical change in local Government franchise, as at present the local bodies did not represent the people. He intended to do away with plural voting, but the House would have to make much better progress than it was doing at present before he could bring down a local Government bill. Indeed, he considered it was well worth a special session, and members of Parliament should be patriotic enough to devote the extra time to such an important measure. He would take the mind of the House on this and urged the deputation to bring all its influence to bear upon members in the same direction. Referring to charitable aid said he considered true benevolence and charity had disappeared from the colony with the coming into operation of the Gharitaale Aid Act. As to the request that the £SOO exemption the land and income tax should be abolished it would have the effect's of destroying the system. He would rather they had suggested an increase of the graduated rates on large estates and he might move in| “that direction himself. The poor settlor was taxed enough at present and he did not favor increasing his burdens. As to the resolution regarding the high charges made by the Government in connection with rolls under the Government Land Valuation Act he said that for the first time in the history of the colony a complete valuation had been made and the result has been that tha valuations had been increased by sixteen millions. He promised to confer with the Minister of Lands with a view of allowing the local bodies to pay the fees in connection with rolls by instalments.