LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7663, 24 June 1896, Page 3

LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

• 'From Our. Parliamentary Reporter.] Wellington, to-day, A deputation representing the County Councils Conference waited on the Premier this morning, and laid before him the resolutions arrived at in reference to the Local Bovernment Bill, which they considered ueeded much amending. The present mode of working smaller bodies they thought was cheaper ■ than the plan proposed by the Bill, and they thought further that a simpler method of amending tho system of local government could be arrived at. The Premier stated that the desire of the Government was to perfect the present system of local government, in which, it was admitted, were many defects. Local government had run riot, and some counties had only two or three ratepayers entitled to vote for the selection of representatives, and regarding the question of representation generally, he had no hesitation in saying the present system must be altered. For instance, in the city of Wellington, with a population of 40,000, only 2000 voters controlled municipal affairs, He agreed with the Conference that if the system of representation was to be altered as he proposed, the chairmen of County Councils should be elected by members of the Council. Some alterations in the counties was necessary, but it was not his, intention to make them too large and unwieldy. Another question, said the Premier, waa that of charitable aid, which had to a great extent actuated him in dealing with local government. The present system simply led to breeding paupers, and was pauperising the country, people demanding aid ns a right, and those who contributed money had no right of control. His opinion was that the localities were better able to look after their own poor than under the present system people miles away could do. A great saving could be made and the deserving poor attended to. As. to payment of country chairmen, that was a matter which he did not lay great stress on. Though he did not expect to carry so important a measure this session, he wished to obtain the opinion of the House on it, and then they might follow the same course as adopted with the abolition of the provinces. Mr McMillan, vice-chairman of the Conference, said exdept as regards the question of representation, the Conference agreed fairly well with the opinions of the Premier on this question. They were unanimously agreed that the present system waß fairer than that proposed in the Bill, and in ! removing the injustice now existing, the Bill would be creating a greater one. The Premier replied that in bis opinion plurality voting was objectionable. Mr McMillan said the Government would meet the views of the conference and the colony if it dropped the idea of extending the franchise in counties.