MR REYNOLUS' CONSTITUTIONAL ASSOCIATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XL, Issue 2985, 18 April 1884, Page 3

MR REYNOLUS' CONSTITUTIONAL ASSOCIATION.

[Br Teieoiliph.l Dr-SEDitf, April 17. Tho Committed appointed at the rrcent meeting to report upon the proposed Conj'itutional Associatic:i ii:it:at;d by the Hon. W. H. Beynold', will rnske sujli report to another meeting to-morrow evening. They propose that tho objects ;f tin) Assooiition Bhall be, inter alia : — (U To nim at le?senin^; tho function.? of the central Government and enlarging tins* of the local governing bodi,)?. (!") To secure unity of action among«t all colonists who desire the decentralisation of Government, (3) To obtain deciintralisalijn, cs ne»r]j ss may be, as follows:— (a) By ihe creation of local governing bdies for local districts, fay the present educational districts; (i) by the casting of the following functions, amongst other?, on the Jooal governing bodies, viz , maintenance of public order (police and gaols)> distribution of hospital Bnrt charitable aiil, management of education, administration of lands, maintaining and constructing main reads and bricges, providing for sheep and cattle inspectior, abating tho rabbit nuisance au] cot'serving forests. (4) To obtain local revenue for the local bo-lie*., us follows : — (o) a sum ppr pupil from the consolidated revenue as an educational grant ; (I) a sum per head from the general revenue for efßciint policamen and warders of gaols ; (c) the payment of all srnnß earned by tfce railways m tho district*, over i per cent on cost, to the districts ; (d) tbe districts to be allowed to tax ■jither by way of a property (ax, a land tas, or a rate as levied by Counties. (5) To obtain provision for allowing districts to be taxed to pay at least 2 per rant on cost of railways m the districts, thonlltbe net revenue from tbe railways m the dintriot not reach ■1 per cent on cost. (6) To obtiin provision that no local body be allowed tv borrow nave with tbe consent of tyro-thirds of tbe voters voting on the question of a loan, and provision be made for it sp-jcial tax to pay interest and sinking fund on the loan to be railed. (7) To obtain provision limiting the power of the General Government to borrow I'or any new works, save with the <3on?eot of two-thirds of those voting oo a direct vote) taken throughout the colony. (8) To obtain provision that no future alteration be made m the Constitution, without the content of twothirds of each Homo of Parliament. (9) To trge, should the constitution 9f thn Legislative Council be altered, that tho members be elfctcd by tho local i;overnin;| bodies. (10) To prohibit the General Government raising tnxes by a property, income, ot land tax, save to repiy interest and sinking fund for loans h?reaft?r raised for now worku.