PROGRESS COMMITTEE.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 325, 15 August 1868, Page 2

PROGRESS COMMITTEE.

We have no little satisfaction in attracting public attention to an advertisement in another column, calling the residents together for the purpose of considering the desirability of electing a Progress Committee for Westport. We accept this instalment of public spirit on the principle that half a loaf is better than no bread, but at the same time wo trust that it will only be the stepping-stone to a municipality. On a recent occasion when the subject was broached a set of wiseacres determined that they could not afford to be taxed, and the proposition was vetoed in consequence, but even those gifted individuals can scarcely see any objection to a committee of the kind proposed. If ever a place in the world wanted some one to look after its interests, Westport is that place, for as things go at present, the Commissioner is saddled with our whole charge, and the Westportians trust to chance or providence for the regulation of matters that most concern them. There is no doubt that up to the present time Mr Kynnersley has done the parental to a very satisfactory extent, and there are plenty in the town who would allow him to so officiate till the end of time, so satisfied are they to be relieved of taking care of themselves. Unhappily however, for the peace of mind of these individuals, Mr Kynnersley has resigned his appointment, and it is more than probable that no successor will reign in his stead, and that the business of the Coast will be conducted as it should be, under departmental heads. If such is the case, nothing can be done without reference to Nelson, and public business will lag materially in the absence of any recognised body to represent the people of the district. As we before said, we look on the election of a Committee of the kind, as simply preliminary to the establishment of a municipality, notwithstanding the opposition previously expressed, but it may be well to let the opposition see what even an unauthorised body like a Progress Committee can effect inordertoconvertthem to the idea of such self-government. A Progress Committee is a body without legal status, but at the same time wields a vast power for benefitting the residents within its district. It has no authority in the eye of the law, it cannot compel rates, it cannot make byelaws, it cannot, in short, exercise any of the chief functions that pertain to municipal institutions, but at the same time it has great moral force and it gives the public, so to speak, a little local parliament of its own. When a municipality was recently proposed a host of objections arose. Some of them were ' afraid that regulations in reference to their horses, which were then and are now a nuisance in the streets, would be made, and that instead of their animals being permitted to ramble at large in the streets and back-yards of the town, the owners would be compelled, as in other places, to find stable roomforchem. That point determined them to oppose the municipality. Another objection was that salaries of officers would be somewhere about two thousand a-year, the boatmen did not care for it as then their fares would be subject to municipal supervision; the carters considered that some rulos or rates would be established for their governance, and in fact the free-and-easy section of the community, who have done pretty well as they pleased hitherto, were unanimous in their determination of not being interfered with. So the municipality collapsed, and for the time being is a buried idea. But a committee, such as we now refer to has no powers that can tread on the tender corns of these objectors ; draymen can charge what they please, watermen can do ditto, people can keep pigs in their back-yards, and nuisances of every and all kinds can flourish contemporaneously with a Progress Committee. They have no powers to check evils by law, but, notwithstanding, they have the means at their command to effect much public good. There are now a host of subjects that they could take up with the greatest benefit to all residents in the district. For example, there is the development of our coal resources, which they might at least in some way forward, there is the projected harbor-boat question that they could very easily solve, and thereby cause the large boats to call at our port once a week or fortnight at furthest, there is the improvement of back streets, the formatiou of tracks, and a dozen other things that we could quote, to engage their attention, and the Government would be only too glad to have suggestions from a body properly elected,if illegally constituted. The expense would be nil or next to it, and the benefits derivable incalculable. The rates would be nothing and that great bete noir of a British community

be thus avoided. It is high time that we made at least one step towards taking charge of our own affairs, and surely there can be no objection raised to this one. As will be seen elsewhere a meeting on the subject will be held on Tuesday next, and we hope the public will muster strongly on the occasion. A committee of the description cannot do other than good, and there cannot be auy reasonable objection raised to its being constituted without delay.