PROVINCIAL COUNCIL “FlX."

Auckland Examiner, Volume 1, Issue 50, 26 November 1857, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL “FlX."

Until the promised “ practical measures” are laid before the new Provincial Council speculations concerning them would have nought more solid than guess-work for their foundation. But to found arguments upon such fragile material, is almost always unprofitable as well as hazardous. When the Superintendent ventilate’ his “ practical measures” they will, no doubt, furnish ample material for reflection and examination. Meanwhile, it may be useful to consider the fix in which our recently elected Councillors are likely to be placed. We fear, indeed, that they will be worse tantalized than ever hungry Sancho Panza was when after entering upon his Governorship of Barataria he sat down to dinner. “ This dish of roasted partridges can do me no harm” quoth Sancho. “ Hold,” said the physician, “ the Lord Governor shall not eat of them while I live to prevent it.” As the various dishes successively appeared upon the table, this careful doctor, successively refused to let poor Sancho have a mouthful. One was refused because it was too cold and moist; another because it was as much too hot and over-seasoned with spices ; a

third because it would consume that radical moisture which is the fuel of life. Not one of many savory dishes would he allow my Lord Governor to do more than lick his chops at, so that Sancho found himself in danger of starvation while surrounded by plenty. Now, if that wise political physician of ours who nicknamed himself “ Skipper,” prescribes what the new Council or “crew” shall eat, drink, and avoid politically as the physician of Cervantes prescribed to Sancho Panza what he should eat, drink and avoid literally, who will deny the extreme hardship of their peculiar case.

A Provincial Council should be free to accept or to reject, to applaud or to censure, any measures brought before them. They are the elected guardians of political principles and public money. They should watch over the interests committed to their charge with the same jealous care that, according to classic fable, a certain dragon watched over golden apples. Their duty is to protect the community from jobbers, to see that men appointed to offices of trust are men of honor and capacity, to insist upon a fair statement of the way in which cur Superintendent has gone on month after month appropriating public money “ without an Appropriation Act,” to find out how the Education “ scheme” has worked and is working, to insist upon knowing whether Harbor improvements have been carried out according to Specification, and do something in the way of propping well up, or knocking clean down, that fine Sea Wall for which we are indebted to the genius of Contractor Cadman. These important matters (not to mention a multitude of others) should occupy the attention of our new Councillors. Never did this Province stand more in need of unfactious and independent representatives. Never did its representatives occupy a position so suspicious as well as anomalous. Hence the “fix” in which they will find if difficult to remain, and out of which they may find it impossible to get.