PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Cromwell Argus, Volume VI, Issue 289, 26 May 1875, Page 7

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

i Friday, May 11 : q The Speaker took the chair at 2 p.m. . ', jj THE RABBIT NUISANCE. D Mr Manders asked the Provincial Score- s . •" Whether the Government intend to a introduce an Ordinance similar in character a <to that of the Thistle one, for the purpose of p keeping down the momentous and growing 0 -evil caused by what is known as the rabbit j. nuisance." He explained that the rabbits had come up to the Lake district from Southland, and were becoming a great evil. They were destroying the farmers' crops, and were •depreciating the land of the Crown. - x Mr Reid replied that while the Govern- r ment fully recognised the momentous evil, „ they were not prepared to bring in a Bill to c •deal with it. He feared that the mere fact j •of bringing in a Bill would not do a great •deal towards remedying this evil. It was a » matter which the inhabitants of therrespe- t tive districts should take into their own T hands. He did not think it was a subject g the Government could undertake with any r prospect of success, and conduct it with the r •economy that it could be by private \ persons T In the localities interested. If the honor- A able member would bring in any measure to T ■deal with this evil, the Government would .•give it their favorable consideration.' / ATTENDANCE OF GOLDFIELDS SECRETARY AT i EXECUTIVE MEETINGS.. ] Mr Fish asked the Provincial Secretary— i "** If the Government had any objection to 1 estate whether or no it has been the practice \ •of the Goldfields Secretary to attend meet- i ings of the Executive during the recess ?" < In explanation, he stated he had heard that i the Goldfields Secretary had an office at the i town of Cromwell, and that he passed most i <of his time there during the recess, and was i thus unable to take part in the ordinary ■ meetings of the Executive. He hoped his i information would prove to be unfounded, ;as he would be surprised to learn that the , Goldfields Secretary placed himself in such a : "humiliating position that he could not attend to the interests of his constituents by having ' a proper share of influence in the decisions i •of the Government. Mr Reid replied that the honorable member had been correctly informed that the Goldfields Secretary had an office in the important goldfields town of Cromwell, and he failed to see anything humiliating in that ■fact. It had been the practice of his colleague to attend Executive meetings on •many occasions. He was astonished to hear the honorable member, Mr Fish, express at the present arrangement, seeing that it was stated to the House at the time the Goldfields Secretary took his seat on the Government benches that he would reside •on the Goldfields. and that the arrangement was regarded as likely to work ver}' satisfactorily. His colleague had attended very many meetings of the Executive, and for a •considerable portion of his time resided in Dunedin altogether. He was glad to say "that the present arrangements, as had been anticipated, were found to work very satisfactorily indeed in regard to the conduct of ■goldfields business; and the Government were highly indebted to the Goldfields Sec"retary for the manner in which he disposed >of the business brought before them, and for 'the sensible observations he furnished. The Council then adjourned till 2 p.to. on Monday next. Monday, May 17. The Speaker took the chair at 2 p.m. RAILWAY SURVEY FROM RALMERSTON TO CLYDE. Mr M'Kenzie asked the Secretary for Lands and Works, " If the Railway Survey from Palmerstqn to Clyde is completed, and If so, whether he will lay the Surveyor's Report upon the table during the present •session V Mr Reid replied that the snrvey had been completed, except that portion between Palmers ton and Waihemo. The work was now in progress, and it was likely to be completed in one week. As soon as it was completed a report would be laid on the taWe. ALLEGED.ILL-TREATMENT OF IMMIGRANTS AT MOUNT IDA. Mr G. F. C. Browne asked the Government, "If any report was obtained in reference to alleged ill-treatment of immigrants 'forwarded to the interior goldfields in the worst month of the year for employment on ihe Mount Ida public works, and whether the Government will lay all papers or correspondence connected therewith upon the table ?" Mr Reid replied that a report had been 'obtained in regard to this matter. As regarded the time at which the immigrants were sent up country, be thought it was a •very open question as to which was the worst month of the year. There would not be the slightest objection to lay on the table the report obtained and the correspondence connected therewith. specification of heads of revenue. Mr Manders moved, " That there be laid upon the the table of this Council, at the ■earliest possible date, a return setting forth the amount of revenue expected to be derived from each of the Goldfields under the heads of rents of agricultural and other leases, "such return to specify the amount of each head." Agreed to. "WANT OF CONFIDENCE MOTION. Mr Bastings introduced a motion as follows :—" That in the opinion of this Council the financial proposals brought down by the Government are not satisfactory, and that the present distribution of the Executive officers ha 3 not been found to be conducive

o the proper administration of the affairs of ■ ho Province. The 'Council therefore revests the Government to reconsider their (resent position, with a viow to a better inancial and administrative arrangement >eing arrived .at." In doing so, the mover aid :—Considerable dissatisfaction existed imong the members of the House—himself imong the number—in reference to the detrimental arrangements of the members >f the Executive, and in reference to the Sstimates brought down. As to Southland, le said that, while the revenue from that >ortion of the Province was over £150,000, ;he total amount to be expended was only 611,770. 'That was not sufficient, taking nto account the large amount of revenue •eceived from Southland during the lasttwo rears. The Government might, by a judi:ious distribution of the revenue of that Province, give something more like an equi;able distribution. Another cause of comDlaintwasthe manner in which the Execute functions were discharged by the gentlemen occupying the Government benches. In laying this, it was not his intention to make reference to anything personal, though he might refer on personal grounds to the Secretary for the Goldfields, who thought it wise while addressing his constituents to make his address a tirade on him (Mr Bastings). Now, it was a satisfaction to him 'the Secretary) to know that, notwithstandinghis personal attack on him (Mr Bastings), he (the Secretary), though in a position to influence the columns of the lucal paper in his favor, nevertheless from his own constituents escaped a vote *of cemsure only by a very small majority. As to the distribution of offices, the gentleman who occupied the position of Provincial Secretary and Secretary for Works, while doing all he could, could not do more than one man could do ; and during the last twelve months the affairs of the Province had been too much under his control, and the business of the Province had thereby suffered—works that had been undertaken by the Province had not had that supervision which was necess -ry for them to be carried out in a proper manner. Mr Reid had given credit to Mr MacKellar, but he (Mr "Bastings) thought that, so far as the goldfields were concerned, it was a perfect farce that there should be a member of the Executive stationed at Cromwell, to which anyone desiring to see him on business would have to go. In a short time Mr Reid would

have to go to Wellington to attend to his duties there, and while away Mr MacKellar would come to town to take his place. It was impossible that anyone coming to town and stepping into the office co'uld, at a moment's notice, carry on the functions of the department in a satisfactory manner, consequently everything would be at sixes and sevens. If the Secretary for Goldtields thought the amount of emolument of office was not sufficient to enable him to leave what he had at (Jromwell, and stay in Dimedin and attend to the business of his department, let the Council vote enough to enable him to stay in town and take his proper position as an executive officer of the Government. Mr Wood seconded, and spoke in favor of the motion. Other members having spoken for and against, Mr MacTellah, would refer to a few remarks made by the honorable member for Tnapeka, when introducing his motion. He would not have said anything at all had it not heen for the somewhat personal remarks of that honorable member, referring to a speech made bv him (Mr MacKellar) some months'ago to his constituents at Cromwell. He produced the speech as reported nearly verbatim,, showing that he had not indulged in a tirade of abuse against the honorable member for Tnapeka. To prove that he had not exercised undue influence with the Press, he offered to present the honorable member with a twelvemonth's file of a paper recently owned by himself. He had been more freely abused than any other member during the past vear. He never was censured bv his constituents at Cromwell. He hoped the honorable member would see that he bad made rash statements with regard to him personally. The honorable member was equally rash in making other statements —if they could be called statements. He could scarcely tell himself what he had said—his statements were so rambling in their character. He (Mr MacKellar) challenged any honorable member to show that while the head of the Government was in Wellington, things were all " sixes and sevens." Rnch charges should not be made unless the honorable member could point out anything that had gone wrong because the head of the Government was away in Wellington. Without taking any particular credit to he would like to have any defects shown, if possible. The honorable member for Tuapeka appeared to be under the impression that unless he undertook the Goldfiekls Secretary's office, the goldfiekls of the Province could not be properly managed. He (Mr MacKellar) would, if called upon, have no objection to leave his corner of the House. Mr "DeLautouk contended that the Goldfields Secretary could not transact his business properly in a small township like Cromwell, where he was far more isolated from the goldfiekls than if he were in Dunedin. N"o one would go to Cromwell. —(4n Honorable Member; What for 1) What was there at Cromwell but the prospect of an attack of fever?—(Laughter.) He took exception to all the membe7-s of the Government, excepting the honorable member at the head of the Government, who, however, conbl not accomplish all the work he eudeavoxired to perform. He would vote for the motion. Mr Reid moved the adjournment of the debate, in order that they might have the

opportunity of seeing what they had heard in print. The honorable member for Mount Ida would require a reply to the charges that had been made. Ho trusted that his motion would be accepted, and asked that the debate be now adjourned. Adjourned accordingly till next day. REPORT. The Private Petitions Committee reported on the petition of William Edwards, late of the Nevis ferry, who prayed for redress for losses alleged to have been sustained by the petitioner in respect to the Nevis ferry—that they did not consider the petitioner had any clainal