The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 1870.

Dunstan Times, Issue 426, 17 June 1870, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 1870.

Beneath the Rule of MenENTiRELY just the pen is mightier than the sword

The Session of the Provincial Council which closed on Monday last can scarcely be considered an eventful one. Yet we have cause to congratulate ourselves upon the fact that many useful measures have been passed. Members reprenting goldfields interests have been pretty well alive to the interests of their constituents. It was not, of course, to be expected that they could obtain all they asked lor • but they have succeeded in securing a very fair share of the good things as they went. To Mr. Shand tho Wardens and their subordinates must ever be grateful (1), as nothing comes more unpaletablo to the oliici al

mind than to find that a reduction of salaries has been determined upon. Mr. Shand’s motion was quite uncalled for. He knows nothing whatever of the goldfields or the duties of goldfields officials, or wether they are paid too much or too little. Mr. Shand’s liberality as a Taieri farmer is too well known Jo need comment here, and, very likely, he considered that, to perform (he dutiesofa goldfields official,required about the same amount of thought and intelligence as would be necessary to perform the every-day work of a Taieri farm laborer. Mr . Shand should have confined his attention to his clodhopping and bovine constituents, and Icit the goldfields affairs to those who understood them To secure good public servants they must be liberally paid, and when we come to take into consideration the expenses of living on the goldfields, the salaries already paid were no more than sufficient to keep the goldfields officials ordinarily respectable. If it were advisable to reduce the expenditure in this item it would have better to lessen the number of officials, as one well-paid man will do more than two who are ill paid. The re-adjustment of the Electoral Districts was badly wanted, and we may now hope lo enjoy something like a fair and equal representation. Practically speaking, Tuapeka was the only mining district represented. Our weight was nothing in the scale. We were always overbalanced and could not help ourselves. The Tuapeka vote decided the election, and it was the voice of public opinion there that gave the members their seats. The north ern gold fields will shortly become the chief centres ot population. They already produce the greatest bulk of the gold, and when they come to possess the same facilities as favored Tnapeka for settling the people upon the lands, they will be the most prosperous portions of the province. For the future the expenses of contesting an election will not be so great. (Jandi dates will only be required to canvas one district instead of the whole of the goldfields, and this being the case we may hope to return local representatives, and men whose fnterest it will bo to serve the district which returns them.

The continuance of the subsidy to Municipalities is no more than an act of justice. Wo will not say that for

this small mercy let us be thankful. It was our clue. The goldfields Municipalities have rendered good service, not only in the towns where they have been established but throughout the distiicts of which they are the supnosed centre or head. \Y» will allow that in most instances the Municipal bodies have exceeded their duties by meddling in matters not within the u rrow bounds of their Municipalities, but it must be borne in mind that the interests of these Corporate bodies are bound up with those of the country immediately surrounding them. The success of one is the success of the other. That such is the case we have numerous proofs, for we find both the miner, the farmer, and the grazier invoking the aid of the Municipal authorities to intercede for them in obtaining some concession from the Government, and the appeal has invariably been successful. We may hope, ere another Session of the Provincial Council is concluded, that the jurisdiction of the country municipalities will be extended. They may be incorporated with road boards or shire councils, and occupy themselves with the management of the internal affairs of the districts they are supposed to represent Many men, from experience in municipal business, are well versed in the management of public affairs. They have acquired a certain amount of administrative ability, which will fit them for more irnportaut duties.