PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
Yesterday
MINISTERIAL EXPLANATION,
The Provincial Secretary said it was duo to the House that he should offer a few words in explanation of the formation of the present Executive Government. He must premise that, in view of the peculiar circumstances in which the Government had boon placed, he claimed the utmost indulgence of the Council. When called to take office immediately after the elections, during the progress of which a good deal of business bad to stand over, preparation of measures to meet the Council had to be made, and the Executive had. not the same opportunity of making themselves acquainted with all the routine of the Government as if they bad been some time in their present position. Shortly after the conclusion of the elections, Mr Turnbull and another member for the City received a communication from his Honor the Superintendent, asking them to consider the formation of an Executive. He might say that the request caused them some surprise, for the members addressed had no idea that the Government of the day would not continue in office until the meeting of the Council; and it was only to relieve the Superintendent of a difficulty that they consented to do what they could to form a Government. His Honor exp'aiued that the holders of office had resigned because of the decision arrived at in the election of Superintendent. It would be seen, therefore, that the causes for resignation were of somewhat a peculiar kind, growing out of the election of an executive officer. The issue raised was not between'themselves and the House, but between the late head of the Government and his Honor the Superintendent, While therefore the friends who
were united with him made up their minds to accept the responsibility, and form an Executive Government, they could n :t assume to be leaders of a large section of a House to which he was a stranger, and the members of which be had no opportunity ofconsulting. As the matter was placed before them, their duty seemed pla'nly laid open to them, and there appeared ho a’tcrnative to accepting the responsibility of olfice and preparing business for the present session. The few members within reach were consulted, but without any satisfactory result. In some cases the advice was not very encouraging. They wore given to understand that the resignation of the late Executive was purely a party move, which was to be followed immediately after the assembling of the Council by a factious proceeding to unseat the present holders of office, and for the late Ministry to resume their portfolios. Despite Air Barton’s proceedings, ho should be sorry to believe that of the" late Government. Had he not fully disbelieved that the late Secretary bad no such intention, he, for one, would have had nothing to do with accepting office. Under the circumstances, it was not thought right to appoint a greater number to executive offices than were necessary to make their acts legal, and they were still in that position. They would have been glad to have filled up the office of Provincial Solicitor, and opened negotiations with Mr Bathgate, with whose views he was acquainted, and from which his own and tho c.of his colleagues did not diverge very much. Some difficulty occurred as to the lan 1 laws, on wlrch he was not quite sure they could agree, and sufficient time ha I not daps d for full discussion of the subject, so as to enable him to accept office, tic th ivfore thought it light to decline the appointment until after the meeting of the Council. Afb-T Mr Bathgate’s refusal, it might have b cii thought it was incumbent for the Executi - e to seek the assistance of the 'only o'h r legal gentlemen in the Council, Mr Barton. But a Provincial .“ olicitor was in a curious and auamolous position, and although it ha I bitherti been held as a right by some gentleman who had a s-at in that Council, it was felt that Mr Barton might nob coincide with the opinions of the Executive. He could only say in reference to that point, that his impression, and that of his colleagues, was that they could not coincide with him. He did not wish to misenterpret his views, but tint was the impression on his mind. The care of the goldfields, and the expenditure of money under the Loan Act in regard to them, required special attention, and in view of the labor to be done, being anxious to obtain the assistance of a gentleman of experience and talent, they had fortunately been joined by Mr C. E. Maughton, who had had great experience in that department. Mr M‘Arthur had al o consented to unite with them, and his assistance was valuable on account of his acquaintance with Southland. He had stated the circumstances in co inaction with forming that Executive, but they had no means of estimating the support they were likely to receive from the Council. For himself, he had had no conversation with half-a-dozen members outside the Executive, and therefore could not say how far the Council would allow the administration of affairs to remain in their ha ds. Bub without going too far, he might briefly touch upon sonic of the questions of policy which stood most prominently forward. The present Govefnment were of opinion that it was necessary to carry out conside able retrenchment in various departments of the service. There could bo no doubt that hi the excitement of the goldfields times, the expences of government had been enlarged beyond what was reasonable. They had given some attention to reducing expences where it was practicable, and ho hoped they would find evidence of that on the estimates that would, at an early day, be laid before the Council, In that he expected he would have the support of the Council at large, and especially of the members of the late Government. On another matter, the connection of the Province with the Public Works and Immigration Acts, passed last session in the Assembly, there might be greater difference of (.pinion. He was not aware how far the views of any members of the House who took an active part in the discussions last session had been modified ; but so far as he knew, there was a general feeling that to a greater or less extent the Province ought to avail itself of the advantage afforded by those Acts for prosecuting public works, for its very life depended upon a proper opening up of its resources, and to this end a pioper means of laud communication must be formed. He was fully of opinion that money for carrying out those works could not and would not be obtained otherwise than by obtaining a share of the funds raised on the credit of the Government of the Colony. It would, therefore, be wise to avail ourselves of them to the utmost extent that prudence would allow, as no hesitation on the part of Otago would prevent other portions of the Colony acting on that principle. Having arrived at that conclusion, in which his colleagues concurred, it would be a great advantage to work in accordance with, and not in oppo ition to, the General Government ; and they had reason to believe the General Government was quite ready to act with the Provincial Government in carrying out tiie wishes of the Council to any reasonable extent. A conciliatory policy on the part of the Council would be a great advantage to the Province, and enable them to get the works that were desirable carried out. The only subject that remained to be touched upon was the land laws. It was not time to discuss the question, Jhut he believed the wishes that actuated himself and his colleagues were similar to those of members opposed to them in other respects. He believed there was a general wish throughout the House to promote settlement, if possible, and that every unfair restriction should be removed that impeded it, and cultivation should be encouraged, not only on the sea-bord, but in the interior, and wherever there were the natural requisites for settlement. In order to attain this end he had laid on the table a scries of land resolutions which he thought must go a Jong way to satisfy all sections of the House. Although he was not prepared to give way to every suggestion on points materially affecting the principle of the resolutions, the Government had no desire to give thorn a cast-iron character, which would admit of no modification or extension in any direction, which, on proper argument, might he decided by the Council. He trusted, whether or not the majority of the Council agreed with the views of the Executive they would receive credit for honest endeavours to devise such means as would lead to the pennanent settlement of the country. He did not expect the work of the Council could be carried on without difference of opinion,
but was not prepared for such war to the knife as was exhibited by Mr Barton on Thursday. It was somewhat unexpected as an example of the way in which political warfare was to be carried on, but ho tlusted the Council would be more anxious to carry on business for the benefit of the Province than to carry on a faction fight. Mr. 11 kid said the resignation of the late executive was not in any degree connected with the election of Superintendent, and requested that the correspondence in regard to it should be laid on the table. The Provincial Skcretary said tint if available the request should bo complied with. He had not had the letter in his hands, but having heard it read he received the impression he expressed. Mr Keid said the resignation of the late Executive was because two of its members had not presented themselves for re-election, and the Government explained they were not disposed to go outside the late Council, and those whom they might choose might not have the confidence of the Superintendent, especially as be had expressed the opinion that he had been thwaitcd in carrying out his views for the benefit of the Province, It was there! .re thought better to give him opportunity of choosing an Executive who would carry them out.
The Provincial Secretary : When was the statement made ?
Mr Reid : —Many times publicly; on many occasions during the election. The Provincial Secretary was quite content with the statement of the lion member. He had no intention of reflecting on the late Government, bis only object being to explain the circumstances under which the present had beer, constructed He was sorry if be had said anything that might be imagined a misrepresentation, and would take the first opportunity of laying the letters oil the table.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD18710527.2.10
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Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2582, 27 May 1871, Page 2
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1,815PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2582, 27 May 1871, Page 2
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