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The Evening Star FRIDAY, MAY 14, 1875.

The occupants of the Government benches were last night in a state of delightful confusion. It had been intended to commence the Estimates in Committee of Supply, but it was quickly seen that the temper of the Council was decidedly against that course being pursued. After the motions were disposed of, the “Otago Harbor Ordinance, 1875,” was again discussed in Committee, and clauses that had been previously postponed affecting the Board’s constitution were gone on with. The Provincial Solicitor had made up bis mind to live and die with his Ordinance, and lost no opportunity of trying to edge in amendments to keep the number of members at twelve, and to preserve the peculiar hotch-potch selection by the local Corporations and the Chamber of Commerce at one time childishly threatening to leave the Bill to_ the Committee if they did not swear by his ideas, in both those objects he was, so far, defeated; but as the Bill as amended drifted into absurdities and contradictions.it will have to be recommitted, when the battle can be all fought over again. The Dunedin members outshone themselves in their defence of individual notions, and in the assumptions of corruption supposed to be certain if the Board was confined to a practical directorate. Such precharges were utterly unjustified, and at the most, as pointed out by Dr Menzies, did not amount to more than this : that in any body of men the man of strong will and resolution must influence his colleague*. It cannot be granted that the members of the Board be the fault their mode of appointment or not—have given satisfaction. It has been well known that the brain power has to a great extent been found outside the Board, and this, which we believe to have been a necessity, has been a handle by which those who are entirely opposed to the relinquishment of powers previously held by the Executive, are not slow to represent as being nothing more or less than corrupt pressure for private purposes. If the Superintendent, with the advice and consent of his Executive Council, is not capable of nominating the Board, he is certainly incapable of administering the affairs of the Province. In theory the appointment by the Council might have been best, but in practice there can be no doubt that the Executive is the proper nominating body, as they can be called to account for maladministration of patronage, whereas, the Council could hardly condemn its own action, As it at present stands, the appointments are practically life appointments ; but that is to be altered. To follow Mr Reid’s idea, that power of removal at any time should be conceded to the Superintendent, would practically place the whole manage’ment in the Executive’s hands, and the Board could be dispensed with. Mr Haggixt’s on the other hand, that au Executive without a removing power in the hands of his Honor, holding office tor one week :only, or, as suggested, twentytour hours, could appoint themselves for four years -as members of a salaried Harbor Board, had not much force, as a definite tinr could be fixed, and is usually, when such ap pointrhents should be made. There was a good deal of this o i'p.i- last night and probably there - . > ~.oi o before aso ilo ment, is arrived at. Ah the evening the npn-official members ®f the Government retained,' their seats in restless discontent; the Tywisurer held hia own opinions; as we have aSen, Mr Stout took hia own course ; Mr 'Reid having given up hia old idea of last session, to make every question a Government one, was disgusted with his colleagues, and threw the entire onus upon the House, until, wearied out at Tast, he undertook to bring down the amended muddle in such a shape that it could be recommitted and made into a workable measure. We are very much mistaken if the last state the Board will find themselves in will not prove to be worse than the fink

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD18750514.2.5

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Evening Star, Issue 3813, 14 May 1875, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
673

The Evening Star FRIDAY, MAY 14, 1875. Evening Star, Issue 3813, 14 May 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star FRIDAY, MAY 14, 1875. Evening Star, Issue 3813, 14 May 1875, Page 2

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