THE COMMISSIONERS’ MISSION.

Evening Star, Issue 4092, 7 April 1876, Page 2

THE COMMISSIONERS’ MISSION.

The Hon. Mr Gisborne and Messrs Seed and Knowles bring letters of introduo Won to all the Superintendents, who are aakecl to assist with their views on the points' upon which the Commission are seeking advice * also Asking the Superintendents to Introduce the Commissioners to members of Executive and officers of the Provincial services, to allow them access to Provincial Amices. The Superintendents are also fuT.tiished with a copy of the instructions to the Commissioners, the substance of which is as. follows:—First, to obtain information cequisite for preparing and submitting tt> v the Assembly the. estimates for carrying on the public services of the Provinces 'during the coming year. The changes are not to be made so suddenly as to cause local inconvenience, and therefore while some depeitaaents are to be at once incorporated with the General Government, it may be found.' desirable to continue for a time the othereon a more local footing. It is proposed to armnge to make local payments for contracts in progress for works, which, as soon as the necessary arrangements can be effected, will devolve upon the local governing bodies. The Government intend to incorpora te, as stated hereinafter, Provincial with Gf&eral Government services, in some respects, such as land and education administration. • This incorporation will mean little more than, the appointment of, the General Government Department with which it will be the <luty of the local department to correspond. With * respect to charitable institutions, the Commissioners are merely to indicate Ihe-pre-sent cost and footing, as they will be hlanded over to local control, without an .intervening department inking chaise, for the Colonial Government. The Commissioners are merely to report on the present cost and standing of the various Police forces. The Commissioners ate to mmgest to the Government the appropriations Which they consider necessary, also to indicate the office which they think may. be with, without'giving the name of the holder. The Commissioners are to defer as much as possible to the advice of the Superintendents, and when they do not concur to represent it Government. The Commissioners are to be careful to treat the Superintendents with the greatest respect for their high positions and merit, ana to remember that their functions still oontinue, ahd that the General Government are not entitled to do more at present than to seek information which will enable them to discharge the responsibilities which the law devolves upon them after next session. The Provincial Auditors, being General Government nflWrs, are to render every assistance! The following transfers of Provincial departments are proposed:—AH Executive departmeptaoonnected with inoompleted clerical workbench as keeping records, &0.,t0 be in the Colonial Secretary’s department; Police Femes to be in the Minister of Justice’s; Crown Lands, Survey, Goldfields, Inspectors of Sheep in the Secretary for Crown Typify Department; Railways, Public Works, and Pubuc Plantations to be in .the Minister for Phblio Works; Harbors, in the Commissioner of Customs ; Education, $x the • Minister of Justice’s Department; Hospitals, Lunatio Asylums, Industrial and Charitable Institutions, Orphan Asylums, PabHc labraries, Museums (subject to arrangemehtSi |b be made for the continuance of local control lor charitable institutions), to be in the Colonial Secretary’s department. '• r ■ *