WESTLAND AFFAIRS IN THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume III, Issue 137, 27 November 1866, Page 2

WESTLAND AFFAIRS IN THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

(From the. Lyttelton Times, "Nov. 21.) * MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS BILL.xi. M >, AKFF moved the second reading of . *k the Medtcal Practitioners Bill.' -" - . ■ '; Mr. Hoos seconded the motion.^ • • ■D-^- le i^ 0 "^ weut into Committee on -the '' .Bill, which was considered clause by claiise - ' tew verbal alterations, were made, ,and the " Bill was reported to the House: - WEST COAST ESTIMATES." , On the motion of Mr.STE^VAnT, the K3m^^>' went into Committee; on the £stima~teSof reeeiijts and expenditure for the West Canterbury Gold Fields. - Mr Stewabt said he would not detain the House long with the remarks he had to make. He would first direct the Ivttention of hon. members to that portion of the comparative •statement in which the expenditure on the West Coast for the past twelve mouths was dealt with. They would find that Ll 67, 734 2s 8d had been voted, and L 217.522 19s lOd expended, making a total over-expenditure of L09,78i> 17s 2d. The over-expenditure had • been principally on police, harbor works > . hospitals, and public buildings, all of which had been found utterly unavoidable. It would be seen that while there had been this • over-expenditure on the subjects mentioned/ several of the votes showed a, considerable unexpended; balance, amounting in, all to L 45 ,139 3s lid. He would now direct their attention to the estimates of receipts and expenditure for the iiiianeial year 1566-7 Oil turning to ; tlie summary in their hauds hon members would find that the Customs dutywas expected to produce L 45,000. This ■ estimate was cpnsidei-ed a moderate one for the receipts from this source had been L40,44G for the past year. The gold export duty, which last year jwodnced L 45 ,247 Was estimated at L 50 ,000, which was not thought too much by those best qualified to judge From niineis' rights, licenses, fees and fints' and publicans' licenses, the estimated receipts were L 29 ,000, these having produced -L 22 190 - '•' in the -past year. Boatmen's liceuse^ auc- '''■■> tioneers' licenses, and hosjjital fees were expected to make LIOSO. The telegraph-fees which were put: down at L 2500, were expected' toa-each a far larger sum. Altogether, th 6 :-' Government counted on receiving L 127 975 ~'%i to which miist be addeel L 30.000 ,' the * estimated amount to be received from the sale of land on the .West Coast, making in all L 107,975. Against these estimated receipts was put a total estimated expenditure of V L 157.459 12s luaving a balance of/L4SS Bs' It was necessary that he should say a few words with regard to some items iv the pro- > posed expenditure. The vote for the Commissioner's department was slightly increased but not; more so than the eimmistances of the case warraiited. The estimated expenditure on susveysM-a5L13,195, : and ; althongk it was not likely to be all expended, it was considered better to put that sum on tlie estimates. The administration of justice, the estimated expenditure on' which .waa L 30,500 2s, might be considered a large item but it was not. so when compared with, the expenditure for the stvme purposes on other' gold fields. The administration of justice on ' the Otago Gold Fields in 1863, for instance was L 59,000 or LGO.OOO. The A-otes asked for , the various public works au>l builtUngs had been calculated on a scale that was' thought reasonable, while it left a 'sufficient margin for any uufors^en occurrences. Although* it might appear that L 16,000 was a - large sum for new roads and contingencies, it would be admitted by the House that nothing was so essential to the development of the gold fields as roads, and that the outlay which might be found necessary on these was exceedingly difficult to foresee. For the ■""' — " overland road from Christchurch, to Hokitika the Government asked a sum of 1.30,000, and underthi'sheadthey.incliidedalargeestiniatcd ex])cnditurc- ou the road from the Arahura to' Hokitika. The other, items iv the detailed estimates, and which were 'included under the ■'■■'' general head of miscellaneous, were all judged necessary. In ; framing these estii(*ate.jiiJß': Government had been guided in a^flH^ measure by the rein-escntations of ■tW^jjii:— 7^ members for Westland, who, it would \qallowed, were the best judges of the requh-c- ' ments.of the district. It was necessary that • he should say a few words with'regKrd to the system of Government which it-was proposed ' " to establish on the West Coast. Hon members were aware that considerable dissatis- > faction had been expressed by the population > on the gold fields at the .-indifference and negligence of their interests, which, they ' statcil, had characterised the action of past government. It. was quite possible that the exigencies of the Government liaight. in some '* instances, have caused 'delay- and that insufficient information may have led to expenditure 111 advance of. requirements, 'or n otiu accordance with .them ; but when the peculiar position of the West Coast, in its; relation to am Eastland. Government was . considered very considerable allowances must be^made for any shortcomings which may have occurred in the management rof its aftairs rv The Go yernment, however^ 'were about to civo Westland a lamer share in the ; management ' of matters, and iiit-jnded to initiate a nleasura which would have, the -desired effect The Gpvenimentpioposedto appoint a Commission composed^f gentlemen residout on the West Coast; to enquire, into the present arran»e- ' *'■ mehts for 'tlie conduct of the : Government * business, and to report on the best mode of : ■ conducting it in future. Thei object of the •*' Commission would be to inform the Government; on all points considered necessary for the good government of the' es t' Co«ist The (%mnnssio^oiUd go to wqi-k durino- the recess, and acabn would be taken on°anY 3^ report they might make at the earliest '%M possible moment, fhe Government thought Mi this assurance would be sufficient to show 'Wm that they intended to deaLwith the affairs of Westland to a just and liberal spirit He € might be aUowed to refer for amoment to the " valuable .assistanco .the Uovemment had reGc f '■*®M Gomniissioner, Mr bale. - lhat gentleman had worked early and late, iaud to him tlie Government felt '* indebted for the exertions he hKd made in . the public 'service. Witt regards the sale of. land on the West Coast, the Government intended to avaU themselves of the provisions of the provisions of: a law passed during the last session oLthe General Assemm y -;imme. diately iipon the rising of the CxJuncil, and would therefore, bring into; operation the Gold Fields Act 1866, with a>viewHo the sale oHandlpn the; West Coasfe ■- The Commissioivhe had already referred to would be matructed to enquire ; into: tHe> subject, in order to setfle what landsmer^ available for sale. 'It necessary that the land should he sold,- and the Gca trnment in. tended to it, ,. The^ommsaim would also be instructed ;^oienqiiire" into the debt which it was aUeged was due, from West to .**"* Canterbury. They ; wpuld be requested ito consider the expenditure causing the debt, and authority would jbe given them to enter-tain-any 9bjectipu;as% < omissions or other- „ wise, which might-be" brought forward on J^ either side. . It was; quite possible that there I , might be a considerable increase or decrease. I ' ■'. in the account as it at present stood. The-. I matter would be fairly gone into, and all I - ? amounts :f airly chargeable to the West Coast / ■ would be so charged. The Government in- / tended to - bring in a Bill for handing over / Gibson's Quay to tl:e Municipality of Hoki / tika, as ari endowment for the use of the/ ' town : and they also intended to lay heiorjl :ij the Council a resolution, having for its objtjf ■••;,! the authorisation of guarantees to tram>j^^^^2^

a-.d other companies. The only object which the Government had in view in dealing with • Westland affairs was to secure to the population that measured attention which they were fully entitled to. (Hear,, hear ,) iV r Stewart concluded by moving that the House go into Committee of Supply to consider the estimates of. receipts and expendituie for the West Coast. The Speaker said that, in compliance with a request which had been made to him, he • would state what procedure ought to be - taken with' regard to any debate on the estimates. -It Avas the custom of the Imperial Parliament to take a debate on the principle -• 'of the estimates before going into Committee - * of Ways and Means, and it would be advan- '. tageous if Hie House observed the same rule. 'Toe debate .on the principle of the estimates would therefore be proceeded with before going into Committee of Supply. • . ; '.-. . '"" On thi motion of Mr Beswiok, the House : adjourned for a quarter of an hour. . „.;; The House re-assembLd, and again went into Committee. ; ; Mr Beswick said he wished to make a few •remarks on the estimates which had at last, and by degrees, been brought before the House.; He had had the honor of, a seat in '" that Council for four or five years, and he was bound,, to say that, he had never before sceii the estimates 'dealt with as they 'had been by the present Government. He-had intend e:l to go into the West Coast estimates at some length, but he would not do so. Hemust, hoAvever, protest against the principle of separating one district of the province from all the others in the way done by the Government. • Why was the West Coast not asked to contribute to the ordinary revenue of the whole province 'I He had heard nothing of the debt 'which Westland owed to tho Government. (Hear, hear ) He did hot wish to remind the representatives of Westland of that debt unduly, but he thought some.nieution ought-to-have been made of it in tlie way of a proposal for its liquidation. (Hear.'hear.) Mr J. S. Williams said that the House, sifter waiting for a 'considerable time, had at last received the whole of the estimates. "But although a lars^e array of figures had been read over to them and laid before them, they had heard no regular financial statement. The Provincial Secretary gave them the figures, and appeared to expect that they would m*ake.the;best of them. ' .He was glad to notice that the Provincial Secretary and Provincial Solicitor had apparently become tired of the Darby and Joan life they were leading. They had called to their assistance two stalwart coadjutors, and he believed they were right in thinking they would require all the assistance they could g3t. He thought the Government were to blame in putting on the estimated receipts a sum which, admittedly, they did not expect to receive. It might be all very well to estimatethe customs revenue at £40,000 for this year, but would that, or any sum be. received in future ? He had expected to hear of a general scheme of retrenchment, and he believed the feeling of the House was strongly in favor of it.- (Hear, hear.) The Government had proposed a Commission for the West Coast, but. he thought a Commission to enquire into the Civil Service of the province would be a greater service. (Hear, hear.) He did not think that the West Coast policy ought to • form the subject of a Commission, although it might be : necessary to make large inquiries . into the general working of departments in that district. He noticed that in the department .of .Public Wqils a very ' large amount was set down to salaries and departmental expenses. He was astonished to find that .the large debt* due to the bank was not .-." , i -touched pn more fully. No doubt the subjectwas a most disagreeable one, but itwoul'd Ihave to be met Soon, for lion, members could hardly believe that the. bank would allow bo large a deficit to remain lqng outstanding.^ The debt due by the West Coast has not been brought forward as a debit, "although it ap- • - peared that the Government- admitted- the ; principle from the; janner in which they had dealt with .other accounts. , He asked for no more than justice in the'adjustnient of this K debt. The West Coast had not been asked -contribute to the ordinary expenditure, : ",. such, for instance as the Superintendent's salary, the expenses of the Executive, and other items their fail" share in' yhich they could not expect to escape. [ \ must say that he had never heard anything .. Ah gre^^er astonishment than the declaration ,that\ Al > r '• Government intended toiippoint a Coiuii \\ 7 ; sion' to enquire into and decide on the ty V >? mode of governing the l -Wed; Coast. (HeaK ' -: , hear) .. What he might ask, was the use ofM 'Government, if not to govern ? Tbe Treasury^ benches were now strongly represented, an<r ■ -the gent' 1 Weii who sat there might well occupy tueir time in devising some scheme. • of: .Government for "Westland; . . If they did j»ot do so, it was possible other gentlemen Ijkight be found to relieve them of the duty.. - -(Laughter.). This Commission w;w?s«.most - ■unconstitutional way of getting rid o£ V work\ and,he ,hoped the. Government would ye-con-'sicler their deteritiination. If not, the subject would I>3 forced upoiv them by the House. (Applause.) v;r!;MrJotLiE said he was. sorry none of the : yUon. members who occupied the Treasuiy benches Jiad not thought At to reply to the -,- i two- attacks made on them: It Avas rather ■hard on the Provincial Secretary to be pushed; vi up to reply to every hon.: member on every ■^subject. .(Laughter;) :He congratulated the -Government on- having secured the assistance of the hon. member for Waimate, and the .: hon. member'ifor-HeatUcote; :->Mr Jollie then ijroceeded to comment .:6a, the estimates, pointing ioiitaiul. dwelling, :OiiJ;he large deficits; Avhich had not, been>xplain§d, and /regretting that theßoad ßoards.had not,veceiA'ed more consideration from the Gpvern- . nient. . Hey ins .common with other^hon. members, thought the debt due by .Westland"ought to be repaij£.;.;: : '-• : -'-[ '. • ;: 'r ; ''; "''• ;..^ ; - Mr Thomson said the idea' of; afe)intii?g : a" Commission, to .enquire into the^affairs I'f 1 . % Westlahd appeared to him'iripst absurd... It; I '"h'piieared as : lf'thetioA'erhmeut'haclno con- • r jifidenceiii themselves:: (Laughter.) • '" ■■■"■ y- '..; )*Mr BucKiur said 1 that "tlie object' in apJ" pointing the Comniission.for the West Coast >r had apparently been misuuderstood. The - Commission would enquire' into the Syorking .— \v,of' departments,: -would make suggestions fforr r '' their re-arrangeineut and consolidation, . and "-'twmld giA;e jidvice about. the sale of land. Tic new Gold, ' Fields Act' empowered the Gc^'eniment to deal with the lands, and the Commission, would advise, the Government as . to Avhat lands were available without interfering with, the interests of the miners. ; . Mr Montg.omkry said that he would not. ' detain thV&ouSe long in the f eAV remarks he ;had to make- /on the estimates., ;The House ' had received two editions of the estimates of \ ordinary receipts ■ and expenditure. 1 • Oii the ' first edition hehad.marked off some figures' oh which he iuadintended to cbmineiit, 'but., the second edition presented, to the House had so confused matters that he was com- . pelled to forego his intention. The hon. | member, for Waimate had offered some explanations, • but '■■: he (Mr Montgomery) Avas , bound to say thai he. tlitl not follow him, and failed to see how the admitted deficits were to be met.- Thesedelicits ought to have been made clear to the House. As to the West t Coast debt; the Government, itwas'Bxplained, i relied on laud sales for recouping the sum 1 due. If they depended on getting the money B ; this year, he believed they -woiild be deH -.Jceived. The House had reason to find fault ■jj&ith the Avay in Avhich this matter, had been The Government had. said that inbended to appoint a Cohmiission to

enquire into and report~on the best mode of ! goA'erning the West Coast. Mr St'kavart : " The hon. gentleman has evidently mistaken .what I said. I did not say the Government intended the Commission to consider the.best mode of governing the West Coast. . Mr Montgomery had taken doAvn t'.ie Avords of the Proyiucial Secretarj', and he believed he was right in what he Lad stated. (Hear, hear.) He would be sorry to impute words to the hon. gentleman Avhich he had not used,jbut he found that his (Mr .Montgomery's) colleague had taken the same.view of the expression .used by the Provincial Secretary." If the^ißovernment intended to give up their pompon .as . a Governmeut : if they intended to'- -appoint a Commission to teach them the art of governing, it was higk time for.the .House to consider seiimftly.^P what directii n they -are drifting.^ (Hea^ hear.) He must repeat that the hon. member . for. Waimate had not mailo his figures so clear as Avas his Avout, or as the llouso had Alright to expect. (Hear, hear.) Mr Cassius said that he believed the receipts^rbm tlie West Coast had been underestimated in one or two instances. He felt bound ".to., protest against the proposed ex* penditlire of L30,()00 on the West Coast road. He could only look on that road as an expensive experiment, undertaken not only Avithout the consent, but against the express •wishes of the inhabitants of Westland. If it Avas to cost LBO,OOO every year to keep it in repair, it would indeed be a costly experi- • incut. Hu wisbeiL,;^ see a larger sum set aside for opening-,'/ . jiew tracks and repairing those already'™,' /existence. Although he Avas not an ad'i)i//ate for the reduction of salaries, and especially on a gold field, he must say that he cM^^red^ the salary proposed for the Cuniral|ioner on the -West Coast too higli. Alon^it would not be so, but when that gentleman enjoyed the salaries of other offices, he ctSl not think he Avas ivrong in asking for a reduction. „ : Mr Baj:ff thought that the receipts from WcsthmtWiad been very nmch_ under-esti^ mated. He should like to see some retrench ■ ment made in the salaries. The Engineer's and Police departments might be reduced as far as regards salaries ; he thought that the police, especially, were altogether overpaid, and Avere far too numerous. After alludiug to some of the items on the estimates, the lion, member expressed his hope that another hospital Ai'ould soon be established in Westland, and passed in revicAv some of tho works ■ proposed to be undertaken, and tlie sums to be^ expended upon them. .He objected to tlie item of L 30,000 for the overland road to Christchurch. . He Avas sure that tho expenses of keeping, the road in.. repair .would ■bgi'cousiderable, and 'he did not believe that tlie West Coast would derive . an equivalent for the mouey expanded. With regard to the Commission suggested for Westhuid, he Avas in favor of it. It would be very desirable to have a lengthened arid accurate report of the conditioner the "^Yest Coast, and he suggested ■some alterations in the present system of managing. lhe affairs of Westland. It had been stuted that the aiipointment of such a commission Avould be unconstitutional, but lie saw no force in the objection. He was glad to sec .a sim placed upon the estimates for the purposes; of education in Westland, and he hoped that at the next meeting of the Council a still larger sum Avould be asked foi\ He should also like to see LIOOO placed iiponthe estimates for distribution amongst the. A\irious religious denominations, all ofwhich are in debt, in order to enable them to erect places of worship. Tlie subject of the sale of lands' i 'would require great attentioni n. the part of the proposei^. commission: ■ ; : MrMAUDiMvpproA'ed of the proposed West Coast Coiiiinission, as it Avould'give thei-in-habitauts an' opportunity of obtaining redress for any grievances which they might deem themselves to be suffering • from. Besides, the Commission Avouldbe the means of bringing the two portions of the Province into closer union. A.jsupervision would also be exercised over tlie expenditure of the s land funds, auditAvould ensure such fimj^i being, expended for the greater benefit of 'life? Wcat Coast. The Commission would act as advisers to the Executive, and would report upon the affairs of Westland, They would , also determine Avhat blocks of land it w ( ould.. be advisable to sulj-. They would supply'information to the Govevnineiit Avhich it would otherwise be impossible fpr the latter to obtain, and that information would guide the Government asto their course of action. Mr Bjtj£m£ was strongly in faA^or of the Appointment,, of the proposed Commission, as ime thought that it would supply a want which been long felt. It Avould <ilso be the i . ,\pans of enabling the inhabitants to oljtain the means of exercising control over their own aflairSv,a privilege which every Englishman so ~j.ig§i& valued. He ■ thanked the^Governuv At f^'^havuig brought fonvjir^phe mptiy j Tnti district he repre|enteafwas Avillin |to discharge- its obligations to the Eastern jiortion. An equitable arrangement might be made so that the burden of the expenditure mighifbe fairly borite... He hoped, that the (-iovernment Avere Jpre^red to plac^ the Western sine of the Province on an eqi^P political footing Avith the Eastern, by givinp the former a share of representation in the Council equal, to .possessed by^ithe Eastern porticn^^ ,>;, ; ' Mr Wynj^Williaml mo\'ed that the debate should be adjourned. • _ ; The inotioi} rx haA'ing been seconded, Mr Maude objected to the adjouvnment: The Government Avere prepared to go on AA'ith the consideration of the : estimates'. ;• ■' ' Mr Williams' motion Avas'put and caiiied. ■ ' ■_• : -^^^' ,'jV,'. '