THE Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1869.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 572, 16 September 1869, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1869.

There can be no doubt that before the system of local government iv Westland can be carried out to perfect satisfaction the constitution of the County will have to be materially altered. All new systems must be regarded in the light of experiments, and the formation of this part of the Colony into a separate County with a form of government entirely new to New Zealand was undoubtedly an experiment of a serious character— -because upon its success or failure depended more or less the continuation of those provincial institutions which it was intended to supplant. It is not too much to say that the County 'of 'Westland Act, 1867, which was fathered by the Hon. John Hall, did not completely carry out either the views of the Minister who introduced the measure, or supply a machinery of government that would either recommend itsdlf to other parts.of the Colony, or be entirely suited

to the circumstances of the County of Westland itself. Too much of the Provincial element was retained. Savo and excerpt that the County Council was dejS^red from tue exercise of legislative •functions, it was left to deal with all other matters as Provincial Councils. In fact, in some very important particulars the County Council enjoys powers superior to those of Provincial Councils. The resolutions of the County Council so far as they relate to matters over which it has control, have all the force and power of Provincial Ordinances, with this material difference, that the Ordinances of a Provincial Council are subject to the approval or otherwise of the Governor or his delegate, the resolutions of the County Council are absolute themselves. Were the functions of the County Council confined, as they were intended to be, and ought to have been, the absolute power of its resolutions would not be open to objection, but as matters now stand it is a question of grave importance whether it is right or safe to entrust a body that was never intended to be anything more than a Board of Works, with powers, 'i he right exercise of which demand a higher qualification and a more extenfled knowledge than can be hoped lo be found in a small body of nine men. It will be remembered that during the first session of the County Council, presided over by the Hon. Jno. Hall, a Select Committee was appointed on the motion of Mr Whall, to take into consideration the necessary amendments to be made in the County of Westland Act, 1867. Mr Hall was a member of that Committee, and he entirely agreed with the recommendations that were made by the Committee and unanimously adopted by the County Council. Those recommendations were to the effect that the County Council should be simply a body to expend the revenue on public works, and that such departments of government as Police, Gaols and Harbors should be placed under the control of the Colonial Government. Unfortunately the Ministry of the day had not sufficient courage to propose so sweeping a change. They dreaded the jealousy of the Provincial Governments who might have objected that the General Government, in seeking to obtain the control of the Police, Gaols and Harbors of Westland, was trying to insert the thin end of the wedge directed against Provincialism. Thus it was that the County Council of Westland has been placed in an exceptional position, and one which we venture to say has not been to its advantage. It is probable that in the matter of Police the Council will be relieved of a portion of its responsibility. The amended County of Westland Act -makes— provision for the assumption of the control of the Police by the General Government when requested by the Council to do so. The relation of the County Chairman to the County Council is a matter which demands to be placed on a more satisfactory footing. The fact that the County Chairman also holds powers as the Governor's delegate outside the Council altogether, and professes to be guided by the Council, is an anomaly which has been productive of most irregular action on the part of the Council and is calculated to bring the Chairman and Council into collision. There is something very objectionable in the Governor's delegate — the Crown so to speak — having to preside over a Council which can traverse actions in his own presence which he can only defend as a member of the Council. It is worth consideration whether it would not be better for all persons if the administration of the Gold Fields were placed directly under the General Government, or delegated to some one outside the Council altogether. The whole Colony might probably benefit by having the administration of the Gold Fields made a Colonial department. Of course we do not mean that the revenues of the Gold Fields should be removed from local appropriation, except so far as the payment of the necessary officers is concerned. It has I been the law in the Provinces, and is now in Westland, for the Gold Fields' revenue to be paid into the Colonial account, and afterwards remitted to the local governments for local purposes. But, apart from his position as the Governor's delegate, the Chairman does not bear such a satisfactory relation to the Council as could be desired. Recent events have shown that there is an evident-want of that appreciation of responsibility to the Council which ought to guide and regulate the actions of the Chairman. Administering a revenue only exceeded by three Provinces in New Zealand, it is evident that the restrictions — or rather, we should say, the checks — placed upon the County Chairman are far short of what they should be, and far short of those which hedge every Superintendent in the Colony. We have not in Westland that form of responsiblo government which enables us to depose an Executive whenever it lias lost our confidence. The County Chairman is at once Superintendent and Executive, and do what he may he cannot be turned out of his office for two years when once elected. We do not wish to see the introduction of anything like an Executive Council in Westland ; the County Council is and shouldbe the Government of Westland, so far as its purely local affairs are concerned. It should be as impossible for the County Chairman to sign a voucher or a cheque without authority or to incur unauthorised liabilities as it is for the Mayors <-f Hokitika or Grey-

mouth. The fact is, the Council .and the Chairman have mutually misunderstood their real positions. The Council lias imagined itself to be a little parliament, instead of what it is nothing more nor less than a Board of Works ; and the Chaiimau has clothed himself in the mantle of a Lieutenant-Governor. The time has gone by for the continuance of such follies. If the Council ia to do any good ; if the County is to exist at all as a separate entity of the Colony, both it and its Chairman must act more sensibly, and confine themselves to the exercise of those functions which alone it was ever intended they should enjoy.