NELSON PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 888, 1 June 1871, Page 2

NELSON PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

THE DEBATE ON THE ANNEXATION QUESTION.

[nelson evening mail ]

On the 23rd May, the Council being in Committee, the following resolution was moved :—

" That this Council is willing to have the district between the Grey and the Teremakau annexed to the Province of Nelson, provided that financial arrangements can be made by which the existing Province will not be prejudicially affected."

In moving the resolution, the Provincial Secretary said that this was one of the most important questions with which the Council ever had to deal. There had been a feeling of dissatisfaction in the Nelson Province with regard to the manner in which a large portion of the revenue that justly belonged to this Province had been appropriated by the County of Westland, both in the shape of Customs and Gold Duties, and although this had been partially remedied by the "Payment to Provinces Act," there was still reason to believe that we were losing a considerable amount of our revenue, especially the Gold Duty. At present the two populations on the opposite Bides of the Grey River were financially hostile to one another, and this served to show the des'.rability of union, but this should not be rushed into too eagerly. The question might fairly be divided into two branches — the financial and the political. With regard to the former, he believed that arguments might be brought forward to show that the annexation would be desirable if Nelson was not saddled with too large a portion of the debt of the County of Westland. In its political phase it was most important. The tending of popular feeling at the present time was to increase the Provinces in size and reduce them in number, and he believed that if Nelson did not annex this territory, the County of Westland would endeavor to wrest from us the Grey Valley, one of the most important parts of our Province. If, on the other hand, Nelson extended her Southern boundary to the Teremakau, Otago, would probably absorb the remaining portion of the County, and as it was clear that Marlborough could not hold her own much longer, the Middle Island would consist of three large Provinces.

The Speaker thought the resolution a safe and prudent one. The report of the Select Committee furnished several good reasons against annexation uniess other financial arrangements than those proposed by the Commissioner could be made. There was a large debt in connection with the County of Westland, and if Nelson were to bear the proportion suggested by the Commissioner, he thought the prudence of the movement was extremely doubtful. At the same time it could not be denied that important reasons in favor of annexation existed.

Mr Wilkie thought that the report tended to show that annexation was noi, desirable. The sum of L 3150 set down as the whole amount of revenue to be derived from the district in question available for public works would, he was quite sure, never satisfy the inhabitants. Nor did he think that politically the Province w,ould be the gainer, as the representative for the Grey Valley was already elected, and his opinions were not likely to undergo any change because annexation had taken place. With regard to the Grey Valley being joined to Westland, he thought there was no likelihood of this, as the inhabitants would have a voice in the matter, and they would never consent to it.

Mr F. Kelling was in favor of annexation on the terras proposed in the resolution ; but he should like the Council to state distinctly what portion of the debt of Westland it was disposed to take over. He should object to anything above L 25.000, whereas the Commissioner had spoken of L 60,000. MrO'CoNOßsaid that great changes had taken place since the Commissioner had framed his report, and he believed that a great decrease had taken place in the numbers of the population of the district in question. To put the matter on such a footing as to make tho acquisition of this territory desirable, it should have no debt attached to it at all ; but it was clear that we could not accept it without taking our share of its burdens. Politically, he thought, it would be of no advantage whatever to the settled districts, as the views of the members on the different sides of the ranges were totally at variance. He should oppose the resolution because he did not think that it expressed the views of the Council. If we wished to enter into these negotiations we should be prepared to state our terms. He thought it was to the interests of the settled districts to see that the debt of the Province was not increased.

Mr Donne would rather deal with the question in some more definite form, for what the report and resolutions evidently meant was that the Council was willing to take the territory it was only upon certain terms, and he should like to see those terms stated. If they could agree upon the price to be paid he should be in favor of annexation. If we took from Westland a third of -the population we must naturally expect to have to pay an approximate proportion of the debt.

Mr Luckie said the great question to be considered was undoubtedly the political bearing of the proposed annexation, to which its financial aspect was quite subordinate. He thought he could see a time when a consolidation of loans would take place, and it was quite possible that the vision of the Provincial Treasurer would ere long be verified, namely, that Otago would absorb the southern portion of the County of Westland as she had already expressed her willingness to do, and Marlborough would be united to

Nelson, from which she should never have been separated, and this Province would extend southward to the Teremakau, its natural boundary. He should support the resolution as being the beginning of a brighter state of things. The resolution was then put and carried on a division by 9 to 5.