PROPOSED NEW FORM 01' GOVERNMENT FOR THE WEST COAST.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1231, 9 July 1872, Page 2

PROPOSED NEW FORM 01' GOVERNMENT FOR THE WEST COAST.

A public meeting was held at Gilmer's Hall last night, to take into consideration the advisability of uniting the whole of the West Coast Gold Fields under one form of Government. His Worship the Mayor, E. Wiokes, Esq., occupied the chair, and the meeting, considering the inclemency of the weather, was one of the most influential ever held in Greymouth. . The Mayor, in introducing the business, said that the meeting was convened at the request of a large number of citizens to consider propositions for the alteration of the present form of Government on the West Coast Gold Fields. Similar subjects had been discussed in this community for several years, and petitions had been sent to the General Assembly, without effect, to alter the form of Government of • these districts which had hitherto been retarding their, progress, but that night the question would assume an aspect different from what had previously been discussed. Hitherto the grievances sought to be removed were entirely local, but now the propositions referred to the whole of the West Coast Gold Fields,, and the desire of the promoters of that meeting was to so frame any resolutions. that might be brought forward so' as to meet the wishes and receive the support of the residents on the West Coast, as the proposed alterations were expected to be for the welfare of them all. The Grey District formed only a small unit of the whole of the districts proposed to be affected by the change, and he hoped that all the speakers who might come forward would take a wide and liberal view of the question, so that the whole of the residents in the various West Coast Districts would be able to unite in support of one form of Government whatever that might prove to be. It was known to, them that a series of resolutions had been drawn up on the subject and submitted to the General Government by Mr Harrison, the member for the District. These might possibly be too /intricate for practical working, and many persons might object to some of their details, but he hoped they would be discussed in a fair and. impartial manner, and suggestions for their amendment made, so that they would be acceptable to other districts, and in asking the General Assembly to give effect to them, the general support of the Coast obtained. Mr F. Hamilton said the meeting appeared to him to have been hastily called. When they considered the importance of the questions to be discussed, he thought a little more time would have had a better effect. He was prepared presently to. move, after the principal points in Mr Harrison's scheme had been discussed, that a committeebe appointed to draw up in some other form the wishes of this meeting as expressed that night, to be submitted to a future meeting for, approval. He thought it was impossible to draw up resolutions which would be satisfactory to the whole of the Gold Fields districts on the West Coast in such a hasty manner. He would read the resolution which had been placed in his hands, as follows :— " That this meeting recognising the immediate necessity for some radical changes^in the administration of affairs on the West Ooast, resolves that steps should be taken with the view of having the whole of the West Coast Gold Fields and districts in Westland north and south placed under one form of Government." He felt confident that no one in that room would object to that resolution. He did not think that the other districts would object to it, but he was sure that Greymouth would not, as for the last five years they had all been struggling to have the present boundary-line removed; and any change in that direction was acceptable, although it might not ex-, actly be to their liking, still the alteration of the boundary-line ought to compensate . them for any other little difficulties that Stood in the way of the present proposed arrangements. Personally, he should like to have Mr Harrison's resolutions discussed, but he thought it would, be better to give the subject more consideration than could be given by a hastily-announced meeting, in order to arrive at a conclusion as to what form of Government would be most acceptable on the West Coast. Mr E. Masters seconded the resolution, as he thought it would meet with approbation throughout the whole of the West Coast. It was unnecessary on that occasion to go into the details of all the grievances of Government they had so long labored under. The alteration of the form of Government had been a s\ibject of controversy for some years, and he was sure that the alterations proposed would meet the wishes of the residents in Greymouth. He hoped that in any discussion that might take place the broadest view of the question would be taken, and they had good reason to believe that the General Government now saw the necessity of altering the form of Government on the West Coast, and would only be too glad to receive any suggestions that they might make. Mr Woolcook supported the resolution.^ He thought that whatever anyone's particular views on the question might be, he could have no hesitation in supporting a resolution of this kind. Mr D. Girdwood also supported the resolution, and hoped that the scheme for annexation to Nelson had now been abandoned, as nothing for the benefit of this district could be expected from that Government. They had shown this in the matters of the mining leases and the Ahaura road. On the present question under consideration he hoped to see a unanimity of feeling exhibited in Hokitika, Westport, and other districts which would go further towards carrying out <he scheme than anything else. He sup-, ported the appointment of a committee to draft the proposed scheme into proper shape, and endeavor to obtain the cooperation of all the other districts. The resolution was put and carried unanimously. . Mr Nichol said that in view of the proposition Mr Hamilton had alluded to — that the meeting should discuss the propositions submitted by Mr Harrison to the General Government, and that a committee should be elected by that meeting to draw up a set of resolutionsit might be the simplest plan to go through Mr Harrison's main resolutions, and ask the Chairman to put them to the meeting, in order to obtain an expression

of opinion upon their- most salient features, and the committee could then draft resolutions to be submitted to a future meeting. Mr Nichol here read the suggestions which were made by Mr Harrison to the General Government, which have already been published in thesecolumns, and said that the first recommendation—a Provincial Council for tho - whole of the West Coast — would be generally acceptable throughout •ill the districts on the. West Coast Gold Fields. The name in the scheme of County Councils alone was certain to create an' amount of prejudice from past experience,' except perhaps in Hokitika, but even there the people were not soi wedded to the County system that they would not adopt a Provincial form of Government. Another reason why he was in favor of the proposition wqs that it was, so to speak, uniforming themselves to the other parts of the Colony. If the whole of the West Coast Gold Fields were united under one Provincial form of Government they would be identified with the Provincial institutions throughout the whole of the Colony, and with the Provincial interest, which at present was a very strong one in the House of Representatives. Sir Harrison had j recommended that three County Councils should be formed. In his opinion, this was too much Government altogether, and that already they were too much governed. These County Governments would only cause an enormous extra cost, perpetuate existiug local jealousies, and make the Provincial Council of very, little importance. There wa3 not much revenue no w to appropriate to public works, .; but if they hud these forms of government any little that remained would only be frittered away. He thought that the question of the creation and distribution of Road Boards should be left to the .Provincial Council,- and not to people in Wellington who knew nothing of the requirements: of the various districts. It would be a very simple matter for the Provincial Council to fix or re-arrange these Boards at any time when required. There were several main features in Mr Harrison's resolutions 1 whith he would submit to the meeting in detail, in order to get. an expression of opinion for the guidance of the Com: mittee. He then moved, as a ' resolution ' — "That the whole of the West. Coast Gold Fields be formed into one Province; under a Provincial form of Government.'? Mr Woolcock seconded the motion, because he believed it was the most feasible scheme at present, and most likely to be attained ; although, for his own part he should like to see the whole of the West Coast placed Under the General Government. The motion was carried. Mr Nichol moved — "That in the •opinion of this meeting it is desirable that the Superintendent should be elected by the people, in the event of the Government acceding to the foregoing resolution." ].;. ' . - ...... ; Mr E. Masters, seconded the motion. . Mr F. Hamilton, in supporting the resolution, thought that a strong, reason Was that, they were . aware that a nomi-. nated Superintendent would not be acceptable in Hokitika and Westport, and as they, wished, to have the co-operation of tlyß whole of the whole of the West Coast, it wa3 at least politic that they should propose that the Superintendent should, be elected by the people. ; , Mr Woolcock supported the election of the Superintendent by the people. : Mr M. Kennedy suggested that whilst on this subject the meeting should consider whether it was advisable that the Superintendent should have a seat in the Provincial Council. The question was at present being discussed in several Provincial Councils in the Colony, and it ought to be considered now. Several Superintendents were not responsible to the Councils, and it would at least be advisable that the Superintendent should have a seat in the Council, and be open .to advice or reprimands of the memberk He did not see why the question of ]& nominated Superintendent should have cropped up here, as it was hot the rule in any portion of the Colony. He thought hi 3 suggestion should be added to the rbsolution. ■■'■'■ -" ;. Mr Nichol thought if should be put as a seperate motion. ; The motion was put, and carried unanimously.; , , ■ Mr Nichoe then moved— "That the division of the Province into three Counties, with a County Council for each, would not, in the opinion of thismeeting, conduce to the good government of the Province." Mr Masters seconded the motion pro forrm, in order to obtain an expression of public opinion on the point. Mr M. Kennedy thought "they were not all so much in love with Provincial institutions as to accept them pure and simple. .Experience had shown that they were anything but perfect, and something else was required to guarantee to the outlying districts the expenditure of their fair share of the revenue. , For this purpose Road Boards had been recently constituted in. Canterbury, and also the Timaru and Gladstone Board of Works. In his opinion the working of the new system without Road Boards might be cheaper, but he thought it .would be found necessary to retain either these Boards or County Councils, aud that there should be one of either in Hokitika, Grey mouth, and Westport, so as to equalise the expenditure of the revenue. Mr Hamilton said that the mover of the motion had argned that the formation of the Road Boards should be left to the Provincial Council, the members of which were supposed to be better acquainted with the wants of the districts than the members of the General Assembly in Wellington. . ; The motion was carried unanimously. Mr Nichol then moved—" That in the opinion of this meeting the formation of Road Boards required for the various districts, should be provided by the Provincial Council." . . ... . -MrE. Masters seconded the motion, which was put and carried. . Mr M. Kennedy. then moved as a motion his previous suggestion—'.'-That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that the Superintendent should hold)* seat in the Provincial Council." Mr Moore seconded the motion. ; " Mr Cooper thought the words ex officio should be inserted in the motion, otherwise the Superintendent would have to be elected from among the members of: the Provincial Council. He also thought it should be stated whether the. Superintendent should have an Executive Council to assist or control him. This was left as a suggestion " to the

Committee, and the motion was then carried. : Mr Hamilton then moved that a Committee, consisting of the following gentlemen, be appointed, viz. : — Hia Worship the Mayor, Messrs Masters, Kennedy, R. C. Reid, A. Reid, J. Kerr, W. S. Smithj Nichol, Girdwood, Maclean. Woolcock, Newton, Moore, and Cooper— to draft a memorial on the foregoing resolutions for presentation to the General Government, and submit the same to a future public meeting for approval. A long discussion took place, during which niany suggestions and amendments were proposed, but ultimately the motion was carried. v '■ - Mr M. Kennedy said he thought it. wjas due to their member, Mr Harrison, that some expression of opinion should be made by that meeting regarding the. steps he had taken in this matter. If they did not do so it might be used against him elsewhere, and impair his usefulness on their behalf. He moved— "That this meeting record a vote of thanks to Mr Harrison for the trouble he has' taken to forward the interests of this district." Mr Girdwood seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded, the proceedings. ' .: „; •