REFORMATION OF WEST COAST GOVERNMENTS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1235, 15 July 1872, Page 2

REFORMATION OF WEST COAST GOVERNMENTS.

[to the editor.] Sir— At the meeting of last Monday night, although no adverse feeling to the different motions was expressed, there was hot, I hold, that unanimity of opinion that the results, seemed to show, . and which the Press, in its articles since then, has taken for granted, y During the short time that I was present I heard among my immediate surroundings expressions the reverse of complimentary or approval of the propositions brought before the meeting, and since thatj 1/ have heard more generally expressed adverse opinions outside ; and,, it is believing that these expressions are more widely entertained than is supposed, that I submit that the resolutions ,of the. late meeting are not indicative of the •wishes of the public, or of a nature to remedy what we have hitherto complained of. I have only to ask any disinterested spectator at Monday's meeting if there was the slightest interest; expressed by the audience when the show of hands was called for ; if, when the ' Mayor asked for discussion and expressions of opinion, speakers, other than those, capable of uttering a few platitudes could be had ; if the audience did not display a yawning weariness witK the dreary monotony of the •whole proceedings. . Seeing/ therefore, that so much apathy was shown, I do not hesitate to say that the expression of opinion given at the late meeting was not the expression of the public, and as such ought not to be allowed to be taken. . Were a public meeting to be called, and the straightforward question put to <hoße present — "Are you in favor of Provincialism ..or not?" ;you .and., the .promoters of the late meeting would soon see how the current bf opinion runs. Were you at the same meeting to ask— " Will you have a Provincial form of Gojvernment for the present, or will you have a nominated administrator to act ad interim, until the General Government shall have time to give your case careful consideration?" you would also have seen that the meeting would not have entertained the former thought for one moment. We all know, and every day experience makes us m^re certain, that Provincialism is doomed ; that its system in effete and restrictive, that it is only adapted as a rudimentary legislation, and totally inadequate to meet the requirements, of a country that has emerged from its infancy of settlement to the status that all New Zealand has now arrived at. If, therefore, we recognise this, why should we attempt still, when a change from the present is portending, to perpetuate this system which is so universally condemned, and why not seek to get that which will eventually come to us. If the Government be in earnest in asking proposal* from Mr Harrison, and Mr Harrison be in earnest in asking the co-operation oi his constituents, then will the Government be. only too glad to learn from the people what they- really desire and be guided by their wishes. But if the Government have not asked Mr Harrison, oi if they have in* company with Mr Harrison thought upon; this plan as the usual yearly sop for the discontented West: Coast; then we may only expect a debate, debates, postponements and telegrams, and pmterea nihil. However, as this is a digression from the subject upon which I primarily started, although bearing collaterally upon it, I have further td add that if Mr Harrison be in earnest about a change, he can carry his influence with the Government- quite as well for the appointment of a gold fields administrator as for the constitution of a new province. I have, however, grave doubts about anything emanating from Mr Harrison. For years past" he, by telegrams, has made everything appear coulenrde rose, and, when his schemes notably fail he generally contrives during the course of an. evening's speech to shift the responsibility from himself, and to come out as the aggrieved and muchdeceived advocate of our interests. ' We have had each , year some new notable scheme of his concoction, some " will' o' the wisp" to: distract our attention and toy with as a plaything ; and each year, hitherto, we have been pleased with him and not distrustful of him. Is this thing to be repeated? Is the same amusing farce again to be enacted ? I for one believe it is to be the old scene again. The Harrison candle is once more lighted; once more the moths fly round it; the same actors that for years have com-: menced the. hum of agitation of every fresh proposal now again come forward and with self-confiding trustfulness again; advocate the proposals of their Mephistopheles; The red rag of the boundary-; line is again displayed,, and the rashness of the bovine species is exemplified in the fury with which the well-meaning erithu-; siasts rush into extremes— provincialism, absolutism) nepotism— any ism so long as thia line i 3 blotted out. 'No change too: radical; no change too conservative, so long as the line appears no more upon the maps of the Colony. In their eagerness for this really desirable consummation, they forget themselves, and do not calmly and dispassionately argue what means are best for self-government or what change is_ suitable for us. If the Government wish be bon% fidej will it not; be as easy to carry a measure for putting the whole administration of our coast under their direct charge ? For the proper working and better carrying out such a changej what can there be better than local Road Boards, or :Shire Councils? and what more inexpensive than such a system ? The cry is great against a nominated Superintendent, but why should it be? We are told any fool might be nominated by the Government, or any hanger-on might be rewarded for his servility and consistency. Granted, perhaps, that it might be so, but wouli it not be better to have one fool only, to deal with than by having so many Councils have many fools ? Have the Government not a better chance of selecting a man of marked administrative ability than the general public of selecting a mau, as in nine cases out of ten they do, on account of his personal popularity or because he happens to represent a class and can speak fluently enough to carry away the oipolloi by his stump oratory. I for one would rather trust the Government than I would the chosen of the general public, and I believe the verdict of the majority will bo in accordance with my opinion, if tested. The County administration as administered by John Hall was a great success ; why not follow out its principles? He was a nominated 'Chairman. To this I may receive the reply that all men aro not John Hall) and that anyone nomi- '

nated might be far short of his calibre. I will allow that, while I still hold that under a nominated Chairman we have almost a certainty of having some man of administrative capacity, while under the elective principle we have the certainty of having a man elected who has had no previous: administrative^-expft-^ rience. Such knowledge as is necessary to govern is not intuitive ; it must be partly acquired by porsonal acquaintance with our close observance of :r the machinery of, government. The most . trusted and the best rulers are like workmen, men who have, had -most experience and been found able to do their work. A man in business would commit amistake by entrusting a delicate and skilled - job to an ignorant man or to an apprentice^ nsfc entering upon his profession. ' Would ? not a people equally commit a mistake hhr:y r : entrusting the driving of the locomotive to an unskilled driver. 1 hold that the same parallel applies as to a nominated or elective, administrator. Here, therefore, I do not hbld yntii the^ resolution come to at the meeting. Again, in accounting for the apathy mahifesfe'd, I believe a very great' deal of that is due" 1 to the shortness of notice giyen to the public of this meeting. When any'jgreat and organic changes are to be made, the public mind ought to have time to become habituated to such,. and to .calmly weigh, for themselves what alterations should be most desirable. In this instance such time was not given, and the result was that the whole of the ! discussion centred among a few, whilst the majority of theaudience came away not much better enlightened than when ith'ey went. 'The remarks of the different speakers appeared to me to be crude and ill-digested, while' they themselves looked as if they had opened up a subject of which their knowledge was at least very superficial. I am sure every man meant well ; had, indeed, ; the interests of the whole district .at heart, and conscientiously, and : disinter, restedly acted his part. But was' that part the proper one to play for. the general good? I don't think so, Wearatoldtb inaugurate expression of opinion for dfesired reform in our internal machinery; Instead of rushing at these, let us wait a little and see if Mr Harrison could -not agree with us in getting the proposed . County brought under the charge of the Government as before stated. It is said that new. aggressions are to be made upon the Provinces this year. Last session they were well shorn ; if so, we will suffer like the rest. Each year these aggressions are made, and in a short time all the Provinces will be so denuded of power that they must fall from their, own cumbrousness. Why should -we, therefore, with this prospect before us, link ourselves to a falling system, ;■; ; Let us rather have something new, something that all acknowledge must soon- take place. Let us set the example of being directly adtninisteredfrom head-quarters, andletus so find ourselves when the finality. of Provincialism is a fact that the general change is only a continuation of our past ruling, and that with such we are thoroughly conversant. To get this Bystem we.should not be led astray.: by bogus propositions and telegrams; we .should not year after year go up with a different scheme, but stick to this as ourpiatform. We have year after year, through Mr : Harrison, been like so many chameleons, and. this, continuous changing and unstableneas of purpose militates against' us in the Assembly when our interests are considered. It was used with effect last session by Messrs Curtis and Shephard, and will be so Aised again. With this knowledge, let us, when the consideration of the proposed resolutions, are under our notice at the next meeting, not; be led away by the ignis fetuiis of present, but temporary, relief, but look forward if agitation is to be commenced, and new changes brought about, for something that will be tangible and not evanescent as the proposed change to Provincialism. . ; _„..' ; ; lam, &c.,,, t .,..,. ,_ A Resident. Greymouth, July 13, 1872.. : . *