UNITY OF THE WEST COAST GOLD FIELDS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1311, 11 October 1872, Page 2

UNITY OF THE WEST COAST GOLD FIELDS.

Mr Stafford, in one of his Ministerial statements made on the 13th inst., said:— • We are aware that very considerable discontent exists upon the gold fields on the west coast of the Middle Island ; at any rate, upon that part known as the Nelson South-west Gold •Fields. What are the special causes of that discontent I do not myself profess to know, nor am 1 aware that any of 'my colleagues possess any information superior to my own, with the exception of my honorable friend; the member for Nelson City (Mr Curtis), : and I am bound to say that he does not hold, to the same extent as some other honorable gentlemen, that there are very suffiV oient reasons for that discontent. However, the fact that the discontent exists, that it is not of recent creation, but that it has continually subsisted for a considerable term of years, justifies the Government in giving a full examination to the question, with a view, if possible, of administering the Government in a manner more acceptable to the inhabitants of that part of the Colony. I have hot seen the Westland Bill, indeed I believe it ha 3 not yet been distributed, but if it pro poses to create anything in the shape of a new Province on the West Coast Gold Fields, I will say at once that I do not think a measure of that character is one which would be likely to conduce to the good government of that part of the Colony. There are other means which would establish an efficient administration, and at the same time enable the revenues of that part of the country to be more beneficially appropriated for the advantage of the people there, than could be the case under any such system, as that to which I have referred. Mr Harrison 4 afterwards asked the Government, if it is their intention to bring in a Bill, during the present session, . for unification of the West Coast Gold Fields ; and, if not, Jwhether they will support a measure for that pnrpose 1 He took the opportunity of saying that the course indicated by the honorable member at the head of the Government as that which the Government would pursue, would not be at all satisfactory to the people on the West Coast. Mr Stafford said that he had already stated that the Government were not prepared to propose any legislation on this subject during the present session, They did not intend to propose any legislation which* would have the effect of involving constitutional changes. !