PROVINCE OF WESTLAND BILL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1583, 1 September 1873, Page 2

PROVINCE OF WESTLAND BILL.

A summary of the. debate on the Province of Westland Bill in the Legislative Council has already been published. The following is the version forwarded to the West Coast Times : — .... Dr Pollen moved the second reading of the Bill. .He briefly explained that the County was established at a, time when an impression prevailed that a similar change would take place throughout the Colony. There was no prospect now of auch a change, and therefore: it was inexpedient that Westland should continue under an exceptional form of Government. Mr Bonar reviewed the history of the County. The system, he said, had worked well with the exception of the mode of electing the Chairman, which he (Mr Bonar) had pointed out as a defect when the Bill of 1868 was being framed. The administration of County affairs would compare favorably with that of the Provinces, notwithstanding the political inexperience in the district when first called upon to administer its own government. The County had done much in the shape of roads, bridges, &c, although borne by the Canterbury debt, and by deprivation of revenue from the operation of the capitation allowance, &c. While approving the County system, he recognised"

the fact that as no organised changes were likely to take place in the Provincial system, Westland suffered from its exceptional form of Government. He would, therefore, support the measure. He strongly objected, however, to the amend- • ment introduced during the passage of the Bill through the House |of Representatives, for vesting a valuable reserve lit the General Gqvernment, r inasmuchas all reserves in other Provinces are 'vested in the Superintendent It- was perpe-" tiating an exceptional treatment of Westland. ';;=;;;> Mr Lahman dwelt chiefly on the Canterbury debt. Mr Waterhouse urged ire-annexation to Canterbury as the best, solution of the Canterbury debt difficulty, and as the best means for securing the construction of the ■East and .West Coast railways^ „ 'i i\ . Several other members $opk part inthe debate, the predominant, feeling t . being ira favor of re-anne^ation to Canterbury. With regard to the Provincial Loan Bill itis stated that while moving the .second reading Mr Yogel incidentally referred to Westland, stating that the , . Government intended^ to ask; the. House ior power, to borrow r L50,000. for, Westland, to' pay off her liabilities (the polony to pay dff the interest and sinking fund "for "ten 'years) in consideration of Westland's. exceptional hardships. ; _ „, „. ,,.. r ;,: r '.; : ""';^ ' : '"\ :\ '_,