PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1833, 20 June 1874, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Thursday, June 18. [from the westland register.]

The following message from his Honor the Superintendent was read : — " His Honor begs to inform the Council that he accepted Charles Woolcock, Esq., and William Todd, Esq., as members of the Executive, and that he assented to the appointment of Charles Woolcock, Esq., the Provincial Secretary and Secretary for Public Works, and also the appointment of William Todd, Esq., as Provincial Treasurer.

On the announcement being made, the hon. member for Totara (Mr Cuming) having made a kind of crackling noise, he was called to order by the Speaker, who told the hon. member he would not allow such exhibitions of shameful conduct.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT,

The Provincial Secretary said that before the ordinary business of the Council was proceeded with, he wished to make a statement in reference to recent occurrences that had taken place in connection with the Council. According to the advice which had been given to his Honar the Superintendent on the resignation of the late Executive, and bring about such unanimity in the Government as would effectually and without further obstruction allow the public business to be proceeded with. With this object in view he had called upon the late Provincial Solicitor to join the Government, but that gentleman had declined, and the consequence was that at present they had to do without a solicitor, and they would have to obtain what legal assistance was necessary from outside the Council. It would, however, be his and his colleague s study and care to obtain the services of a gentleman who would by his advice protect the interests and uphold the dignity of that Council. It was not to be expected that since the formation of the Government, which took place some three hours ago, they Would ,be prepared to come forward with any elaborate scheme or policy. There were two \ery palpable reasons against it ; firstly, lack of time, and secondly, the session was so far advanced that they would not attempt to introduce any new or important measures. They had agreed to the scheme" of public works as brought in by the late Government in the meantime, but eventually intended to make some slight alterations, and he intended to ask the Council that certain matters should stand over until Monday, in order to bring down a scheme of Public Works, with the exception of a few slight alterations, nearly similar to the one already brought down. There was the question of Road Boards to be considered, but they had found, on inquiry and examination, that they could not enter into the question until the Committee on Road Boards had brought up its report ; and then, if found practicable to deal with the re-construction of Road Boards, they were prepared to go on with it,, but until ascertaining the recommendations of that Committee, they failed to see their way clear to do so. The whole question, and also ' that of tolls, as connected with each other, would be considered daring the recess, and he wotild be prepared at the next sitting to bring up a well-defined scheme on each of those matters. In the mean-: time the Government thought, ia case the Road Board question should be deferred, it might be desirable to give some temporary aid to those bodies until that time, but that would be a question entirely for the consideration of the Council. Then there was the question of tramway compensation, and taking into account the very voluminous character of the correspondence he feared it would be difficult to deal with it during the present session ; but, while admitting the difficulty to deal with the question in its entirety, the Government would, if the Council desired it, be prepared to go on. In reference to the present state of the Government departments, they would at once institute a strict investigation, and make such alterations as were deemed necessary, and reduce the expenses as far as waa compatible with efficiency. The Hokitika Water Works Empowering Bill, which had already excited a great deal of discussion in and out of the House, they proposed to defer until the next session of the Council, and, in the meantime, obtain such necessary information on the subject as to be satisfied on the advisability of passing such an Act. There was one more question of special interest, that of an Appropriation Bill. They intended to bring one as soon as practicable, but there would.be some little difficulty experienced until it was decided by the Council how it would deal with the Road Board question, as ie would affect the Bill if any assistance was given, and the same would be the case as regarded the Tramway Compensation. The Provincial Treasurer said he had not to offer any remarks on the subject in addition to what had fallen from the Provincial Secretary. Mr Guinness said he had to make a personal statement in regard to some remarks that had fallen from the late Provincial Secretary, in alluding to the message received from his Honor last night. The late Provincial Secretary had made use of some expressions doubting the sincerity of his Honor's regrets. The hon. member had made those remarks on his own account, and not as the feeling

of the whole of the members of the late Executive. Those expressions of opinion which had fallen from the late Secretary were not shared by him (MrGuinneja) and his late colleague, Mr Dungan, and he felt bound, in justice to his Honor and Mr Dungan, to make that statement. Mr White said the hon. member, Mr Guinness, had given a perfectly correct statement, as the utterances he had made came entirely from himself. What he did say was — that his Honor did nob hold out a helping hand to avert the necessity of their resignation, but he had nothing to say regarding the sincerity of his regrets. That he had said, and would stand by, and that would be found a correct and truthful statement.

HOKITIKA STREET CLOSING BILL. The Provincial Secretary moved the Becond reading of the above Bill,

Mr White considered it would have been only decorouß and proper on the part of the Government to have given the Council Bonie idea of what the Bill meant, and was proceeding with some further remarks on the subject when The Speaker said the hon, member (Mr White was not in order. He could Bpeak about the matter when the Bill came on for consideration. It was not absolutely necessary on the part of the Government to introduce the Bill with comments. The Bill bad been in the hands of hon. members for several days.

Mr Cuming was proceeding with some < irrevalent remarks about the Bill, when he was interrupted by Mr. White, who asked the Speaker why he permitted Mr Cuming to apeak on the subject when he (Mr White) had been ruled out of order.

The Speaker would request that hon. members would confine themselves to the question before the House.

Mr White said he was only about to state that if the Government considered they could introduce bills in that slap dash style without a word of explanation they would find themselves mistaken. It was always expected that on the second reading of a bill there should be some explanation given on the subjeot. He trusted the Government would give them some sort of idea of what the Bill meant, as it might be of considerable importance to the people of Hokitika. He (Mr White) had moved the first reading of the Bill, Aand if he had moved its second reading, he X would have given some explanation about it to the Council. It would, perhaps, have been bettor if the Government had asked for a postponement, as it could scarcely be expected that any ordinary individuals would have gone on with the matter under the circumstances but the I Mayor of Hokitika. The Provincial 'Treasurer was an extraordinary individual, and that would be proved, and he (Mr White) would see that it did. He would protest against the business being pushed on with unnecessary haste, so as to bring on a prorogation, and the interest's of Westland would then be left in the hands of two creatures of the Superintendent. If that was done, it would be done at a cost that they did not think of.. The Provincial Secretary had talked about bitterness on his part, now he had got the Road Board question to talk about, and he no doubt thought that was a penance for all evils.

Mr Robinson would call the hon. member to order, he had never listened to a greater striug of personalities. Mr White : The hon; member's opinion would not affect him—he (Mr Robinson) could come out with a little venom occasionally against the hon. members for Totara and Arahua (Mr Seddon and Mr Cuming), but his Robinson Crusoe style did not affect him. They all knew what operated on the minds of that gentleman and one or two more who had wished to succeed to the Government benches.

Mr Robinson said the expressions uttered by the hon. member for Hokitika - (Mr White) were as cowardly as they were ] false.

Mr White thought he appeared to be in a lion's den, but he did not know whether the hon. member for Kanieri was a lion or a lamb ; but he (Mr White) did not regard him in that Council, nor ever did regard them. He could forgive the Provincial Secretary for trying to expedite the work of the session, but he still thought that some explanation relating to the Bill should have been given, and he thought it was very extraordinary on the part of the gentlemen at the head of the Government that they had not done so, but they need not be surprised at their action, as one of the members of the Government (Mr Todd) had pledged himself to support him.

Mr Todd rose to a point of order, and would explain. He had attended two of the caucus meetings of the late Government, but had given no such pledge in the sense the late Provincial Secretary wished it to be understood. First of all, when the Council was last in session, he was was not in favor of an Executive ; but, at the commencement of the present one, he had both believed in it and voted for it. He would have been perfectly satisfied with any two. members chosen to fill the offices held by Mr White, and would have been satisfied with Mr White in one of the offices, as he considered him one of the best members of that Council to fill the office of Provincial Secretary. At the last meeting that he had attended, he had been obliged to leave before any decision had been arrived at ; but, afterwards, had discovered that the offices of Secretary and Treasurer had been merged into one, and that being the case, and Mr White being determined to proceed to Wellington, and leave the entire management to the Provincial Solicitor, and he did not speak with any disrespect with regard to that gentleman's abilities, but objected to the business of the country being left in any one hand. That was the reason for his talcing the course he had done in the matter. 'Had the hon. member (Mr White) only held the position of Provincial Secretary, he would have supported him through thick and thin, as he wished to see him at Wellington, and thoroughly believed in tho expediency of one member of the Executive attending the Assembly. He trusted the Council would see the consist- * ency of the action he had taken. He did not believe in the business of the Executive being placed in the hands of any one* man, as in that case they would just be placed in 4 the same, position as though there was no Executive.

Mr White was prepared to prove by evidence of six or seven members besides himself, and notwithstanding the iftter? ruptions of Mr I^obinßon, who appeared* to start up like a v Jack in the box" he (Mr White) was prepared to state that the Provincial Treasurer (Mr Todd) had left, with the diatinot understanding that

he would support the late Government, but he now had his reward by a seat on the Government bench, and long might he wave. Matters had come to a fine pass when the second reading of a Bill was proposed without their knowing anything about it. He had seen the hon. Provincial Secretary walking about the streets for the past day or two as though he had the cares of Creation on his shoulders, and he thought they would have found the Government ready. Had the Government asked for an adjournment he would have been prepared to support it. He had not made these remarks out of hostility to the Provincial Secretary or the Government, but he Btrongly objected to the way in which they were proceeding. He believed the hon. gentleman -meant well whatever his ability might be, and hoped he would finds ome explanation about the Bill, or he (Mr White) would oppose any second reading. Mr Cuming thought the late Provincial Secretary should show more compassion and charity towards the Executive, and although he knew it was a weak one he should not condemn everything brought up by the Government. He considered if the hon. member who had just sat down went on carping in that way, they would never get on with the business of the Council. He thought they should work harmoniously together. Mr Seddon rose to move the adjournment of the debate, owing to the singular behaviour of aome of the members. He was sure it would not conduce to the dignity of the Council to continue the discussion at present. Mr Robinson seconded the motion. He was sorry to say that it was not the first time that blackguardly allusions had been made towards him.

quiries respecting the different centres of the mining districts in the Grey Valley, their population and position, before making un their minds to amalgamate the Grey Valley with another district ; it is the opinion of this meeting they have not done so." Seconded by Mr Geo. M'Beath, and carried without dissent. Mr Donovan, in endeavoring to move an amendment, said that although he was in favor of retrenchment amongst the Government officials he thought that the Executive might have found other more important points to work upon than the amalgamation of Wardens for the Grey Valley, but still he considered that the whole of the Grey Valley Wardenship could be done by the Reefton Warden. Mr Rhodes, in moving the third resolution, said that retrenchment was a great virtue if exacted in the right direction,

(For remainder of News, see 4&hpage.)

The motion was carried, and the debate adjourned until Monday.