WESTLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1871, 4 August 1874, Page 2

WESTLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL .

THE PROVINCIAL SECRETARY'S MEETING. There was a large meeting of the electors of Greymouth at Gilmer's Hall, last evening, for the purpose of meeting Mr Woolcock, the Provincial Secretary of Westland, and hearing any explanations he had to make with regard to recent proceedings in the Council. The Mayoh (Mr W. S. Smith) was called to the chair, and very briefly introduced Mr C. Woolcock, who said he had not invited the meeting of his constituents in his capacity of, Provincial Secretary, but as one of their representatives in the Provincial Council. He would not attempt to make a speech, but would endeavor to make a plain statement, of what' had been done during the last two sessions of the Provincial Council of Westland. Since he was returned as : one of their members two sessions of the Council had passed, and lie considered it his duty, as well as an act of courtesy, to come before them and give an account of his stewardship, and also to give any of his constituents an opportunity of asking him any questions as to the course of acfciou he had adopted, which he hoped he -would be able to answer in asatisfac- : tory manner. During the first session of the Council, the first important question which came up was whether the Speaker should be allowed to take part in the debates; He voted for that, but admitted that the course was unusual in Provincial Councils, although it was not in opposition to the Constitution Act. He had not much to say in defence of his action upon ' that question, but he thought it might not he unwise in small Councils, such as that of Westland, to allow, the Speaker to take part in the debates on important occasions. The most able man in the Council, having most experience, was usually voted to the position, and he could see no reason why they should not receive the benefit of that experience and ability when it was wanted. During that session nothing was done but the passing of the Administration Ordinance and the Estimates. He endeavored on two occasions to put a sum on the Estimates for the Literary Society, but failed. He felt very strongly on this point, as he believed that the Government should give all the support it possibly could, to make these institutions as popular as possible; It might be a cause of- regret that on many questions he had been in opposition to his colleagues, and also to the members for the Paroa District, but he had never been in opposition to them on matters directly affecting the interests of these districts. He had voted against his col-^ leagues on the Administration Ordinance, because he knew that the Province was very poor, its revenue was very limited, and the amounts which were set down on the Estimates had to be expended by the Superintendent for the purposes for which they were voted. The revenue was only some L 40,000, and he did not think ifc too much, under the circumstances, to leave 1 the expenditure in the hands of the Superintendent. It was then proposed that a Recess Committee should be appointed to see to the expenditure of the votes, | and he voted for .the- Committee and' ' against the Executive. During the second: session a new Executive, Ordinance was brought in, which he opposed,^ because he did not see any sufficient alter- 1 ation in the circumstances of the Province to induce him to alter his opinion. He; and the party who voted with him were beaten, and the Executive Ordinance; passed. He said then that if the Province I could succeed in borrowing money to any : extent, an Executive would be necessary to advise the Superintendent as to its expenditure. He expressed himself satisfied with the Executive then being formed, as he presumed that the head of it would resign his seat in the House of Representatives, and devote the whoie of his time to the duties of his office ; but he was very much surprised to find that the gentleman in question refused to do so. Of course it was understood that the Superintendent i would be' away from the Province about three months in the year} 1 and when lie discovered that- the Provincial Secretary was also to be absent the same period, he was very much dissatisfied, because they would both be absent at the same time, and it was well known that , .the business of these departments were in a most unsatisfactory condition. : Under these circumstances, he felt that he could not support the Executive. A number of members called upon him j they held a meeting, and the result was that an Opporsitipn was formed, the results of which the meeting waß. perfectly well acquainted with, He had been twitted both by the Press and outside, that he would not take office. He certainly never intended to do so } but at the time he had referred to he was invited to a meeting of the Opposition, and he was fixed upon to take a lead in the movement. He made a provision that if they succeeded in ousting the Executive, a new one should be | formed without him, but the members insisted that he should take office, which he had done. He believed that an. Executive was not absolutely necessary just now, but it waff-aji inevitable result of the form of Government. With re.ga.rd to the results of the last session of the Council he mentioned the passing of the Education Act, and gave a short summary of its clauses (which we have previously explained). He said ifc was the intention of the Government to have get iaside LSOOO for education out of the proposed loan, in order to build schools and pay teachers. It was still the intention |of v ( jthe Government to, obtain money by borirowing or otherwise to erect schools and pay teachers, although no loan. should be obtained ; and. he would assure the meeting that the educational: system wo aid be carried out au equitably and efficiently as : r|; was possible, to do, towards all classes .of the community, Another matter to iwhich he wished to 'refer was, that when the present Executive brought down the {estimates there was a sum of LIOOO on jthein which was neither more or. less than $ sum for che ; relief of -Road:; Boards, and yet they weretwitted with endeavor-* ing to obtain cheap popularity by voting money to the Road Boards. In the early part ;of the session a committee had been appointed to remodel the Road ; Boards; and late in the session they brought down a report thaj; many of the Boards were in financial difficulties^ and it was in qrder to rejieve^thpm, \i posgibje, that tl*.e sum was placed on the estimates. With

regard to the future policy of the Government, they would endeavor to devise some plan for the settlement of the tramway compensation question ; for the reconstruction of Road Boards, and for arriving at some definite conclusion as to the erection of toll-gates. In answer to questions, Mr Wooicock said the site of the Telegraph Office had nothing to do with the Provincial Council; with regard to the truck system, he had forwarded to the Geueral Government the resolution passed by the late session of the Council. - ; ; Mr Shbbdy brought under the notice of; the Secretary .two cases which : had been brought before the Resident Magistrate's Court lately^ -in which' "the defendants held licenses unexpired for thrjee months, and the ; cause's were dismissed.. The Inspector here, acting under instructions from the Provincial Government, . gave notice of. appeal .against the Magistrate's decision, and he wished to know under whose instructions he was thfen acting. : .-:' Mr Woolcock said; ;the 'cases referred to were brought before, the Council and : discussed, and ' they had legal advice t o take the proceedings^; : which had been done. He admitted ;that. an, injustice in some of these cases.might have, been done, .but the Government only acted, up tp.the' legal advice they 'received. The^parties, referred to refused .to accept the refund' for the unexpired. portion of their licenses at 'that time, and as . the vote^ for the pur-, pose'was^npw.^ expended ,he iyas '. sprry to' say they would. naye.t6 ; waitfor it.y, ' ' j The R^v.Mr, WAikiNsTaskeiclvirKen the Provincial /Education .Act :i l>piiid- corue into force ? '""'.., „ ',. ... .•■■-': .':_'; \ Mr WpoLCOCK. replied ■ some . time in October, if. all the machinery; for the Local .Boards was then prepared.- ' • ( j ' On the motion of Mr Doprb, 'seconded by Mr Glenn, a vote of confidence in Mir Woolcock, as a representative of 'the town" in the Provincial CqundU" was -passeii unanimously, , and the meeting adjourned. ' •';; .',; i .--. , ■ ■■ : . . . '. ■ .;!:' i