THE HAWKE’S BAY TIMES. NAPIER, THURSDAY, JULY 4, 1861.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 1, 4 July 1861, Page 2

THE HAWKE’S BAY TIMES. NAPIER, THURSDAY, JULY 4, 1861.

In tins our Jlrst number, we will endeavour to place before our readers a view of some of the reasons for our undertaking, and of its necessity. The acknowledged growing importance of the Province, of Hawke s Bay—its rapidly increasing exports, revenue, ami general prosperity, does, and has for months past, urgently demanded the publication of another periodical newspaper, which, being free from the trammels of party and of Government influence, should watch over the public interest, expose the many existing evils of “ things as they are,” and endeavour to point out a remedy. The pressing need of such a publication is only too evident to all who have taken even the most cursor'* interest in the allairs of the Province from the time of its separate existence to (he present. In looking back to the period of the separation agitation, we find among (he reasons adduced by its advocates for this (then) extreme measure was the waste of the public, money in the multiplication of offices, in exorbitant salaries paid to Government officials, and the general extravagance of the AVellington Government. The economy with which a Government could be conducted was loudly talked of, and electors fondly believed that such a one would be established for the separated Province of Hawke's Bay. How egregiously we have been deceived we all know, and know too well. No sooner was the machinery of the Government set in motion, than the self same abuses which were so loudly protested against in the Wellington Government were manifested by ours—the same general extravagance, the same enormous salaries to its officials, the same creation of needless oflices for its dependents and supporters,—nay, even the same expenditure of unappropriated public money. In our contemporary of the loth ultimo, appears an editorial article referring more especially to this unauthorised and illegal expenditure of the Provincial funds, which has taken place during the past year (I 860) to rue amount, in round numbers, of nine THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED FOUNDS; which article, after faintly condemning the principle involved, proceeds to extenuate and excuse the facts. It appears to us, however, that its reasoning only makes matters worse ; for if it be true that nearly one third part of the whole was omitted from the estimates, although both due and paid before the Council sat, this omission must have proceeded from some cause—either culpable negligence on the part of those who should have placed those items there, or because they would hardly have borne the ordeal of discussion in Council. It is well known how easily facts of t ins nature may be explained away ; and if a reason or an excuse is all that is required by an indulgent public, we may reasonably ask—Could iio{. the Superintendent of Wellington as easily explain and account for the iinsanctioned expenditure Ihcre on tlie sumo grounds of necessity und pro hoon publico

It is not so long since but that avo can remember the doings ot tin.- "Wellington Council, Avliicli sat Avith the avoAved intention of disalloAving as much as possible of the unauthorised expenditure in that province, ami its niter failure. Far be it from us to justify Dr. Featberstou, —au evil is an evil Avliereever found,—but lie. certainly did have this excuse, that by the dead-lock in the Govornment it Avas in a manner forced upon him, Avhich is not to be said here, Avbere Ave have the same result without its cause; and shall avc be told that Avhat Avas so extravagantly wrong there is only rigid, or at least is excuscablu here: Au unprejudiced observer Avoiild suppose that Avhat was Avorthy of condemnation there Avould not be less so here ; that those avlio could so clearly see the faults of the old rhjime, Avould be careful to av r oid them in the new; and this, if not from the higher motive of the public good, at least for their own consistency of character in carrying out the principles so loudly decried in words. It appears, hoAvever, that having obtained the gratification of their wishes—■political power, they resolved to forego all previous promises—to forget all their Arirtuons indignation against Wellington extravagance —to folloAV only too closely the evil example of their culpable parent. Did to come nearer to the present time, avo may refer to the last session of the Provincial Council, AA’ben retrenchment and economy Avere so much expected, and every one imagined that past experience would have taught a useful lesson. Did what reformation do avc find ? True, they did commence their labours by nominally reducing the salary of the Superintendent; avc say nominally, for, after the avliolo of the other officials’ salaries had been passed as before, or increased, even this Avas restored to its original amount, one gentleman in Council advancing as a reason for so doing that money avus of much less value than it Avas in former years, Avliicli avo confess avc do not find to be the case, AVere it not that the subject is one of such great importance to the Province, it Avould really be quite amusing to road the reports published of debates in Council on the Estimates, Avhere, no matter how great the objection to the nartieular item under consideration, or to the sum proposed to be voted for it, the usual closing sentence is—“this Avas ultimately passed as proposed."’ Of course this must be, so long as the executive has the control of the Council by its paid members, dependants, and supporfers constituting the -great majority. Dut it seems useless arguing against the extravagance of Councils, Avbilst its votes are disregarded. While upAvards of ,£1)000 are spent in excess of vote, and nearly AdOOO of that sum on items for Avhich the Council made no vote at all, and this Avithin one year by our late execntiA'e —if such as this can be done Avith impunity, Avby bring the Estimates before the Council ? If one-fourth of the revenue of the Province can be so spent Avitlioiit responsibility, Avby not the remaining three-fourths as avcIIV AVe hope that the labors of the late Finance Committee, Avliicli ba/J.disclosed these facts, will no), be Avitlioiit their reAvard ; that the General Council uoav in session will impose some effectual check on the extravagance of superintendents ; and that our Provincial Council will not be slow to adopt such measures as Avill prove their determination to control the public purse, mid that Avith such economy as Avill shew that the pledges given before election are regarded as principles to be acted on in Council.