PROPOSED DISSOLUTION OF THE SOCIETY OF LAND PURCHASERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 62, 13 March 1852, Page 6

PROPOSED DISSOLUTION OF THE SOCIETY OF LAND PURCHASERS.

To the Editor of the " LyHelton Times." Sir, —I am directed by the Council of the Society of Land Purchasers to transmit to you the following Clauses from the Report which they are about to submit to the Society at the next quarterly meeting, advertised for Thursday, the Ist of April; the Council would feel greatly obliged if you could find room to publish it in your next paper for the information of the Land Purchasers. I am, Sir, youv obedient servant, R. J. S. Habman, Cleric to the Council. Christchnrch, March 10, 1852. Draft of Clauses to he introduced into the report of the Council to be presented to the Society of Land Purchasers at the quarterly General Meeting of Thursday, April Ist, 1852. In cqmplianee with the minute of the General Meeting of the Ist of January, the Council

have taken into their consideration the question of altering' the franchise of the Society, but the}' have been compelled in doing so to enter upon the wider and move important question of the original idea involved in the formation of the Society, and its present use and position in the settlement. The Society was originally constituted in London, under the name of "the Society of Canterbury Colonists," for the purpose of promoting intercourse amongst those who were about to engage in the task of founding the new settlement, and it comprised all intending colonists. As soon as the first purchasers of land were completed, the constitution of the Society was altered. It was then called " the Society of Land Purchasers in the Canterbury Seti»V' ment," and membership was confined to those v * indicated by its new title. When the first four ' ships were about to sail from England, its meetings were formally adjourned, to'be resumed in the colony. Immediately upon arriving in the colony, it took a more definite and practical form, and regulated its proceedings by a code of rules which were printed and published. The objects of the Society, and its position in the settlement, were now distinctly specified. It proposed to consider and communicate with the Association upon all questions connected with the expenditure of the funds which the land purchasers had contributed for objects of public utility in the settlement. This Was its sole legitimate function ; and to this task, its labours have been for the most part limited. But questions have from time to time forced themselves upon the attention of the Society in which the interests, not of the land purchasers only, but of all classes of the community have been equally concerned, and whilst the Society of Land Purchasers has no claim to be regarded as representing the community at large, it has been compelled to entertain questions which ought to be dealt with only by all the inhabitants of the settlement, or by some elected body representing their interests and opinions. As the colony has advanced, and a variety of new and important interests have arisen, these 4*', questions have necessarily increased in number and magnitude, so that the matters with which it has been thought-peculiarly the province of land purchasers to deal, have but a small proportion to those many subjects of social and political interest which concern the welfare of all classes of the community, and in respect to which there is constant need for some legitimate expression of public opinion. Youv Council therefore conceive that the present constitution of the Society, representing as it does but one class in the community, can no longer be maintained with a due regard to the wants and interests of the settlement. They submit that the time has arrived for a complete and effective organization of all the inhabitants of the settlement, for the consideration of all objects connected with the public welfare. For a long time your Council indulged in the hope that the establishment of representative government, and the restoration of those privileges which Englishmen have been used to enjoy under the ancient constitution of their country, would have rendered any such constitution unnecessary, and that until that time should arrive, the constitution of your Society might remain unchanged without any material detriment to the public interests. In that hope they haveb een disappointed; and in the absence of all constitutional government, and of all prospect of obtaining it, they are persuaded that such an organization can no longer be delayed with safety. There is a serious and pressing need for the exercise by the public of that wholesome influence over the acts and policy of the Government, and that check upon the^ expenditure of the public funds which have! been universally recognized in our own country^ as essential conditions of all good government; and where no legitimate method of exercising those powers is afforded by the constitution, of the country, the deficiency must be supplied as far as possible by voluntary popular organization, v #' Nor do your Council see any reason why*tl»e Canterbury Association should any more than the Government, claim exemption from the constitutional principles above stated. The late Act of Parliament has transformed the Association from " a body selling land," such as it was stated " solely" to be, by the minute of the 24th May, 1850, into the most important department of the. Local Government. It now holds in

trust all the lands reserved for Government purposes, it administers the most valuable portion of the public revenues; it is the trustee of many of the prerogatives of the Crown; and it is about to exercise its extensive powers through the agency of a nominated Committee of Management. Now the administration of the powers granted to the Canterbury Association is a matter equally important to the community generally, as it is to the land purchasers; and the necessity-of some constant and watcjjiful control over its proceedings is even i.,j£^o'needful than in the case of the Local Go--vevnment, in proportion as its powers are more *• extensive. s For the foregoing reasons your Council recommend that, the Society of Land-Purchasers should be dissolved, and that a new society be formed, to be entitled " The Society of Canterbury Colonists;" and that the sole object kept in view in its construction should be that of providing an adequate machinery for obtaining-, whenever it may be necessary, a general expression of public opinion upon matters relating to the well-being of the settlement. Keeping this in view, your Council do not conceive that it would be advisable to lay down any rules, or to affix any limits to membership. Not only are the difficulties in the way of ascertaining a franchise almost insurmountable to a body not invested with legal authority, but the exclusion of any persons by the operation of a franchise, from taking part in the proceedings of the Society, would amount to a voluntary assumption on the part of the members, that the public opinion of the settlement was confined to themselves alone ; whilst it could not but weaken the influence of the Society with the Government and with the Association, by laying it open to-the objection that it represented but one class of the community. Nor do your Council »ive any weight to the apprehension entertained by some, that persons who have no stake whatever in the settlement, or even who may be strangers in it, may possibly, by joining in the proceedings of the Society, be the means of misrepresenting the opinion of the settlement. The number of such persons could be but small at any time, and it would always be within the power of the respectable and substantial settlers, by taking an interest in public affairs, to take care that the organization which the Society would afford should not be abused by individuals. Your Council therefore recommend that every male inhabitant of the settlement should be privileged to join the Society upon registering his name and residence in a book to be kept for the purpose—as an evidence that.he approves of the general objects of the Society, and is desirous of taking part in its proceedings. They recommend that a representative body of twelve members, styled " The Council of Canterbury Colonists," be elected annually by all the inhabitants registered as above:—that six members be elected for Chribtchurch and the plains, four for Lyttelton, and two for Akaroa and the rest of the Peninsula. The duties of the Council should be to hold regular and periodical meetings for the purpose of considering and discussing all objects of social and political interest—to keep before the public those questions in which its welfare is interested —to prepare for presentation all petitions or memorials which may be necessary—and generally to conduct all communications with the Government or with the Association—and especially to call public meetings of the settlers from time to time, as necessity may arise, when any Questions of graver importance may require the more immediate attention of the whole community, These meetings and debates of the Council (flight to be open to the public. As some small fund is necessary, in order to defray the expences attending any "such Society, your Council suggest that it'might be provided by a fee of one shilling at the time of regis'"lotion ? • ■•.;.. ;.^Such is the sketch of a plan which, as your Council conceive, would best meet the present wants of the community. They have nothing further to add, than to suggest, that if this plan should meet with the approval of the Land-purchasers, public meetings should be called without delay at Lyttelton and Christchurch, and the necessary steps taken for establishing the proposed Society without delay. W. G. BfiITTAN, President.