Page 5 Advertisements Column 2

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 98, 20 November 1852, Page 5

It is said that the Provincial Council would have nothing to do, until the jurisdiction of the Central and Provincial Legislatures shall have been clearly defined. But I conceive, on the contrary, that the Provincial Councils may do, and ought to do, much even under the present arrangements. Even before they know how much revenue may be left at their disposal by the Central Legislature, or how far that body may be inclined to waive its powers of controlling and superseding their acts, an assiduous Provincial Council and an active Superintendent may adopt useful measures with regard to police, cattle trespass, scab in sheep, roads, &e.; and may collect evidence with a view to nuking their opinions known to the General Assembly on points which are reserved from their legislative control. They will also have to vote the salary of the Superintendent: and it may be difficult so to do satisfactorily, while he is at a distance, discharging duties of a different nature ; duties which are, if paid at all, to be paid in a different way. Nor do I think that the presence of the Superintendents in the General Assembly will be certain to conduce to the obtaining of larger powers for the Provinces. The Central. Assembly might be reluctant to give so much weight to the arguments of a member claiming greater power for the Provincial Office which he holds, and of course intending to leave the Assembly so soon as it should have waived its powers in his favour, as to those of another member claiming power for his constituents only, and himself intending to be satisfied with the discharge of his duties in the Assembly after it should have voluntarily abdicated a large portion of its privileges. Moreover, in the case of this settlement, it should be remembered that, so soon as the Provincial Council is constituted, the Canterbury Association has power, and has expressed its willingness, to transfer its functions, powers, and authorities to that Council: and it is highly essential that, both, during the negotiation with the Association's Agent, which must necessarily take place as to the acceptance or rejection of such a transfer, and also after its acceptance in case it should be accepted, the Superintendent and the Council should act together "and in concert; which could hardly be done if'that officer were at Wellington, engaged in the deliberations of the General Assembly. In the approaching struggle for large Provincial powers, I think the Provincial officers will do well to remain staunchly at their posts : and that the Superintendent will best take his part hi the conflict, by remaining at the head of his Provincial Council; conferring and advising with them; acting as their" pen and mouth-piece ; and adding unity and dignity to the attitude either of petition or of remonstrance which they may think it expedient to assume, in case the Central Assembly should not, from the very first, yield up its present powers. Let the Representatives, however, be pledged by their constituencies to seek the abdication of power by the Assembly : and they will fight the battle quite as well as, and with less appearance of self-interest than, a person appointed to two such incongruous offices as those of Member of the Central Assembly for five years, and Superintendent of a Province for four years. To conclude, I am strongly impressed with the necessity of abolishing all supernumerary offices, and of combining every due economy of the public funds with the efficient performance of public services. By keeping this principle always in mind, I firmly believe that a lower rate of taxation than that now enforced will secure:a more vigorous conduct of public affairs ; and on?, certainly, more agreeable to the wishes-and requirements of the tax payers than that which has long retarded, rather than encouraged, the development of the resources and capabilities of our adopted country. It seems not unbecoming that I should lay before you my personal claims to ask yon to give me a part in the first earnest and popular legislation of this country. I arrived in New Zealand in the year 1839, and took an active part in the foundation and progress of the Company's settlements on either side of Cook's Strait, until the year 1844. I then returned to England; and was for some years earnestly employed, together with other colonists, in the endeavour to obtain k, measure of local self-go-vernment for New Zeh-~, --] During that space of time I took a p-Ontractof's-*,,:_*..>£-__.,,,, sures for the four, 0*1 to rain heavily, and the I