The Lyttelton Times. Saturday, October 25.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 415, 25 October 1856, Page 6

The Lyttelton Times. Saturday, October 25.

In our remarks on Wednesday last on the attitude of the Provincial .Government towards the Gounc-1, on the introduction of the measures proposed tJiis session, we were for from wishing to impute much,, blame to them for their resolution not to raise a storm in. a teacup by a resignation and a ciisis, in the event of their proposals being rejected. Indeed the Government ought to be prevented from resigning by deference to a resolution of the Provinc-ml Council, pfissed without a division on the sth of July, 1856, which was as follows :— * "That in consequence of the ekctive and responsible character of the oflice of Superintendent, the head of the Executive,- and the restraint thereby consequent on.the complete free action of the other members of the Executive, it is the opinion of this Council that the members of the Government in this Council should not be expected to resign their offices except after a distinct vote of want of confidence by a majority of the whole Council."

This resolution was passed after a debate which arose ■ in consequence of a-previous crisif, which had exposed lo some extent the absurdity and inconvenience of affecting to carry on a system of " nutiiftiMinl responsibility" in a small province with an eh-oled head. At the present juncture «c arc convinced th;.t the Government have taken jrix-itt pains to mature and bring for-

ward what they approve-of, and to reject what they may consider prejudicial.- But if some'of'the Government measures are thus rejected, there is no need of going through the farce of a " ministerial crisis." We have had enough of tmoh scenes already. So far.from'regretting1 that the Council by their resolution of July 15, and the existing Executive by their present attitude, have put an end to any appearance of reality which the system had in this province, we are only sorry that the pretence of it still remains. .We prefer to take some little time,as the Council has d»n%for the'eonsk'er ition o the different Government measures rather than to come to an immediate decision upon them. The only one which strikes us at once as b ingl on the whole indefensible is the Railway Reserve Bill. We cannot think that even the greatness of the object which the Government desires to .attain would compensate for the evil consequent upon the departure from the general principles laid down in our Waste, Land Regulations. We quite agree with the Provincial Governittjj^nt that above all things public confidence sS#uld not be shaken in the stability of fh*> present, terms of purchase" and that, "nothing so surely frustrates the Land Revenues as.the prospect of changes in the price of land and in tlie system of management." If. we saw no other reason for disapproval of the proposed scheme, it appears sufficient objection to us that it tends to unsettle men's mind as to the price at which land may be obtained, and that it affords a, precedent for exceptional measures which may hereafter be made use of to evade or to overthrow the- system under the faith of which purchasers have invested.

While we cannot but differ from the Governments as to the means by which money .should be obtained for the completion of land communication between the Port and the Plains, we are still of opinion, that, however unpopular the subject may now be. the public will return to their old opinion before long-, that this province will not be in a satisfactorily progressive state until we complete the communication between the Port and the Plains.

The other measures proposed we believe oh the whole will be of great practical advantage to this province. The Land Sales are improving so much that it is very probable that the larger portion of the Loan asked for may never be required ; but it is important that the Government shall before next winter have the certain means of carrying on the public works on the plains, and the inu^rtation of labor, without which an increased expenditure would be a curse rather than a boon to the fanner. What we want is the immediate command of money, to increase the scanty population, and to develop the unimproved resources of this rising province.