Page 5 Advertisements Column 1

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 463, 11 April 1857, Page 5

is, however, not long since that the jobbery, peculation, and corruption, which had grown out of the old corporate system in England, led to a sweeping measure of reform, by which the whole of those model Governments, excepting, that, of London, were , Bwept away. And now it appears that the days of the corporation of London itself are numbered. Experience, therefore, does not appear to justify the preference shown for corporation rule, and, personally, I can feel but little attachment to a system which has produced such results. But in truth, there is; no fair analogy between the circumstances of a municipal corporation in England and a province in New Zealand. To no corS ration has there ever been committed anying like the power conferred on the Superintendents and Provincial Councils of this country, namely, the power, [to legislate for the entire people of a province—or, in the words of the Constitution Act—" to make and ordain all such laws and ordinances as may be required for the peace, order, and good government of the province." This alone, destroys all parallel in the cases. It is said, however, that even if the analogy fails, it will be more economic to do away with the existing departments and have the business of the Government conducted by the Provincial Council divided into committees. I must say that I disbelieve in this altogether. It assumes', that these committees will do.their work without remuneration. I know not on what grounds gentlemen can be expected to devote their time to the public service without return. Nor do I think the public desire that they should do so. But there is no warrant for believing that any persons could be found who would so act. Certainly the practice of the Provincial Council at the present time does not justify the expectation. Every member residing beyond a certain distance from Christchurch is paid a certain sum per diem for every day he attends the Council. If, then, the members of committees are all to be paid their expenses merely, the system will not -only be cumbrous and clumsy, but more expensive than the present one. If they are not to be paid, my belief is that the attendance will be so irregular as to make the system obstructive of ths business of Government, I yield, gentlemen, to no man in a desire to see introduced into all the departments of Government a rigid economy. It must, however, be one consistent with efficiency. It is not economy else. My conviction is, that the plan put forward is as fatal both to efficiency and economy as ingenuity could devise. There is one further subject to which I will allude, for though it does not come within our control and is not a question of domestic policy, it is one nevertheless, in which the efficient Government of the province is so dependent as in my opinion to demand notice in this place. I refer to the seat of the General Government. Every day's experience shoivs how seriously *the administration of our affairs is embarrassed by the great distance of this General Government from us. lam anxious therefore to state my desire, in whatever position I may be placed, to co-operate with those who will strive to bring it to a more central spot. There are many other subjects, gentlemen, to which I might direct your attention, but this address has already, I fear, exceeded convenient length. Opportunities, however, will doubtless be presented in which such sxibjects may be discussed between us. It will be my business, so fer as may be practicable, to wait upon you. With regard, however, to a canvass, I must express my great regret that one should be necessary, not on the score of trouble, nor because it may expose a candidate to inconvenient questioning, but because I entertain a strong conviction that the highest office of the province shonld be conferred" by, rather than won from, the people by jbhe ordinary means of an election? eering Canvass. Motives more or less impure will be attributed to the candidate, which cannot fail to disturb those feeljngs of deference and regard that should attach to the person filling so high an office. By some he will be looked upon as an adventurer practising on the" confidence of his fellow citizens for sqme un'wq^hy object—by some as stimulated by inordinate vanity and ambition—and by others as impelled Iby a love of official power j vsrhilst it can hardly be possible in an active canyass to aypid rousing feelings of animosity and hostility, which it is most desirable should not exist. • I can only say for myself that it will be my ajaxious desire to