Page 4 Advertisements Column 1

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 469, 2 May 1857, Page 4

• Nevertheless, I will not shrink from avowing my opinion, that not only theoretically is the existing arrangement to he approved and defended, but that, in practice also, it supplies, under the present physical peculiarities of New Zealand, the scantiness of its population, and the difficulties of inter-communication, the best and most efficient means by which the affairs of the vaiious provinces can be at present administered. In it too the great principle of self government is fully recognised. The power you possess, and which you have periodically to exercise, of electing your Superintendent, ought to secure you the sei'vices of an active and intelligent officer. That officer has the assistance of an Executive Council whose acts must be supported by the approval of the Provincial Council. Throughout the whole arrangement the principle of responsibility is brought to bear. The Superintendent is responsible to the, province, the Executive Council to the Provincial ■ Council, and the Provincial Council in its turn to the people. Whilst then the Constitution Act remains unaltered, I am unable to imagine a system of Provincial Government under it combining more of simplicity, efficiency,' and economy. I say while the Constitution Act is unaltered, for you are not unaware that many persons ai'e of opinion that it can be amended. It would, however, be an unprofitable occupation of your time and altogether beside my present purpose to consider on this occasion possible changes. ■My duty is to deal with facts. If changes are introduced it can only be by an 'authority to which Superintendents in common ~with all others affected by them must bow. Itike it, then, that the Superintendent in his Executive capacity is simply the head of the Government and not the Government itself, an officer charged with the execution of certain duties committed to him by law and for the most part denned by law., and that in\all original and discretionary acts of importance he is bound to proceed in conformity with the advice he may receive from his Executive Council. Gentlemen, I accept this view of the office as much from choice as necessity. No consideration could induce me to undertake it if the responsibility of Government were not shared in •this way. • You will then, I have no doubt, concur with me in thinking that it would be inconsistent •for a candidate holding these views to express' -himself dogmatically on particular subjects, or labour to produce what is termed * a policy' by -which he should be considered bound during his tenure of office. 1 have shown that the law compels the Superintendent to act under advice. 1 have also shown th.'it he can only retain such advisers as the Provincial Council will support. It is obvious, nay certain, that those advisers may. at one time, be persons holding one set of opinions, and at another time persons holding opinions directly opposite. It is equally obvious that the Superintendent could not agree with -both. Should he unfortunately differ with those who have the confidence of the Provincial Council, he must either attempt to cany on the Government with an advei-se Council or modify his views in deference to theirs. I think the cases can be very few indeed in which doubt can exist as to which course should be pursued. But while, for these reasons, I abstain from placing before you a policy which shall imply a rigid adherance to particular views on particul;ir subjects, as being both indiscreet and at almost every imaginable mode of payment was proposed to the Council and discussed. I should probably be within the mark were I to say that more than a dozen divisions took place on this point. Ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, and sixty shillings were all separately advocated and proposed. The mode of payment, too, whether by money down or by instalments, was equally the subject of difference of opinion and division in the Council. iJz length, however, by almost universal concurrence, the present price of £2 per acre (prompt payment) was determined on. That price has not yet been tried more than a twelvemonth, and even if there were no experience in its favour, I should still, for the reasons I have given, bo indisposed to change. But I think the experience of the brief time during which £2 has been the established price may be safely appealed to in its support. The sales of landjwithout being in any way forced, have been free and continuous ever since. Nor is there at present any indication of fulling off. And should there bo no falling off. the estimated revenue from this sonrce during the coming year is £10,000. But whi»t appears to me to he the