Page 2 Advertisements Column 5

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 490, 15 July 1857, Page 2

of which a Mayor, Aldermen, and Council are the presiding geniuses. Never having been a member of one of those select societies, I a j\ perhaps unable to appreciate properly th advantages of such a mode of Government. It 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 swept 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 corporation has there ever been committed anything like the power conferred on tb.g.%«iperin« tendents and Provincial Councils of thss"\^ijTitry J 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 the 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, on 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 shows how seriously the administration of our aifairs 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 subjects maybe discussed between us. It will be my business, so far 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 should be conferred by the people rather than won from them by the ordinary means of an electioneering canvass. Motives more or less impure will be attributed to the candidate, which cannot fail to disturb those feelings of deference and regard which should attach to the person filling so high an office. By some he will be loofiT/ upon as an adventurer practising on the confidence of his fellow-citizens for some unworthy object—by some as stimulated by inordinate vanity and ambition—and by others as impelled by a love of official power ; whilst it can hardly be possible in an active canvass to avoid 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 anxious desire to keep the canvass as clear of these evils as possible. And now, gentlemen, it only remains for me to assure you that, whatever the result of this appeal, I shall be perfectly satisfied with your decision. While I admit most freely that the office [of Superintendent of this province may well be regarded as an object of laudable ambition,jyet I feel so conscious of the labour, anxiety, and responsibility of the office, as to regard it with much more of apprehension than desire. I have, however, endeavoured to show that the Government will not rest solely on the Superintendent, but on him in conjunction with advisers. With this view of the nature of the office, and with the hope that, should you confer it upon me, 1 shall not fail to secure the assistance of good and able advisers, I respectfully offer myself to you as a candidate for it. I have the honour to be, . Gentlemen, Your very obedient and humble servant, JOSEPH BRITTAN. Linwood, April 3, 1857.