Page 2 Advertisements Column 5

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 493, 25 July 1857, Page 2

of which a Mayor, Aldermen, and Council - • the presiding geniuses. Never having l ee , ai' c member of one of those select societies, I ! a ' perhaps unable to appreciate properly i]" advantages of such a mode of Government r is, however, not long since that the jobber peculation, and corruption, which had «rov' out of the old corporate system in Enw] ai) ? lecVto a sweeping measure of reform, by whi •]' the whole of those model Governments, except1 ing that of London, were swept away. j now it appears that the days of the corporatioi of London itself are numbered. Experienc therefore, does not appear to justify the p re ! ference shown for corporation rule, and, person" ally, I can feel but littleiattachmeht'to a system which has produced such results. But in truth there is no fair analogy between the circuit stances of a municipal corporation in Eno-l an( j and a province in New Zealand. To no corporation has there ever been committed any. thing like the power conferred on the Superin" tendents and Provincial Councils of this country namely, the power to legislate for the entire people of a province—or, in the words of '\^ Constitution Act—" to make and ordain Ju such laws and ordinances as may be require 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 tliere 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 economyelse. 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 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 subjects may be 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 tilling so high an office. By some he will be looked upon as an adventurer practising on the confidence of his fellow-citizens for some umvortL' 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 n| c to assure you that, whatever the result of tliis appeal, I shall be perfectly satisfied with your decision. While I admit most freely that the office [of Superintendent of this province in-1)' well he regarded as an object of laudable anibitionjyet I feel so conscious of the labour, anxietyi and responsibility of the office, as to regard it with much more of apprehension than desire. 1 have, however, endeavoured to show that fha Government will not rest solely on the Superin* tendent, but on him in conjunction with advisersWith this view of the nature of the office, an" with the hope that, should you confer it upon me, 1 shall not fail to secure the assistance ot good and able advisers, I respectfully offer myself to you as a candidate for it. I have the hono\ir to be, Gentlemen, Your very obedient and humble servant, JOSEPH BRITTAN. Linwood, April 3, 1557.