LAST NIGHT'S COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 128, 2 June 1870, Page 2

LAST NIGHT'S COUNCIL.

Ou the motion of Mr. Wastney certain resolutions having reference to the election and term of office of College Governors were agreed to, and one that had been passed oa a previous evening, reducing the term of office to six years, was rescinded. Mr. Luckie moved the third reading of the Executive Government Bill. He had hoped that a work so fairly begun, and fairly discussed, both in and out of the Council, would have been carried through by those who introduced it,, but as the Provincial Solicitor had declared to proceed with it on the grounds that great alterations had been made, he(Mr. Luckie) was compelled to come to the rescue. He could not see why the Provincial. Solicitor should object to proceed with the Bill, because as it stood now it wa3 simply a resume of resolutions thathad been frankly agreed to by the Superintendent.. The. PaoyiNpiAL Solicitor had expected to be attacked by Mr. Luckie, . than whom; no one in the Council was fonder of acting on. his own opinions, but. who,, at the. same time refused to accord a similar privilege to others. /Although a member of the Government, ., he (Mr. Adams) had alwaj's exercised his own judgment and would not suffer himself to be dictated, to either by the Superintendent or members of the Council a,s to what measures he should or should not support. The Bill, as at first drawn up, was in accordance with the resolutions with the. exception of one proviso which wa3 expected to be introduced but which no bue seemed clearly to understand, namely, that referring to a representative of the Goldfields. Although he was under the full impression that the Bill would not work as the Council was not large enough to carry out its propositions, still, as the majority appeared to wish it, he should not oppose the third reading. Mr. Shephard thought that as the Bill differed in a very slight degree from the propositions made by the Superintendent, that ought to be sufficient proof that, in supporting it, the Council was not prompted by any feelings of hostility to him. The difference was merely this, that whereas the Superintendent had offered to give the Council the power of electing two members of the Executive, to be removable on an adverse vote, the Council had requested the Superintendent to select the members himself, three of them being displaceable, aud, in doing this, he considered that the Council had made great concessions to the requirements of the Province. He felt assured that those who voted for the Bill would be acting far more in accordance with the views of the Superintendent than those who had dropped it. If the Provincial Solicitor had said at an earlier period that he did not intend to proceed with it, it would have been more courteous on his part, and would have saved time, as the Opposition — or supposed opposition, for he did not admit, that any organised opposition existed — would have taken it up last night and it would have been treated in a most

friendly manner. 'Mr, Collins, thoiigb.tr the Bill would place the Superintendent in an awkward position for the Executive

•hostile Cou,qcil,|apd;,the result would be that! the Superintendent "would never venture to -act- lon-ithe-smallest-questiotr jwithoat ..theni,:- §nd; '.consequently ,they tnigbt-have to be called together three or four times a week. Again, the member jwho was to represent the Goldfields must necessarily be paid, - and for - ih is - the Council must put their hands into the people's pockets, and, in all probability, the other two members Wbuld also have to receive remuneration.. After alluding to the action of the Council in refusiug to pass the unauthorised .expenditure on the previous night, Mr. Collins went onto say that the Bill, in its present state, either ,went too far or not far enough, and if it 'gave the Council the power to unseat the Executive, it should also give the Executive the power to dissolve the Council. Believing as he did that it was fraught with disaster, expense, and absurdity, he should strongly oppose it, and would move as an amendment that the Bill be read that day six months. Mr. Gibes would support the amendment., .as he. believed that by passing it the Council would render itself ridiculous. It was^ advocated that it would be a general salve to the goldfields, but although he had their interests sincerely at heart, and always endeavored to promote their, welfare he wts unable to see how this Bill would do so. It would not only add .largely to.the expenses but would lead to annual contests for the emoluments, of office, which would be far worse than the mere money- question. Mr. F. Kellinq. considered that the appointment, of, a representative of the goldfields was one of the best features of the Bill. It would not. add. to the: expenses as at first proposed by the Government for the new officer would take the place of Mr. Kynnersley, with this advantage that he would be responsible to the Council. Mr. Reid had cpme to the . Council pledged to his constituents to support some such measure, for they were of opinion that although the present system of Government might suit a slow standstill place like Nelson, it was not adapted to an advancing couutry. He thought that the Bill would work satisfactorily, &nd that, while it would strengthen- the hands of the Superintendent it. would not derogate from the position of. the Executive. He thought it would have been more open and honorable if Mr. Collins and Mr. Gibbs , had started their objections, whicfe, .however, were neither strong nor valuable, at. an earlier stage. He did not approve of agoldfield-, Secretary or any such high sounding title, but such an officer as was to be found in other provinces. . Mr. O'Conor thought the Bill' went too far or not far enough, it was neither one .thing nor the other, but they were simply asked toadopiatastard. The three responsible members would merely act as a shield to the Superintendent, and would tendto embarrass without giving him strength. He would rather seethe present almost despotic Government than such a one as tjb'at proposed to be instituted. .As for the so called representative of the goldfields,. it wa3 simply absurd ; his whole view would be to support the Government, not to look after the goldfields interests.- It would be far better to have more representatives of the goldfields in the Council, .where they would really be responsible to their constituents. He was astonished to find those members who had lately passed a vote of want of confidence in the Execu tive, now turning round and by this Bill helpiug to strengthen the .hands ' of the Government they had so lately condemned. It wa3 simply adding to the expenditure, which already had an increasing tendeucy, without deriving any coresponding compensation. Mr. Donne was astonished to find the position in which the Council was placed, in being asked to pass the third reading of this Bill. The Provincial Solicitor hadobjected to going on with it last night, and he had partly agreed with him ss he thought that the Superintendent should first have the opportunity of seeing the amended Bill in print. The Superintendent had vow had that opportunity but had sept no communication to the Council, and, therefore, he saw nothing now to prevent the third reading. The Bill merely represented certain resolutions which had previously been agreed to by the Council and therefore the present opposition was ureasonable, Attempts had been made both inside and outside the Council to render the measure unpopular

by saying that it wQuld be, most expensive in its working, whereas such statements were entirely without foundation. Ha -considered- the"- remarks-- made" by Me*. Collins, with reference' to the unauthorised expenditure, were' most unfair and if '"the government supposed - that the" Council was prepared to buy their support to the Bill :~ by passing that vote . they werer entirely pustaken. It. had been said that ithe Bill Would not. work, but no reasons had been given for this assertion, and therefore it should be allowed a fair trial, and if amendments were required they could easily be made next session. He must express his surprise at the course adopted by Mr. O'Conor who had. displayed real , tergiversation oh an important question affecting largely the interests of those whom he represented. The Provincial Secretary would not oppose the Bill, but could not vote forjt, believing as he did that it would, lead to circumlocution, red-tapeism, and confusion. With reference to the opposition of the Government members, he had already distinctly stated that the Executive as a body would neither vote for or against the measure, but each member had a perfect right ' to vote as he pleased. The Provincial Solicitor objectiug to the amendments, had thrown over what had been termed his bantling, which had beeu picked up and cared for by Mr. Luckie, who had thus assumed the paternity, and possibly under his fostering care it might grow to a respectable size, but he (Mr. Greenfield) believed, that before very long.it would turn round and kick its own father.. Reference had been made to the salary proposed to be paid to Mr. Kynnersley, as Commissioner of the Goldfields, but it must be rembered that he was also to act as warden of the Buller and Wangapeka districts, an office which would still have to be provided for. Mr. Shephard said .that it.had been remarked that the Bill , would hamper and annoy the Superintendent, but it must be remembered that the first proposition came from him, ani that the Council simply endeavored to carry out his views. It had been found that the presest system did not work well, and business had not been conducted in a manner to retain the confidence of the people. The West Coast had already been crying out for separation, and if the present state of things continued the cry would be renewed, and he believed that Mr. O'Conor who had just spoken against a measure calculated to advance the interests of the Coast would on his return be the first to revive that cry. He was, of opinion that in justice and good faith to the Superintendent the Bill should be allowed to pass. Mr. T arrant said that as . a member of the Select Committee he had at first been disposed to think that it was better that the Government should go on as at present, 'bnt finding an earnest desire on the part .of many members to a^dopt responsible Government in its entirety, he thought it but fair to meet them half way, and consequently the resolutions had been drawn out by which a compromise was effected. After all the work that had been gone through in connection with the Bill it would be unwise, childish, and inconsistent to throw it up now. Mr. Luckie in reply said that the Bill was merely giving effect to what had been proposed by the Superintendent, and although he might be | accused of impudence ,for doing so he could not help saying that he did not believe the Provincial Solicitor understood its provisions. He had said it would prove unworkable without giving any reasons, but the Council were not babes to accept his dogma, his mere assertion unsupported by fact 3or arguments. Mr. Collins had made reference to an implied promise on the part of the Council that the vote for unauthorised expenditure should be passed the other night, but he (Mr. Luckie) totally denied that there had been any understanding stated or implied. He had walked out of the house when the question was brought on, as he did not wish to vote against it, because many of his good-natured friends would have at once said that he was actuated by vindictiveness to the Superintendent, an, accusation which was frequently made but which he always treated with the utmost scorn. His hands were perfectly clean and he wished every Government officer could say the same. Before concluding he must refer to the present constitution of the Executive. The Treasurer was also Resident Magistrate, and "lie considered that it was as anomalous for the Treasurer to be. a member of the Provincial, as it would be

*or Judge Richmond to be a member of *he Colonial, Executive. ; The amendment was then put and lost. The original motion 'was agreed tOj aridihe Bill read the third time and passed. ; The Council then adjourned .until this evening*