CLIPPINGS FROM HANSARD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 205, 28 August 1872, Page 2

CLIPPINGS FROM HANSARD.

■' ■ GOVERNMENT PATRONAGE, . ■ - In bis speech in the debate on the proposed >i constitution^ : cbaiiges, Mr 1 Reader Wood said_:— "l<e(; theb go -where they would, wherever opinion was freely expressed,'they found the utmost dissatisfaction in regard to the way in which the GeneTal (jrovernment had used its patronage^ and especially its. patronage as connected with members of the House. ,He knew perfectly well that it was a delicate, question, "but ;it was 'bne.^hich, of L all others^ it was '. tl^e duty and the' business: of -the House . ; '.to; take notice of. They come-down here session after session,; they, looked. ?6und missed many familiar, i.forws, they } sighed " for the sound of a voice that was I -still,** and when, o they r , ,Bske^ ; what.Kadj bVcome''of IJ;thei^jaDs^nij1 J ; thei^jaDs^nij friends,- one^hach been appointed j'. another' " 6'r ! others^ had ; been,sent\tQ, EagJandl' to! assist.'' in the great immigration' scheme; some- , bpdy elseHhad.beehisent^tp Waik'aio/td, ( 4o' ;l ' something j^ftnifl X'reSHy^ a" ){ seali'|';iW,. I( .iliat^ House 1 way' i nlade■ 3: t■iie^■' n ayen» I '^an^^ '■; '(easiest ,a^enue-7-fto f( lthe - public service. The thing- was : understood ..there H .pej!'fe|} tly : wel^— understood fas j'f cpm]p,le,i^iy^n'd iVi dis-' ' tinctly \as if iheret^ere^ri^ . ■ pb^t^-ifl:iia^^:l6tte)•.sj■^•*^'Nb^ here, «ffd W^or^tliil GoveWoieiitj: fl Ad i

rUBLIC WOKKS ADMINISTRATION. Mr^, Curtis, ia ; moving liis resolution, vsaid|-^"lt, : if possible; that some- mixed I m etjhiodj might be |in trod uced for combin i n g ■some-'portibiiof the general establishment; but there, again, I am confident it would be found that the two bodies would not ■ harmonise, and that conflict of opinioa would occur which is fatal to success in carrying out any such "vorks. Nest comes the question, whether it is not possible to avail ourselves of existing institutions without, furthei" legislation, and without adoptiug either of the courses to which I have alluded. Objections will be raised, I have not the least doubt, by many honorable members to giving additional powers, influence, or patronage to the Provincial Government. Very strong feelings have at different times been entertained in* this colony upon the question of Provincialism as opposed to Centralism. There have been schemes of Centralism in the strongest type, and there has been what is called ultra-Provincialism. T.here has been ultraProyiacialism in the form in which it. woulH exhibit itself in the opinions of the honorable member for Raagitikei (Mr. Fox), and of the honorable member for the For remainder of neios see fourth page.

fa^Ww .miin.iini— - ' -ii" ' »»™ * T " '»■' w1 """ '.'".' .*' '"■'«■■ ' ""'■■""■ Gold Fields, , (Mr. Yogel), as at one time he was known. Then there has been the extreme form of Centralism, as now exhibited by the Hon .' the Premier, and by ' the €oL Treasurer, whose ideas appear to be that no forrajoflocal government is required beyond such as exists in Road Boards. But I maintain, that it impossible that the affairs of the country can be properly administered by local bodies constituted as our Eoad Boards, so long as large tracts of country require that steps should be taken to open them up, and to ensure their being occupied. The 'main objection to the continuance of Provincial institutions in the country, which has always appeared to my mind to exist, has been the legislative powers which have been entrusted to the Provincial Councils. Those powers necessarily lead to diversity of laws, to laws of a different character existing in every province of the colony, and to a large amount of complication and difficulty, especially in the land laws. I hove always held thai; it was most desirable that these powers should be gradually assumed by this House, and I have held also, that the time would come when it would be found possible to dispense with Provincial institutions by means possibly of more numerous but smaller bodies, and with smaller powers, but able to exercise those powers over large tracts of country. I have maintained however, and do still maintain, that the main purpose which. Provincial institutions have fulfilled has been tho settlement of the country, the execution of public works, and the introduction of population. * * * Previous to the passing of the Consolidated lioau, Act of 1867, each province had almost an unquestionable power of borrowing as much money as it thought proper, and spending it in any direction it chose. I am by no means in favor of restoring that power, lor I am/quite of opinion that large sums of money to be borrowed for public works or other purposes in the provinces should be entirely at the discretion of this House. lam further prepared to say, in respect to the large sums of money which it is proposed to raise to carry out the railway policy, that|the provincial institutions should have no voice in the application of that money. That is to say, it should not be left to them to decide upon what works it should be^ spent. All I maintain is, that their advice and assistance—their local knowledge and experience — should be sought, in order to carry out that policy effectually"