AUCKLAND. MONDAY, APRIL 3, 1865.

New Zealander, Volume XXII, Issue 2393, 3 April 1865, Page 2

AUCKLAND. MONDAY, APRIL 3, 1865.

To hope for provincial insiimtions < which shall have the faculty of work- | ing smoothly and harmoniously and ( without that constant jarring of the \ machinery, which at present produces | such a wonderful disproportion between , the result produced and the effort em- , ployed, would be perhaps to hope for a • perfection unattainable in human | things. Friction is the agency which has never been eliminated, the retarding force which prevents the production of the true theoretical results in mechanical philosophy, and it is likely to continue, in spite of all our efforts, to ’ exercise its opposing influence in the domain of political science also. It I must be admitted that of all kh.ds of political friction yet known, that which occurs between Superintendents and Provincial Councils seems to be the strongest and most obstinate- It might perhaps be added that of all Superintendents and of all Provincial Councils the present Superintendent and Provincial Council of Auckland have contrived to develope the latent powers of this natural force, it so it may be called, in the greatest degree. There can be no doubt that the opposition between the present Superintendent and his Council has been to an unusual extent, bitter, determined, and uncompromising. .By some this state of things will be set down to the fault of the Council, and by others to that of the Superintendent, whilst there will be some who, to save trouble will blame both parties equally. We venture to think, however, that an unbiassed consideration will show that in a case of this sort the presumption is against the Superintendent, and that the burden of proof lies upon those who are disposed to throw the blame upon the Council. The Council is pretty much the same from one year to another, and from one session to another; at all events no one will pretend to say that the present Provincial Council is more perverse or factious than its predecessor. The utmost change that the Council can undergo from one session to another is of course very slight compared with the change which takes place in the executive authority when one Superintendent -is substituted for another. Therefore, when there is found in any particular superintendency an unusual degree of opposition and a constant tendency to dead-locks, the a •priori view is certainly against the Superintendent rather than the Council. Neither do we think that this view of the case will be much disturbed by a more careful enquiry into the real merits of the issues which have arisen between the Superintendent and the Council, or that the former will be acquitted of having, by gross mismanagement and wilful perversity, done what lay in his power to aggravate the usual difficulties in former superintendences, which, if they had been as ingeniously fomented as those of the present one have been, might have led to as grave complications. There were not wanting in the superinteudf ucy of Mr. Graham’s predecessor difficulties quite as threatening in their nature as any which have occurred of late, but they were generally met by the head of the Provincial Government with a degree of tael and skill which seems altogether unknown to the present administration. On the contrary, all the Council has learned to expect from the present administration is either stupid silence or dreary impertinence.

The question into which the whole matter seems likely to resolve itself is, —what is the use of the Provincial Council, and if it has any functions, by what means may it best be enabled to fulfil them ? At present it appears to have nothing to do but to protest against proceedings which it is unable to prevent, a function which scarcely seems adequate to the machinery employed. It is no doubt vey much easier to speak with contempt of the whole institution than to devise means by which if may be made efficient and useful, and to find objections to suggestions is much easier than to make better ones. In the meantime a majority of the Council has proposed a scheme for making its deliberations of more use to the public interests than they have hitherto been, which if, as is very likely, it is far from perfect, has at all events been opposed as yet by no arguments of any .weight. The proposal to introduce the principle of ministerial responsibility is perhaps open to some objections, but it is probable that it would destroy greater, evils than it would produce, or it is a measure that seems necessary to complete the machinery of our provincial institutions upon their present type. The principal arguments against it seem to be such as would lead, if logically carried out, to a destruction of the principle of popular government in provincial matters. Those who oppose the principle of ministerial responsibility, ought in our opinion to go. further, and advocate a Superintendent appointed by the Governor, an 1 assisted by a Board of his own nomination. This would be consistent enough, but we are unable to see with what sort of logic a popular management of provincial affairs is to be defended, whilst a measure which seems necessary to give any force, or efficiency to that management is opposed.

For ourselves we have sufficient faith in the popular system to believe that it would work better tnan any other if it only had fair play. We believe in a Superintendent elected by the great body of the people, and in an executive which can hold office only so long as its measures obtain the approbation of the public. At all events, let us try this system before we despair of our provincial institutions, and perhaps we may find that there is yet good service to be got out of them. Whatever opinion, however, may be entertained by the public with regard to the usefulness of the proposed change it is to ascertain that opinion, and not, as the

Southern Cross seems to assume, to introduce the change, that is the present special desire of the Council. His Honor the Superintendent, guided by that baneful advice which leads him into most of his difficulties, objects to either course. He will not introduce the change, and be will not submit the question to the public. The Council has adopted the only remaining alternative, and has determined to lay before the Governor its request,which has been perversely refused, and its reasons which have been foolishly answered by the head of the Provincial Government This action of )the Council affords the best answer to those who accuse it of purely factious motives. To pray for its own dissolution is not the course which would be taken by a body animated only by a spirit of faction and obstructiveness, and the wish shown by the Council to submit the whole question to the decision of the public is the surest test of its sincerity, and the strongest proof that could be given of the apprehension with which it regards the present system of Provincial administration.