New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK’S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, April 23, 1851.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 597, 23 April 1851, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK’S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, April 23, 1851.

In a recent number of lhe Lyttelton Times the editor, adverting to the approaching meeting of the General Legislative Council of New Zealand summoned to meet at Wellington on the 19th May, after indulging in some of the commonplaces about despotism and the arbitrary constitution of the Council, which have been repeated, parrot- like, until every one is tired of the repetition, counsels the newly arrived settlers at Canterbury one and all, in italics as if to add emphasis to his warning, "that they ought not to go to this Council and complacently adds that ‘ this is the view which is already taken by every man of station, independence, wealth, and integrity in New Zealand.” If this were merely the expression of opinion of the editor of the Journal vefiarrori in would only create a laugh at his expense to find him so anxious to promote in that settlement political discussion when the newly arrived colonists probably find themselves more usefully employed in providing against the inconveniences of the approaching winter. But as it is generally believed that our contemporary is under the influence of the svaav 5 vaav VI iuc canterbury Association, as his views are in accordance with Mr. Godley’s expressed opinions, and as the article alluded to has been called (whether correctly or not we*do not presume to determine) Mr. Godley’s manifesto against Nomineeism, perhaps we shall not be considered attaching an undue importance to it by this direct reference while examining the grounds on which his opposition to the Council rests. It is now nearly two years since the last session of the General Legislative Council of New Zealand. The subjects to be submitted to the consideration of the Coun-

cil on its meeting next month are I most important nature, and admit of | lay. Owing to the dissolution of the Ja e ' E Zealand Company all the various q Uest - I between that body and its land purch a l ° aj E are now to be finally adjusted • n E grants are to be issued, and other’ arra ° Wll ■ ments connected with this final adjust U require the sanction of legislative enactn^ 1 I regulations for the management of p a^ " ’ lands are to be framed and put in f orce ’ ? [ different Questions which affn.**!- «■!-.* •. 1 IS 1 ” i ' * ,,lv E 3 of the holders of stations for stock in iv » province must be considered and decid ? F a thorough revision of the Customs 1 ’ H and a change from the present rate on B valorem duties to a fixed scale of E contemplated ; and an Ordinance for the tablishment of a Local Bank is imperati T H called for. The Council, as at present co B stituted, exists under the authority o f E Act of Parliament, and the Governor has W alternative but to summon the Council cording to its provisions. If he should b e g so unfortunate as to be denriv o ' l B r me co. operation and assistance, as is threatened!) IB this writer, of “ every man of station, pendence, wealth and integiityin NewZ tJ | I land,” these questions and others eqaall'M pressing must remain indefinitely i n th £ ',| present unsettled state, and the functions of ■ Government be obstructed and' until the law by which the Council iscoj.H stituted is altered.

It is worth while to observe, these gentlemen talk of the despotism of■ the present Government of New Zealajj® of its "not representing in the slightetß degree the opinions of the people,” andll much more to the same effect, they choose® to keep out of sight, and prevent, if theiH can, others from remembering that question between themselves and their op.® ponents is mainly one of time. The question is not whether Representative Institutions shall be altogether withheld from New Zw. W land, but the period when, from the increas-igg ing civilization of the Natives, and the increasO ing numbers of the Europeans, these may be conferred with the greatest hendW. to the Colony, and this question is nr||l| reduced to a very narrow compass. So from desiring that the opinions of the peL ■■ pie should not be represented, the Goverci|sl has always evinced an anxious desire, summoning the members, to invite mendMl different opinions, and to include them those persons of the greatest influeuc-J * * and weight in each settlement; such as, it J any appeal to the people, would prohablybl 'J elected. Any failure, then, must more from “ the sturdy refusal” to rate with the Governor of those who lui|||| been invited, than from the despotic l&ja dencies of the Government. And || despotism, which furnishes so conveaitfKS' a topic for declamation has always exerted for the benefit of the cota||jj| Not to refer to its present traiujJhg and prosperous state as mainly owing l|||| the administrative ability of the nor=in= Chief, snd the °* n od kwHa made of the powers entrusted to him promote the welfare of the colony, wn find in Canterbury itself examples of judicious exercise of those powers. landing of the first settlers at Port the Governor-in-Chief was there to them, to relax, on their representation, operation of the Customs laws in vour, and to advance money to the Ag®# of the Association for the continuants ES the works in progress. And we help pointing out the inconsistency, appears to us, of those who so velie® e object to Nomineeism in any shape, are so ready to accept office under Go v l|| ment; who try indirectly to etnbarra-s ®B measures while they affect to gi" e >4 s support. Thus Mr. Godley is, weSU? \J|f } to be considered the great authority E|| mineeism at Canterbury, and has P ab , 8 ® c strong opinions on this subject, i! .H ] as Resident Magistrate and 0111 t sioner of Crown Lands at Ua n^erblir .'| ( E ® Nominee of the Governor’s. It’ s J receives no salary for the perform ßo^ R duties of these offices, but neither M I( non-official member of council* EB

may be questioned whether the concentra- , tion of so many offices in the hands of one person is not somewhat incompatible with the interests of the settlers. Other instances may be pointed out in the same settlement, if it were worth while pursuing this part of the subject, of persons professing similar sentiments who have no objection to sanction “the farce of Nomineeism” as long as a good salary is attached to it. We may, however, in conclusion notice the inconsistency which points to the British Constitution as the recognised constitution of the colony and yet admits there are not materials in the colony for its successful imitation, and still continues to declaim about despotism. We forbear to comment on the assumption which lays exclusive claim to all “ the station, independence, wealth, and integrity in New Zealand,” and leave our readers to estimate such modest pretensions at their just value.