PROVINCIALISM IN WELLINGTON

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4210, 17 September 1874, Page 3

PROVINCIALISM IN WELLINGTON

(From the Tribune, September 15.) We suppose ProVincialists do not care to fight much over the maintenance of Provincial legislation. Even Mr. Bunny, the very Boythom of Wellington Provincialism, will hardly stand by this part of it. If one legislature can make laws for the country, it must be a pure waste of time and money to have a number of smaller legislatures attempting -to do the same thing. But it is not waste merely—the practical result is eminently unsatisfactory. Provincial Councillors are not permitted to make an attempt at law-making with any hope of success. It is disheartening, - and ultimately very injurious to public interests, to he told of ultra vires, dead-lock, and other phrases, and modes of bringing road hoards and other hoards to a standstill—tilings constantly occurring in connection with Provincial Acts. And this not in one, but in all the Provinces alike. Besides, this evil will get worse, instead of better, the longer it continues. In the nature of-things, it is only perpetuating weakness. There will he conflicts of authority and conflicts of jurisdiction—the greater will seek to overpower the less—the less will seek to invade the greater, and confusion will become worse confounded. Between .two Governments, and especially two legislatures, the settlers have got very mneh-into the position of Isaachar, an ass crouching between two burdens. So much for legislation, regarding which we do not anticipate any great, difference of opinion. ■ We shall not probably meet with such ready acquiescence, when we propose the abolition of the offices of Superintendent and Ids Executive; but a dispassionate, consideration of the. subject, we think, can only lead to the conclusion indicated. The Superintendent is appointed for a 1 term of years, with indefinite powers, for which he is ahflost wholly irresponsible. He may do or not do very much, as he pleases, and “hll the more so that public opinion is not yet so sufficiently distinct and ordered as to form an effectual check upon improper public action. If money is to bo given to any public institution, it is amusing to find the Superintendent giving it with the air of one doling out; some largesse from his own private revenues, instead of that of a public officer who is simply the channel of its disbursement. As for the Provincial Secretary and Executive, they are simply officers to draw salaries, and say ditto to the Superintendent. That the British are a patient and law-abiding people, even .at the ends of the earth, is abundantly evidenced hi the fact that Provincial Executives have been so long tolerated amongst us. But not only is the office of Superintendent one of the most anomalous that exists under a Constitution -professing to he based upon British law, but now at all events it has become unnecessary. True,, so long as Provincial legislation lasts there must be some one to see its enactments kept in operation, and the Superintendent is a sort of thus ex machina occurring everywhere to do this and proclaim that, hut it only needs an Act of one clause—“ In all Provincial Acts, for Superintendent read something else to get rid of the whole thing. Starting then with the assumption that Provincial legislation and Provincial Executives will be abolished, we are able to arrive at something like an accurate idea of the direct saving to he effected by the proposed change. We shall take the Province of, Wellington as an example, partly because our readers are most interested in it, and. partly because we are best acquainted with its position. Here are the figures compiled from the last bluebook : -

This sum of six thousand and odd pounds is paid as salaries to officials and for ser\lces rendered, or supposed to be rendered, of really no earthly value to the public, and these officials and services might he dispensed Avith to-morroAV Avithout the least appreciable harm. This sum Avould be directly saved ; a farther saving would arise indirectly, Avhich Ave shall probably be able to slioav in a future article. . Meantime, let it be noted carefully, that this saving does not touch a single department required for carrying on the actual business of the Province. Noav a sum of six thousand pounds is' not large, hut it is worth saving.- It would make a good piece of road, or build a useful bridge. All statesmen hold that economy is .as necessary in the management of public as of private affairs, and we are never so prosperous that Ave can afford to dispense with the virtues of taking care of the pence and looking before and after. All Avaste is Avrong, and leads inevitably, in the long run, to public and personal corruption. It would be very easy to prove this from the history of Provincialism in Wellington during the last two or three years, but we refrain.

Legislative expenditure... £1390 EXECUTIVE. Superintendent’s salary... £600 expenses ISO „ „ as Land Purchase Commissioner 100 „ Clerk to do. ... 225 Provincial Secretary 600 „ House rent for do. ... 100 „ Clerk for do. 200 Provincial Solicitor s 200 Executive Council 200 Assistants, &c. *... 750 £3125 Leas salary of permanent officer after abolition 400 2725 MISCELLANEOUS. Messengers 300 Printing and advertising 700 Contingencies 1000 -2000 £6115