The Southland Times. THURSDAY, SEPT. 29, 1864.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 52, 29 September 1864, Page 2

The Southland Times. THURSDAY, SEPT. 29, 1864.

"Whilst everyone is prepared to admit that the Provincial system has effected an almost incalculable amount of good for New Zealand, there are not wanting those who think that the time has come for its abolition, and a return to one Government for the whole Colony, or, at the most, one for each Island. The merits of the Provincial system may be summed up in a few words. It has largely promoted immigration and the settlement of the Waste Lands of the Colony, and given to each community the power of legislating on local questions during a period when communication with the seat of Government was difficult and uncertain. The advocates for change any, now that the Provinces wish to borrow largely for public works and other re-productive undertakings, and that communication between the different centres of population is no longer in an unsatisfactory condition, it would, be far less expensive, and would greatly simplify matters, were the General Government to legislate for us on all points. Our opinion on the advisability of the proposed changes has been expressed on various occasions in this journal, and we are not about to reopen the discussion. Whatever alterations the future may effect in the government machinery of New Zealand, the colonists have to deal with the fact that the Provincial form of government exists, and must, in the nature of things, continue in force for a considerable time. Their duty, therefore, lies in endeavoring to make its parts move harmoniously — in getting the machinery into the best possible order, and causing it to turn out the greatest amount of work of which it is capable. Besides the arguments quoted above, which have been advanced against Provincial Governments, their abolition has been contended for, on the ground that it is impossible for them to work well on account of the peculiar position occupied by the Superintendents with reference to the Executive and Provincial Councils. It is stated as absurd to suppose that there can be any analogy between a Government of that class and the usual representative and executive institutions of free countries. Here we are altogether at issue with the would-be innovators, who, knowing that a radical change is for the present impossible, and seeing that in some instances the Superintendents and their respective Councils have come to a dead-lock, would be willing to get over the difficulty by allowing both Executive and Provincial Council to become a sham, and by placing the whole of the power in the hands of the Superintendent. We should not have to search far for the promulgators of such unmanly and servile doctrines. It appears to us quite feasible, so sharply to define the functions of Superintendent, Executive, and Provincial Council, as to do away with all danger of collision. Both in Southland and elsewhere the disputes which have arisen between the Superintendents and their Councils have had their origin, not in the misdeeds of the latter, nor the inherent badness of the system, but in the efforts of the Superintendent to usurp powers which it was never intended he should possess— powers belonging by right to the Council, and without which they might as well resign the trust reposed in them by the people. Dr. Menzies is one of those who have endeavored to concentrate all the power in the Superintendent, and much of the embarrassment of Southland is to be traced to that ignoring of eveiything and everybody that could not be made subservient to his wishes. Wherever there has been a' readiness to become a tool in his! hands, there has the light of his countenance Jbeen turned^ but wherever independent 'thought ~ an( j "expression, of 6pimoii r hft» hem attempted; 6ur vrbTilfy

Superintendent has done his best to stifle them Ignoring altogether the Act to which he himself assented, and refusing to assent to another Act, having for its ""object more accurate definition x of the duties of Superintendent, he succeeded in paralysing the 'action of the Provincial - Gouncilr and commenced j-ands'haß'>carried r on a ( system, ; of .Goyernment -.altogether •peculiarito^himself^ and the '-illAettects* of whicluhave already-been felt.. - - There is (we niight almost say,.^fortunately) no money in the Provincial Treasury,, or there is no saying what vagaries .Southland would have to regret. The assistance of the "General Government has been given in a manner which, not only provides for the expenditure of the money on the objects for which it was advanced, but which strongly marks the opmion pf the General " Government as to the pleasing peculiarities of Dr. Menzies. as Superintendent. Seeing -then that we must be content with the Provincial system of Government, and that it is possible under existing Acts for the Superintendent to become an intolerable burden on the shoulders of our settlers, it ..will be one of the first duties of the Council to pass a far more stringent law with regard to the powers of the Superintendent than has hitherto obtained in Southland. In some other Provinces the system works well, we will not say in comparison with other systems, but it; being perforce accepted, there is no clashr ing between the vai'ious component parts. The line is distinctly marked out for each, and each does its appointed work without endeavoring to ovei'ride or overawe the other. Otago and Canterbury, especially the latter, afford proofs of what may be done under the Provincial system, when carried out, as was the intention of its founders, and in accordance with principles of truth and justice. Thoughtless and ignorant persons may see something illogical in a Superintendent acting under advice, as in the case of Otago and Canterbury ; they may look on such a state of things as anomalous, and attributable to " the presence in the political " arena of able citizens ; the dimensions " of the local legislature ; and the con- " siderable magnitude of the local ques- " tions demanding settlement,'' but it will "be a. difficult matter to "bring: Southland citizens to the same way of thinking. "We are not prepared to say that the last Provincial Council contained our most able citizens, but we incline to the belief that many were deterred from coming forward as candidates for seats because they objected to being puppets in thehands of a man in no degree better qualified to govern than themselves. As for tlae comparative smallness of our local interests, that is no argument towards the assumption of despotic rule by the Superintendent, but rather a reason why he and the Council should more easily master any difficulties which may arise, without causing the Government of the Province to come to a standstill. If we are to judge of the future by thepast we can foresee endless difficulties should Dr. Menzies be again elected. He has refused to accept his legitimate position ; he has broken pledges which, to most men, would have been sacred, and the electors of Southland will be committing an act of suicide by sending representatives to the Ccmncil who are -prepared to vote for his re-instalment. We must have some one willinsr to accept the position the old Council were prepared to accord to Dr. Mejjzies. some one who will bind himself to act constitutionally, and we have no doubt Southland will be able to produce an Executive equal to the task of advising him. Tf, at the meeting: of the new Council, the scenes of former sessions are to be enacted, and the other Provinces as much amused as disgusted at the misunderstandings between the Superintendent and the Council, the real business of the country meanwhile being neglected, it would be better for the members to resign, and allow the General' Government to appoint some reputable person to attend to the affairs of the Province. But there is no reason why things should come to such a. pass. Ths Council need elect no one as Superintendent who will not pledge himself to act constitutionally ; and although our present ruler considers it altogether beneath him to pay attention to the wishes of those associated with him in the government of the country others will not be of the same way of thinking. Let all the candidates be closely questioned as to their views of what the position of Superintendent should be, as well as what they think of Dr. Menzies' individual claims. "We do not fear, after the events of the past few months, that the assent of the Governor would be withheld to a very stringent measure defining the powers of the Superintendent of Southland. Surely no Executive that the Province is likely to produce could "advise" in a manner which would lead to more disastrous consequences than the unaided judgment of Dr. Me^ztes, or any other gentleman of the same stamp, if at some future period it should be the ill fortune of the Council to elect such an one.