Page 4 Advertisements Column 3

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 66, 31 October 1864, Page 4

Election Notices. other member of the Executive might act in that capacity. Practically such a provision would tend to reduce the office of Superintendent to a cypher. Impressed with the conviction that, in agreeing to this bill, the Council was in some extent governed by feeling, I withheld from it the assent of the Governor. . : ■ In the succeeding session, the Council, entertaining similar opinions, declined .to co-operate with me in conducting the business of the Province, otherwise than on the basis of the bill referred to. This may be verified on referring to the' Southland Gazette of 9th August. In its sixth session, on the 22nd February, the Council resolved that all power which it could legally confer, by the Provincial Government Ordinance, should be administered, and all moneys it voted, expended by the Superintendent- only with the sanction of an Executive, responsible to the Council-: In the substance of this resolution I fully concurred, and on those terms have all along been willing to co-operate, in good faith, with an Executive possessing the confidence of the Council. My views on this position of administrative relations under the present laws are these :— -In all matters within the control of the Provincial Council, the Superintendent should act only with the advice and consent of the Executive. In case of a difference of opinion on those, if neither party gave way or resigned, the Council should be assembled. In the exercise of such powers as are .beyond the control of the Provincial Council, the Superintendent should consult with the Executive and conform with then' advice, unless there were very important reasons — which should be recorded — for deviating from it. Clearly, the Executive could not be held responsible to the Council for acts of the Superintendent in matters, in respect of which, the Council could not convey to the Executive any administering power. But, at the same tune, it is obvious that if the Provincial Council should adhere to its desh'e to attain the control in matters in which it does not at present possess it, and upon a second occasion, agree to pass a bill to that effect, it would be most injudicious, and even unconstitutional, for a Superintendent again to withhold such a bill from the consideration of His Excellency the Governor, even although he did not agree with the views it embodied, In Provincial legislation, the Superintendent has a concurrent power with the Provincial Council. Yet occasions can but rarely occur in which he would bo justified in exercise of this power, in withstanding the views of the Council by withholding Bills passed by it. It has been contended that the administration of a Provincial Government would be better condiicted if the Superintendendent occupied a seat in the Provincial Council. I differ altogether with this opinion. If the Government was to be conducted as a responsible one, then it must be conducted by party, the Superintendent will necessarily be the leader of the majority, and when by turns one party in the Council outvoted the other, the somewhat novel spectacle would be presented of a Superintendent alternately leading opposed political parties — one day as leader of the left denouncing the policy which as leader o£ the rJgh t he may have advocated only the day before. It has always appeared to me that the Superintendent should be above and impartial to party; a?id that any exhibition of partisanship would tend to diminish public confidence in him, and derogate from his position. As this acknowledgement already extends to an undue length .1 will only add that if my opinions are not sufficiently known on other topics of interest, I shall willingly give any further explanation you may desire, on the clay of nomination. I am, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, J. A. R. MENZIES. 10th October, 1864. 57-tc " TO MATTHEW HOLMES, ESQ. SIR, — We, the undersigned Electors and Inhabitants of the Oteramika District, respectfully request that you will become a CANDIDATE for the District at tho ensuing Elections for the PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. ROBERT HAMILTON. WILLIAM DAWSON. GEORGE DAWSON. THOS. A. DAWBON. W. D. G. WOOD. HUGH M'INTOSH. JOHN MORTON. WILLIAM KERE, WILLIAM JOHNSTON. ALLAN HALL. JOHN MACGIBBON. ROBERT M'AWLEY. PETER MILNE. September, 1864. 54 tc To Messrs. HAMILTON, DAWSON, WOOD, apd the other Gentlemen signing the Requisition. f^ ENTLEMEN, — In answer t© the requisition you have honored me with, I shall be happy to" allow myself to be placed in nomination as a candidate for tho representation of the Oteramika District, at the forthcoming Election of Members of the Provincial Council ; and shall, if elected, spare no exertion to advance the interests of my constituents and of the Province generally. Although no modifications of the New Zealand constitution can be at once obtained, I am of opinion that they are required ; and, as the subject may, and probably will, be discussed and legislated on, it appears not irrelevant to furnish you with my views in this place. The history of the last few years shows that, under the existing system of Government, the best interests of the Middle Island are liable to be overridden by the claims of the North. We have been, and still are, contributing largely towards an expenditure from which we derive no benefit, and much' of the present commercial depression in Southland and the other southern pi'ovinces, is to be traced to this source. I am, therefore, an advocate for the separation of the two Islands, and the establishment of a General Government for each. I would abolish the Provincial Governments, but allow each Province to retain and expend its own revenue, merely contributing its quota to tllO expense of maintaining the General Gorernraent. With reference to the questions more particularly attracting public attention at tbe present moment, I will give a brief exposition of my opinions, although for the settlement of some of these questions the Provincial Council is almost powerless. I am altogether opposed to the present system of dealing with the Waste Lands of tho Crown, and would in preference adopt, with certain modifications, the regulations in force in Canterbury. Doubtless much of the prosperity of that Province is owing to superior rules for the management of its lands. Whilst the ogriculturi3t can buy land in any part of Canterbury, and obtain a grant without delay, the squatter has tho advantage of holding his run until it ia actually purchased, whereas in Southland, on the proclara fttlW Of. lli^ run into Ifiiiitirecb, he ceaaes to havo any legal interest in it, * With regtsfo i<> wtt^nyP; it »« certain thai, «r*