Page 4 Advertisements Column 2

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 67, 2 November 1864, Page 4

other_memhei.pitjfche. Bxae^tive.nught a^fc_.in Jhat ■ capacity. Practically such, a provision -would tend to reduce the office of Superintendent to a cypher;,-. Impressed with the conviction that}.rin agreeing to this bill, the Council was 'in soine 'extent governed -by, feeling, ,l; withheld from it the assent of the Governor. " ' J ' ' In the succeoding session, the Council, entertaining.,' similar, opinions,' declined "to yco-operate with me.in ; conducting , the. business ; qf : ,the fvoj vince, otherwise, than on the ,basisof, the bill referred to. *!iiis"m'ay be' verified 1 "otfreferring to the Southland Gazette , of ■> 9th' August. In its sixth session, on the 22rid-\February, the Council resolved thafesallHpoweri'whickdfcicoiild legally confer, by the ]?rpvincinl t Gpyernment Ordinance, should be administered,- and ..all moneys it voted, expended by the Superhatenderit^ only, with the sanction of an Executive -respbnsiblefe 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'pf the Council. My views on this position' pf 'administrative relations under the present laws are i these*:— lii all matters witlim the cpntrpl L of the ProviiiciaL Council, the Superintendent should .act "cmly the advice and consent of .the ExQCU&vet 1 r ' In case of a dilPerence of opLiion'bn'thb3e, i if:heither party gave way or resigned, the Council should be ; assembled. In the exercise of such, .powers ,. as „are beyond the control of the rProvincial Council; „the Superin--tendont should 'consult with the Executive and conform with their-adviceV'tuiless there were very important reasons— wliich should be recorded — for deviating from it. Clearly, .. the Executive could- not~be held -responsible .to.the Council for acts ,df the'Superintendentrin matters/ in risspect of which, the . , Council could not ' t convey to the Executive any administering "''power. ■ But, at the same tune,- it is obvious that if the Pro-rincial'Cduacil:^hduld"adhere;tp its vdesire to attain the control in matters in which it does not at .present possess; it, and upon a second occasion, -agree to ; p"ass:a i; bill tp thateffect, -it would; be •most injudicious, and-even ; uncphstitutipnal, ; for a Superintendent: again to 'withlipld ; such, a, bill -from <the .-consideration of „His -Excellency tlie Governpr, even; although he did; not agree with -the views it embodied, ' , T ,"Cln Provincial legislation, the Superintendent cohcuri'enfe power ; with the Provincial ■Council. . Yet occasions can but rarely occur in which, he would: ba 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 aProviriciaLGpvermnent wpuld be better conducted :ifrthe:Superintendendent.eccupied ; a seat.in the ProvmcialCmmcu..,. l differ- altogether with, this opinion. If the GpfermneritwastP be cpnducted as a responsible one, tHen'lt" must, .be conducted . by party, tiie' SupcHntendent { 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 of the righ 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; and that any exhibition of partisanship would tend to diminish public confidence in hini, 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 oh other topics of interest, I shall willingly give any further j explanation you may desire, on the day of j I nomination. j i 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 the ensuing Elections for the PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. , ROBERT HAMILTON. WILLIAM DAWSON. GEORGE DAWSON. THOS. A. DAWSON. j W. D. G. WOOD. j HUGH M'INTOSH. JOHN MORTON. j WILLIAM KERR, WILLIAM JOHNSTON. j ALLAN HALL. j JOHN MACGIBBON. ROBERT M'AWLEY. PETER MILNE. September, 1861. 54 tc To Messrs. HAMILTON, DAWSON, WOOD, j apd the other Gentlemen signing the Requi- | sition. j"^ E2STLEMEiN T , — In answer to the requisition \Jf you hare honored me with, I shall be happy to allow myself to be placed hi nomination as a candidate for the 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 btill 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 provinces, 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 the expense of maintaining the -General Government. With -reference to the questions smbre- particularly attracting public attention at the present moment, I will give a brief exposition of my opinions, although for the settlement of come of these questions the Provincial Council is almost Ippwerlesjs.i, .' :. j , ,'i '. •• ■ .. . •. ■'. .. • ■. • I am altogether opposed.to the present system of dealing with the Waste Lands of the Crown, and would in preference adopt, with certain modifications, the regulations in.ibree in Canterbury. Doubtless much, of the prosperity of, that Province is owing to superior rules for the ment pf its i lands. Whilst the agriculturisf; can buy land, in any, part , of Canterbury^ and, obtain a grant without delay, the squatter lias the advantage of holding his run until it *i& actually puroJiased, whereas in Southland, on the prockim ation of Jaifl Tim into Hundreds, he, ceases to have any legal 'intereßtfii it. : - ; '■■■> ' With regard ; to railwaya, it is certain that, ere long, there will be a line connecting this Province witttNeifSon. It would be judicious for the General Government to initiate euch a line, making first those portions roo»fc urgently required, and gradually extending operations until the whole was completed. ■ In contemplation of .such a scheme being adopted, I should be in favor of handing over to the 0-eneral Government the Bluil' and Invercargili fyiilwny, tJw Province rcccivi/jg'the fjums expended on its construction. Tiie wjwle talugraph fiyHtern »Iw>uld ftlwo bo ia the h»»d» of tiw General Government, >wd that portion of ifc, ahwJy completed, viz,'— the .lino petwuen JWercargiil twd tho Utu/P*~fljiould bo ut once handed over, the L'vovinvo, a« in the cuuo of t\lß n*ilvr»y, being reimbursed £ov ifc» outlay. ■ '£h» prtfitnl JfitW'ulJon OwJinaHue jk most unjust in iUi working- 'H)« iMbutmuiuni U iiWonuiht r 01) h WFoli% b;M)i^, and individual ('tinea oi' }u,r)*hip under it art aounnon, Who nmmti of edutmUuA hi* vkMtm fljwuid be pitted wjtliui the roach of ( , ' r. .