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Southland Times, Issue 620, 1 February 1867, Page 3

"WEDNESDAY, 30th JANUARY. The Speaker took the chair shortly after 7 p.m. Present — Messrs Swale, Lumsden, Johnston, Howell, Hodgkinson, Armstrong, Blacklock, (Provincial Treasurer) Wilson, (Speaker) Pearson, Wood, Clerke, Nurse, Clark, Toshach, Crerar, Cowan, and Drs Hodgkinson, and Mcnzies. The minutes of the preceding sitting were read and confirmed. Message prom His Honor the Superintendent, No. 3. To the Provincial Council of the Province of Southland. The Superintendent begs to transmit to the Provincial Council for its serious consideration the copy of a resolution of the Chamber of Commerce, relative to the necessity for keeping open the New River Harbor, and recommends that provision be made for this service. JNO. P. TAYLOR, Superintendent. Superintendent's Office, Southland, 30th January, 1867. On the motion of Dr Menzies the consideration of the report of the Committee " appointed to consider the course which should be adopted with regard to the appointment of an officer in the Waste Lands Department, &c, was deferred. Pursuant to notice Mr Clerke moved " That a respectful address be presented to His Honor the Superintendent requesting him to forward a recommendation to his Excellency the Grovernor, praying him to dissolve the Provincial Council." He said he had brought forward this motion from a sense of duty, feeling what must be apparent to every member that under existing conditions the formation of a new government was impossible. He considered the present government never really possessed the confidence of the House, and in support of that opinion would briefly sketch its history. Mr Clerke then recapitulated the action of the Council during its sixth session, when after a vote of want of confidence had been moved by Mr Cuthbertson, that gentleman undertook to form a ministry, and with considerable difficulty succeeded in getting together a G-overnment consisting of himself (without office) Messrs Blacklock, (the leading member of the ousted executive), Wood and Armstrong. But, said Mr Clerke, " the hon member for Longwood shortly afterwards retired without, I apprehend, giving satisfactory reasons for so doing. To this day I cannot account for the soda water action of the hon member — for the sudden evanescence of the energy with which he commenced the reform of abuses. However, I do not blame him, strongly re-. membering that very great difficulties were in the way of his forming a Government." Shortly after this scratched up executive was formed, one member (Mr Wood) went to the Assembly. Arrangements his colleagues made with him were broken by them, and on that ground he resigned. What that breach of faith was, the hon member (Mr Wood) would probably tell the Council himself. Then came the Eccles arrangement. Gentlemen in the Government came forward and said it was the only way to get out of the mess we were in. How the Council agreed with that view, the Provincial Treasurer well knew. Yet the executive did not accept the proper consequence of the censure. He held that an honorable and independent executive would have resigned after the expression elicited from the Provincial Council, and after they had by asserting "it was the only measure to do good" commited themselves to it as a policy. He thought few executives would have held office after such a defeat as they experienced. (Hear, hear). Had there been no difficulty in forming a Ministry the Council would no doubt have ousted them. During that sitting— in a manner almost unknown to him (Mr C.)— the Harbor Master of the New River became the Provincial Harbor Master, with an increase of £-50 salary. At the present sitting the Government came beseechingly to ask the Council — " shall we sell the Southland steamer for £3500 ?" to, in fact, decide for them in a mere matter of ordinary business. He came then to the time when they asked the Council to draw up a Retrenchment Report — evading the very duties they should have fulfilled. The Council ought to have said, " you are not fit to hold office:" but again the matter passed in the same mysterious manner; and this state of things, in consequence of the divided state of parties, must continue if an appeal to the country were not made. He would further draw .attention to the " Government Gazette " of the 30th June, 1866. He never saw such a document produced in the conduct of public "or private busines : it was one tissue of mistakes from end to end. In view of these facts, he hoped the Council would sup-

port the motion, for lie believed however little confidence existed in the Executive, a new Government could not be formed by the Council. Mr Clerke concluded by saying that before bringing on the motion he had asked an hon. member if he would support it ? The reply was, " I shall vote with the majority." He (Mr Clerke) thought if there was a majority he could do without him. Mr Lumsden would support the motion, although on somewhat different grounds to those of the mover. One reason was that — without impugning the capacity of members of the Council — there were not sufficient members willing to form an Executive. Another ground was that in a young country where interests were perpetually changing and expanding, it was necessary to refer frequently to the electors. With reference to that important question of the Railway leases, the almost equal division of the Council showed the desirability of an appeal to the tax payers, in order that they might give utterance to their opinions on the policy they desired. Mr Cowan would support the motion from a sense of duty, feeling keenly on this point, inasmuch as he had been repeatedly asked, and had as often refused to join in forming a new Government, that therefore he and some others were to blame for the anomaly of any executive continuing to hold office after introducing measures not accepted by the Council. For his own part he would be happy to see an appeal to the country so that his constituents might return a man willing to take part in the Government if called on to do so. Another reason which must be conceded ! by all was that, where the head of the executive was not present the burden of public business fell on the other members of the executive, and this had been the case he might say almost since the present Counncil was formed. On these grounds he should support the motion for a dissolution. Mr Armstrong defended the conduct of the G overnment in retaining office after having sustained a defeat. He said the Government had waited patiently for the reports of committees of audit &c, knowing the results of their investigations would only redound to the credit of those in office. He had noticed he must say throughout the session the tone of antagonism, the desire to censure and the strong desire to shirk the display of that desire by gome hon members whose opinions were formed in pure ignorance of the subject and a desire to make a scapegoat. But the Government must have a clear expression of censure or of comfidence from the House ; it was impossible otherwise to go on with business. If not, and a dissolution took place what would be the result ? The Council waß not prepared with another Government and they could not expect the present executive to hold on until after fresh elections. Dr Hodgkinson thought no case appeared to be made out. The Council was elected for four years, and unless some difference arose on a large public question it should not be dissolved. He denied that the public interests had suffered at the hands of the Government, and agreed with Mr Armstrong, that a direct vote of censure should have been asked for — indeed he would go further and say that before the Council was prorogued they should give a distinct expression of opinion in favor of the Government. As to increased work being thrown on the executive by the illness of the head of the Government the idea was quite wrong — that gentleman was quite as well able as anybody to carry on the business of the Province. They should recollect too, the circumstance of his election. He was made use of in a case of necessity to extricate the Province from a difficulty. If they so made use of him, it was surely improper to take such actions as that now proposed, because anyone taking office would of course arrange their affairs under the expectation of remaining the four years. From what he knew of the Province, they might not get other members to fill the offices, not from want of capacity, but from want of a spirit of fairness and candour in their treatment. He should oppose the motion. The Provincial Treasurer said he should oppose the motion, as he did not know where they would get better men than were in the Council. Since the last general election in Invercargill, when vacancies had occurred, the constituency had not put in better men. Then the apathy in some districts was pitiable. As to the Eccles arrangement, spoken of by Mr Clerke as equivalent to a vote of censure, he dissented altogether. The Council had given some authority for what was done by a vote on the subject of immigration the previous session. Moreover, when the motion which the hon. member (Mr Clerke) held to be tantamount to one of want of confidence was passed, it was shelved by the motion of the " pre vious question " being carried, thereby showing the bill had not been thrown out for want of confidence. As to the appointment of Provincial Harbor Master, that was a mistake in the Estimates caused by the Government having previously made an alteration intending to have one Harbor Master for the whole of the Province. However, that alteration was not made ; and as there was no sum voted to pay the New Eiver Harbor Master, Capt. Greig was gazetted Provincial Harbour Master, pro forma, in order that he might draw his salary. As to the selling the steamer, they merely submitted the offer of £3500 to a committee. Then, as to the Retrenchment Committee, such a course was quite usual; indeed, for his own part he thought such a committee had been too long delayed. He thought it would be well if such a committee sat once a-year, to elicit facts to enable the Council to form a judgment when passing the Estimates. As to tlS^JSuperintendent, he was as clearheaded as described by the hon. member for Riverton ; and although there might be some occasional slight inconvenience through his not being in his office, still

the Executive did not grumble, but were only too glad to go down to his house to consult with him respecting all matters of importance. Mr Johnston supported the motion, on the ground that since two years ago, there were many persons qualified to be electors, whose names were not then on the roll, and he thought it was time they had a voice in the representation. It could be no honor to a man to sit in that House, if he were not wanted there by his constitutents. If he were wanted the country would send him back. (Hear.) ' Mr Wood did not intend either to vote for or oppose the motion. He had lately seen his constituency and they found no fault with him, and he thought other members should do the same as he had done, and if required to do so, resign. Public feeling had been expresed in favor of a new Council, but if they were in earnest they should see that their representatives did their duty, although he (Mr Wood) did not challenge their right to disfranchise themselves. He did not think it would come with good grace from him to say anything severe against the executive, as he had at one time been among them, and as he did not intend to either oppose, or support the motion, he would not further occupy the time of the House. The speaker suggested to the hon member, that if he were not going to vote, he should leave the House. The suggestion was at once complied with. Mr Pearson said he must preface his remarks on the motion by stating he spoke on the subject with perfect impartiallity, inasmuch as he had determined to resign immediately after the present session was over. He would now warn the Council of the consequences of such a resolution being carried. At the present time it was of imperative importance that we should present to the General Government and other Provinces an unbroken phalanx ; instead of which, we are called on to inform the world we consider ourselves incapable of dealing with the circumstances in which we find ourselves. The argument that the present Council was elected for the purpose of nominating a Superintendent was unsound ; for out of twenty members, ten were new ones, the oldest of nine months standing, the youngest. of some these month. The Colonial Secretary would naturally say " what on earth do these fellows want a dissolution for? they have only about £10,000 to spend, and yet they are squabbling over that." It would be the strongest argument used for reanexation to Otago by some of the able members of that Province in the General Assembly. They would say "three men are unfit to govern themselves, they are like children squabbling over trifles, they must be reanexed to us." Then what object would be gained by putting the Province to the expense and trouble of a general election. Every member of the present Council if he choose to stand again, would be relected. If he thought not he had better call a meeting of his constituency and ask them whether he was acceptable to them or not, and he could astertain the interesting information, without the expense to the Province of a general election. He knew the country settlers did not want one, they were the real bone and sinew of the Province, the bees not the drones. He had asked several, and the answer invariably was, "we only want roads, we don't care about the squabbles in the Council." What right then had one constituency, that of Invercargill, to dictate to the rest of the country. This constituency though apparently large, would, were the Electoral Roll properly purged, prove considerably smaller than many others. He was very sorry that the Superintendent's name had been brought into the discussion by the hon. member for the Oreti. It had been stated that we required a more active head. By the Executive Council's Ordinance, it was distinctly provided that the Superintendent should do nothing but act by the will and direction of his Executive. Well, that was exactly what he had done, and foresooth he is blamed for it.. As to want of energy and determination, he would call their attention to the last paragraph of the Superintendent's letter to the Colonial Secretary, of date 23rd November. The hon. member had read the extract. Well, what could be more determined? who could take a better stand on behalf of the Province? He was perfectly certain that Mr Taylor commanded the thorough respect and esteem of every member of the General Government and Assembly. He was known to be a thorough English gentleman, the proudest earthly title which could be given to a man, such as no Russian Czar, Eastern Khan, Emperor of France, or American President could confer. He would dismiss this part of the subject by saying shame to him who would add the mite of man's annoyance to the terrible adversity of the Almighty, who would strew with one thorn the bed of sorrow and suffering, double shame on him who sought to trouble the spirit trembling on the awful confines of eternity, the balance of whose life was so evenly adjusted that the feather weight of man's cruelty could turn the scale. As to the hon. member for Oreti's argument for a dissolution, that it would enable his constituency to elect some one who would be able to give more time and attention to the public. If that was all he wanted, he could obtain it by resigning at once, without a dissolution. If any member relt he was not worthy to hold his seat he had better resign. A dissolution at present, with the harvest pending, would either seriously inconvenience the country settlers, or by their being unable to attend to the elections men might creep into the Council who did not really represent the great body of electors. We had turned the corner of our adversity. The General Government were willing to aid us if we would only aid ourselves ; and yet, while the fruit was ripe and ready for plucking,

they would not stretch out their hands to seize it, but spent their time squabbling about a dissolution. He would vote against it ; and sincerely trusted the Council would set earnestly to work to meet their position, sinking all private differences for the public good. j Mr Nurse spoke in opposition to the motion, atating that an utter disorganization of the affairs of. the Province must follow if the Executive went out of office and a dissolution took place. Mr Cuthbertson pointed out that the Superintendent would not necessarily be thrown out of office by a dissolution. He . might be re-elected. Dr Menzies supported the motion, but said had it been brought forward in the early part of the session he should have opposed it, but from what he had since seen, he thought a dissolution was necessary. There were not four members united on a policy, and he said it without blame, the Council was disorganized. It was plain that the Government remained in office on sufferance ; for want of an opposition, and the only course was, to appeal to the country. Mr Clerke having replied, the motion was put, the division showing, Ayes, 8 ; Noes, 7. Some discussion followed, on the report of the Committee on the appointment of an officer in the Waste Lands Department. The report of the Printing Committee was read, after which several notices of motion having been given, the House on the motion of the Provincial Treasurer adjourned to the next evening at 7 o'clock, to enable the government to consult on their future course.