THE PROPOSED CHANGE IN THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ORDINANCE.

Southland Times, Issue 732, 4 October 1867, Page 3

THE PROPOSED CHANGE IN THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ORDINANCE.

The following speeches were delivered in the Council, during its last sitting, but were unavoidably held over through want of space : — Fbiday Evening, Septehbeb 20th. Dr. Hqdgkinson, pursusnt to notice, movec j — " That in consequence of the appointment of members of the Executive Council being required to be made from amongst the twenty members of the Provincial Council exclusively, great difficulty and inconvenience has been experienced at various times in the formation of an Executive, and this Council is of opinion that the Executive Council Ordinance should be amended so as to provide for the election of an Executive Committee or Council by the Provincial Council for a stated term and with certain conditions — any registered voter to be qualified to act as a member of such, elected Executive." The Hon. Member (Dr Hodgkinson) said the idea which he desired to see carried out was a practical one. He did not desire to abolish the Prcvincial system of G-overnment, which he thought would in all probability last for years. He would first remove objections which might be urged against the motion as imcompatable with representative Government. This form of Government the motion would not compromise. In representative G-overnment there were three departments to be considered — the Legislative, the Municipal— and the Executive, of which the Legislative was supreme. "Wherever the Executive were made responsible to the general body of representatives there was representative G-overnment — provision being always made for, at any rate, one member of the Executive being present in .' the House to espondto questions. [Eeference was made to Clause 18 of the " Constitution Act.] The position of Southland was not analagous to that of England ; the Constitution Act was the Magna Charta of New Zealand. Lord Lytton Bulwer and Mr Torrence had placed the present inhabitants of New Zealand and their descendents under a heavy debt of gratitude in framing this Act. What he (Dr Hodgkinson) objected to as referring to Southland was, the system of G-o---vernment by party. This system worked well enough in England, but was totally unsuited for a little Province of about six thousand inhabitants, where too much was looked for from the Executive. He would name some of the evils of this sj^stem. First there was the limited choice in the formation of an Executive, out of the twenty members of the Council, and practically, even this number, could not be relied upon. There were those who could not or would not take office, and those also who were unfit. There was scarcely the materials in the Council with which to form two Executives. This was the root of other evils, instability, and mutability. [The speaker referred to the system prevailing in Greece, with its 80 Ex-Ministers and an Executive every two months.] The present system imposed upon us an insufficient body from which to elect an Executive. If a member of Council is willing to hold office he may not be able ; if able, not willing. The present so-called constitutioual system is liable to corrupt members of Council aud tends to obstruct public business; it marred the system of voting. A member moving an adverse vote was expected to form a new Executive, and none were willing to " bell the cat." There could be no impartial expression of opinion on the part of the whole Council. The votes were not given on the abstract merits but on the question of who would form an Executive. Another objection to the system was its expense. Sixteen members, himself included, had lately agreed to create another salaried office. And the system tended also to lower the respect in which the Council was held both in the Province and elsewhere. But the evils were so numerous that to enumerate them would be ' tedious ; the more they were sought for the more numerous they appeared. He would thereforenot enlarge, or he would soon come to the preachers, " twenty-secondly," but would rather point out another system which might be substituted — viz., an electoral committee open to every one on the Electoral Roll. Erom this committee anExecutive could be composed of three or five members, the status of the Superintendent being the same. A vast deal more choice would thus be secured, and provision could easily be made for removing an Executive distasteful to the Council. One salaried officer, the Treasurer, should have ex qfficio a seat in the House, and have power to bring up bills, but not possess a vote. The election could be made by the Council, not by the public at large. He would now speak of the good results that would follow this change. Out of the whole body of voters we should have a large number of gentlemen well qualified to occupy a seat in the Executive, to choose from. The instability would thus be much reduced. The Council would go deliberately and calmly ta tha etectfea* Uftdep the pre^

sent system it was "whom can we get ?" firom the meinbers~ofthe Provincial Council. The inefficiency of the Executive would thus be entirely remedied. The tendency to , corrupt members would be removed as votes would be not given merely to obtain a change of Executive. Fewer changes would thus be made, and the public business would not be obstructed. One salaried officer, at £1000 a year, would be quite sufficient. He could meet with the Superintendent once afortnight. Werethe best man in office the G-overninent would obtain the respect of the Province and the colony. (Hear, hear.) The honorable gentleman here gave extracts from Dangerfield's America, proving from precedents that the system, he now recommended was 200 years old, &c, describing the system which obtained in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Kentucky, &c. ; also precedents from Europe ;". Norway, the most democratic State in it, and Switzerland's Federal Eepublic of 62 Cantons, one of the oldest states in the heart of Europe ; also in Italy and Denmark, and the Cape Colony. The hon member urged that no possible objection could be made to this system on the score of its being unconstitutional. It was an indictment with ten counts, and the verdict must be against G-overnment by party, and in favor of a better system. The change made must be a thorough one, or none at all. We should emulate the practice of four of the most democratic constituencies in America, and allow the present system to pass away with some degree of dignity, by introducing a better. Dr Monckton seconded the motion, as leading to advantageous results. Dr Hodgdinson's admirable arguments had nearly exhausted the subject. One argument of great weight was, that members of Executive were, by the present system, elected more from the side they took in politics than from their capacity to assist in legislation. The new system would keep them in harness and able for the work. Mr Johnston said as no other member seemed inclined to speak to the motion, he would. Dr Hodgkinson had entered deeply into the subject, and discussed it very ably, but the Council was not prepared for the change. He himself would not like to vote either for or against it. He could not reconcile the motion with constitutional G-overnment. It would, he thought, subvert the whole system. It was a subject requiring due deliberation, and a discussion at present would lead to no practical result. He would move that the question be now put. Mr Lttitsden seconded — If the political millennium were coming, however, we might as well have it in Southland first. Mr Abmstrong thought the House ought to be indebted, to Dr Hodgkinson for the able speech he had made. He agreed, however, with a previous speaker, that no practical result could follow a discussion on the subject at present. Therefere better leave it. The proposed system would not lessen the expense, as outsiders would have to be paid. He agreed as to the disadvantage of constant mutations. , Mr Ctjthbertson desired to express his gratitude for the amount of political information furnished, but the Council was not in a position to give a definite opinion on the subject. He would give none. Dr Monckton deprecated the position taken by hon. members. The matter should be discussed. Dr Hodgkinson took his stand upon the Constitution Act. He advocated no radical constitutional change but merely a reform in an imperfect system. He did not wish to force the question but could not see no necessity for withdrawing it. If the present system were continued he could see no hope for the Province, and would give no more time and trouble to it, his patience being nearly exhausted. Mr Aemsteong moved that the discussion be postponed till next session Mr P£aeson seconded. After some conversation, Dr Hodgkinson agreed to withdraw his motion, on the understanding that the subject would be considered during the recess, and the motion be discussed at next session.