The Southland Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6,1867.

Southland Times, Issue 860, 6 December 1867, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1867.

The debate on Mr Tbayeb's motion, on the " Control of Public Departments" elicited strong arguments in favor of a centralising policy in addition to those that have been alluded to in previous articles on the Police and G-aols. Harbor improvements and Hospital and Lunatic Asylum management were likewise discussed. Mr Tbavebs, in advocating G-eneral G-overnment supervision and control over all harbor works throughout the colony, says : — " I consider an executive control should be retained by the G-eneral Q-overnment. The harbors of this country, although they form part of its territory, belong, broadly speaking, to the trade of the world, and it is essential that the regulations for ships coming into these harbors should be of a character which will, in no degree, interfere with the due prosecution of trade." There can be no question as to the correctness of the views taken, and even the extreme provincial sts endorse them. The question most important in this matter is, in whose hands shall harbor works be placed ? SWII the Provincial Government — with scant information and questionable engineering ability be allowed to squander the resources of the colony by abortive and clumsily designed harbor improvements ? Experience teaches us that generally the provincial system is extravagant and inefficient. Otago, Canterbury, "Wellington, Southland, and other provinces, have costly monuments, called harbor works, of provincial incompetency. In reference to this subject Mr Tba.vebs said: — "The provinces have not the means of retaining in their service that class of men to which the consideration of questions of the kind were most familiar ; they cannot do it ; but in the interests of trade, and of the Colony at large, it would be expedient that the G-eneral G-overnment should have the opportunity of retaining in its service some person thoroughly acquainted with marine engineering and with hydraulic works." As a matter of economy, of harmony in design, and stability of work, it is most desirable that all harbor works should be executed by the G-eneral G-overnment. Everything tends to strengthen the conviction that the provincial system has sown the seeds of evil* that will hereafter be found- of- the most pernicious character. It is evident that harbor works could be made much cheaper under the supervision of o no competent man, who would have one system by which his work was prosecuted, than by the employment of a number of cheap and imperfectly trained engineers, each with his own peculiar crotchets to work out. Th© necessity for one strong central power in this instance alone seems obvious. In every part of the colony the cry is retrench — lower the taxation. Can this be done ? Yes ; but it never will be done until the provincial system is abolished. As long aa Provincial Councils are empowered to undertake important public works, the same blundering that has taken place with Southland and Auckland Eailways and Wellington's Patent Slip will be continually occurring. The large staffs of half-employed officials will continue to absorb the lion's share of the revenue leaving little or nothing to be expended on roadmaking or other necessary works. \ There were two other subjects included in the debate. It was argued

that Hospitals and Lunatic Asylums should be under the control of the Central Government. We cannot, i however, endorse the views taken by 1 either Mr Tbaters or the Hon. Mr j Hall on the question of Hospitals and Hospital management. It was a mistake for the Gl-overnment, either General or Provincial, ever assuming the control of such institutions. They are = essentially institutions of the people, and should be entirely managed by elected committees from among themselves. Undoubtedly the G-overnment should supplement the contributions of the public, and there its connection should terminate. It is creditable to Southland that it is the first Province in New Zealand that has relieved the local Government of the responsibility and much of the cost of the management of its Hospital. But with reference to a Lunatic Asylum it is most desirable that there should be' one Colonial Institution established inj the most healthy spot that could bq found. Next in importance to a Central Penal Settlement is most unquestionably that of a Lunatic Asylum. The cost to the colony in keeping up its nine establishments for the safety of the unfortunate insane is simply atsurd. In small institutions the expense per head treble the amount that would be required if only one extensive institution for the whole colony existed. Take Southland for instance. For the attention and safe custody of one or two insanepatients alltheexpense of aseparate staff has to be incurred which amounts to considerably over £400 per annum. It is deeply to be regretted that the scales of provincialism should blind so many, and narrow their views to the great detriment of the colony. It is most desirable that the General Government should assume the control of the Police, Gaols, and Lunatic Asylums. Until this is done, the evil extravagance hitherto experienced will be perpetuated, and the same imperfect organisations continued. Let the Provincial Council at its next session make real and substantial reductions. It is a perfect faree — indeed, highly reprehensible — that so much money should be expended in the maintenance of the Southland Provincial Government.