The Southland Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1869.

Southland Times, Issue 1155, 29 October 1869, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1869.

TfiE Provincial elections are over, the 'personnel ...of the Council is now before the public, and it requires but a cursory glkace at the list of members to show that, after T all; parties are very equally^ matched. Certainly, l assuming all the candidates claimed by the annexationists as having been returned In their interest to be ultra re-union men, that party has got an appreciable; majority of votes. 1 As jcertajnly,_ however,. ihe_ opposite party, have returned the, greatest number of able men — men whose natural and acquired talents, long experience, and just comprehension of- the political problems of the day, both Provincial and Colonial, entitle their opinions to much weight. Further, it must be borne in mind that those gentlemen who parti y. owe ..their seats to a conditional approval of the re-union scheme, but who very properly declined to pledge themselves to a policy which they had not fully studied, may — nay, probably will — when the question comes to" be more dispassionately discussed, discard a cry adopted in the heat of jpublic^agitatibn, and lend their >hud> in maintaining the independence- of the province. .., There is another feature of the case, however, which is worthy of; particular notice, and to which , each individual member of the Council will pay due respect, if he appreciates aright his duty as a representative of the people. Allqwjug' J tha.t__the majority of members are in favor of re-union, it will, we believe, be found by a comparsion of the different district returns that the majority of the electors are opposed to it. Taking, therefore, the broadest and most statesmanlike acceptation of their .responsibilities, the members will best . discharge their duty by deferring to the voice of the people as a whole rather than by blindly 5 forcing the crotchets of any particular clique or constituency. Party legislation has been the curse of the colony, and may be of this province. " Marry in haste and repent at leisure," is an did proverb applicable to other contracts than that affecting the primary domestic relationship. It is especially appropriate to the territorial union so ardently desired by a section of our community, as the connection once consummated, it will be equally as irrevocable. Neither has there been that calm, mutual consideration of the subject which its importance requires. A measure so vital, so fraught i with lasting consequences, cannot be too maturely, considered, or too .cautiously adopted. The members of the Council will, therefore, evince their regard for the interests of their constituencies, and of the country at large, by throwing aside any asperity of feeling which may have been evoked by electoral conflict, beholding in subordination enthusiastically held personal opinions, and by dealing with the great question before them with that spirit of seriousness, temperance, and impartiality which is the sure and only guarantee that the result will be for the public good. The question of the Superintendency has been but lightly touched upon at any of the elections, and yet it is a most important one, and the firsfc,afterthe election of Speaker, which the new Council must determine. The names of several gentlemen lately appeared in our columns as having been spoken of in connection with that office. Amongst others we mentioned Mr J. R. Ctjthbertson as most conspicuous, not only on account of his fitness for the position, but because he had at once enunciated a feasible policy, and his willingness to assist in carrying it out.

The scheme which he propounds for the restoration of prosperity to the province is outlined in the subjoined extract from his speech at a recent public meeting at Eiverfcon. No such -practical plan of administration has been placed before the public by-"- any other individual, *and we therefore claim for its author the consideration of those whose duty-it will be to elect our future Superintendent.

Mr. Cafchbertson, .. said x— The .floating liabilities in Invercargill, unpaid vouchers,. Were £18,000 ; the Treasury was . jßmpijO the relations of the (Government and the various contractors for the railway;, were sueh-as'promised well for a good crop of claims ; and intricate, and 'difficult questions for the new administration, whoever they might be. The laud revenue was at present nil. Still all these troubles were in their very nature temporary, and the speedy or tardy solution of the problem depended on the energy and skill brought to bear on it. He should, if returned, be prepared to propose the consideration of schemes for a complete trigonometrical survey of the lands of the province, to which; he thought the General Government might contribute or advance ; he should insist ori a complete and satisfactory, statement of our floating liabilities, arid an undertaking to use every endeavour to \ get them discharged before incurring further debt ; negotiations with, the . Colonial Government for some relaxation of the stringent provisions of the Public [Revenues Act in our favor, for a time., to enable us to developethe resources of the Province, and introduce population, thereby lightening the debt per head, and increasing the Customs revenue ; the reorganisation of the provincial departments on a simpler and more economical plan ; a system of immigration encouraged by frbe grants of land, under carefullyconsidered and fair conditions ; stringent and definite bargains with ail contractors ; publicity, as far aa possible, in all action of the Government; attention to the keeping in repair of roads already made, whiqh., he thought, might be done, at. small expense by surface men under honorary inspectoral, resident on the lines of road. He would suggest that the . Superintendent should be endowed with similar powers to make 1 a settlement at Stewart's Island as the Superintendent of Otago with regard to .Martin's Bay and Preservation. Inlet, which might be effected in conjunction with the other. - In answer to questions, Mr Cuthbertson"stated that he would do his best to assist education, but considered that it was really a duty of the Colonial Government, and must ultimately be undertaken by it, though local management of the expenditure was a desideratum. The relations of the Superintendent to the Council might be materially simplified by the Superintendent sitting in the Council as head of the Government, thus saving time and expense inthe Treasurer's salary, &c, He would be prepared to place a permissive measure of .local taxation for towns and districts before the public, and, if possible, to recommend that the amounts : .thus raised by the locality ihould be subsidised out of the Provincial chest. He was -in favor of realising the railway property if possible, as a set-off against the debt. In any case, |he was against incurring further expense in management by the Government, bufc would recommend a lease for a short period till the question could be examined' arid finally disposed of.