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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

TJie first session -of-^lie fourth Pro-, s resumed f Sid^W^iesd^^t"nopn,ii^ltWe Coun6U? a Hall, |Kilvi|i^i^eCf ;^-v : k ;-J' r ? '■■; i*re»3nt—^|e sjara^l^tiailon (Speaker), i g^nsipinr^i^fo^^K^Wilson, Calder, r l^l^mple> Steuul|^' s jCu-nisa^n, M'Gil--3 livray, M'Clure, Daniel, aQdj£e Hon. Dr ; Menzies. Prayers. -■■- ■■-- The presence of His Honor the Superintendent having^ been' announced, the ! Speaker vacated . Bis chair. His Honor, t who was received with the usual marks , of respect, proceeded to read, in a clear and impressive manner, the following g OPENING ADDRESS. Mb. Speaker and Gentlemen of the Provincial Cottncil. Your meeting on this occasion possesses peculiar importance. ■ The embarrassments in which the pro- ! vince is now involved have resulted in a , Crisis that must be met by a decisive ." policy which, within a reasonable period, may be expected to "afford relief. Conceiving itjo be tie duty_qf the_ Govern"Tnent at this juncture to state its views without reserve, your attention will be invited chiefly to the three following im.portant subjects, viz.^ the / embarrassed state of the province, the means of extrication, and the restoration of permanent prosperity. : , , The floating liabilities of ttie province amount to the sum of .££35,000, a detailed statement of which will be laid before you. The official retrenchment has been carried to the verge of impairing efficiency., : and I. ;can hold out no hope of further ; but in one department -rr, that of the Bluff Harbor —an increase must be proposed to secure its efficient conduct. It must be manifest therefore, that retrenchment is not the solution of. our difficulties. These I find to -be such as to, prevent the Government from turning to advantage the resources undoubtedly jpossessedby the province, and to impede 1 the I healthy settlement of the country. Emigration from, rather than -immigration intoT^B"^ovince7appear3 to .prevail; 1 and' should It he 1 presehi unhealthy state of the public credit continue, 'I 'see' no hope of the latter being resumed," or the former .discontinued. The' provincial estate cannot b$ utilized, the public creditor is unpaid, the. salaries' of the public servants are many ppnths in arrjear, and tfte' revenue is wholly , insufficient , to , , provide = for the necessary machinery of Governments The utter i futility . ,of continuing fW ■' ariy 1 ; period ! 'io carry on the- 1 government' ;of ' the pro-/ .XlM^^JlMer^such^circumstances must be apparent to you. ,. , It, therefore - becomes your 'duty 1 to u devfse the best' means of extricating us" from our Humiliating position, and placing this part of the colony in the; position of importance which its natural resources entitle it to occupy. Two courses appear open to you; viz, direct local taxation, or Ve-union with Otago. - As- -regards the first, a considerable sum would require to to be raised for general purposes alone without meeting the requirements of the country for roads, education, and niunici-^ pal improvements. In the opinion of the Government, a population of 7500 people, could not, without entirely crushing its energies, bear so heavy a burden, and this proposition will probably not be entertained by you. The other alternative, that of re- union with Otago, will, in. ___the „ opinion — of —the- Government, furnish the only solution of the difficulties by which we are beset. Resolutions recommending this course — upon the basis contained in the report of the Commissioners appointed on behalf of the two provinces; — will be proposed for your adoption. Upon that basis re-union is alike feasible and honorable, and would secure the interests of every section of the community, achieve a real independence, relieve your Government of the disgrace of contracting liabilities it has not the power of liquidating, and offers a reasonable prospect of the speedy settlement of the country. I have, therefore, to ask you to consider the subject calmly and dispassionately, divesting your minds of political antipathies. We -have reached a -period -in our political career ■which, admits of no trifling. Elected on a. special question, with a community anxiously looking to you for relief from a burden which years of pressure have rendered well nigh intolerable, I have no doubt that the proposition will meet with your most careful consideration ; and I hope your deliberations may be so guided by Almighty God, that they may be pro luctive of lasting benefits -to -the- people— you- have been -elected ~to serve. ... .. . , William Wood, Superintendent. His Honor having formally declared the Council open for the transaction of public business, retired, and the House resumed. After the minutes had been read, Dr Menzies drew the attention of Mr Speaker to the omission of an explanation of why the election of Mr M'Clure to the Speakers hip had been pronounced invalid — that, according to " May's Parliamentary Practice," the member proposed must be present. The minutes were accordingly amended, and thereafter con-' firmed. ■ Mr Wilson moved, and Mr Calder l seconded, the adoption of the existing 1 standing rifleTand orders vincial Council. -Agreed to. THE GOVERNMENT. Mr Caldeb briefly explained that ( fcej had been called on ! bjr the 1 Super-; infcendent. to form an Executive,: and had succeeded in doing so) al-| though, that it would be a permanent Government, he was. not prepared to say. It comprised Messrs Wilson^ Johnston,! and himself, and when the proper time! came,; he ; should : be ready to state the general terms on which they proposed to occupy the Government benches.

Mr Wilson moved — -"-That Messrs Steuart, M'Gillivray'; Johnston, and- the <?mover be appointed a Select -Committee $ferprep_Te the jreply %o His Honor's 'address ('and — after alluding to the absence (of several hon. members who might tneii ;be expected— f moved that it be brought' vp 1 at the next day-s evening L sitting*" y . "Mr Steuajbt spoke of the inconvenience of delay to country members, and it was ultimately agreed that the reply should be brought up the next morning. A no Lice of motion having been tabled, the House adjourned to the next day at noon.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ST18691126.2.12

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Southland Times, Issue 1171, 26 November 1869, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
977

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. Southland Times, Issue 1171, 26 November 1869, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. Southland Times, Issue 1171, 26 November 1869, Page 2

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