FOUR VITAL YEARS

Southland Times, Issue 21097, 31 May 1930, Page 13

FOUR VITAL YEARS

PAGES OF SOUTHLAND’S STORY

IN THE DAYS OF DR MENZIES

(BY

A. R. DREAVER.)

(Continued from Last Week.)

Of secondary industries the province was as yet barren, but the primary industries waxed exceedingly prosperous. More land was settled upon and laid down in crops, more .sheep dotted the upland pastures, more clearings appeared where but a few years before dense forests maintained their virgin splendour, while more settlers’ cabins took shape in the isolated parts of the province. The intelligent interest shown in better class stock was demonstrated when in July, Matthew Holmes and John Morton, of Seaward Downs, imported some excellent cattle from Australia. The second annual show of the Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held on April 13. It was a great success from every point of view, and gives some indication of the high standard to which Southland produce and stock were destined to attain.

Despite the abundance of stock in the rural districts, Invercargill at one part, of the year complained of very high prices for beef. The province had as yet little surplus stock, and land communication in winter time was decidedly difficult, so that the chief ports looked to other provinces for subsidiary supplies of meat. It. was, therefore, the first notable task of the newly-fledged Chamber of Commerce to secure the suspension of the prohibition on the importation of cattle from other provinces as enacted under the Diseased Cattle Act. The Government then declared certain registered parts of the province Slaughterhouse Districts, and Mr J. F. Kells, the Registrar or Brands, supervised these districts and recorded numbers of animals killed for food. In this .way it was possible to exercise some jurisdiction over the slaughtering operations and to some extent, to ensure that only healthy animals should be used for food. The continual increase in the numbers recorded by Mr Keils was an indication of the general increase in the primary resources _of the province and the spread of population and multiplication of stock. Year by year the province has thus increased its wealth. The steady growth of settlement, the irresistible encroachment upon the preserves of nature, the constant conversion of bush lands into fertile prosperous farms, all bore witness to a state of prosperity in the country which no financial acrobatics could impair. For the trying time that was to come the resources of the province were to be sorely beset, and this was the period which justified the confidence of those who had staked their all in the land.

CHAPTER FIVE. 1864—Disillusionment. The year opened inauspiciously. At the very beginning there appeared a rift in the Government lute. A dispute as to the respective powers of the superintendent the executive occupied the forefront in political affairs and rapidly developed into a crisis. A still more immediate matter for concern was the refusal of the Governor’s assent to the Appropriation Ordinance passed by the Provincial Council in its fifth session. This, of course, reacted with grave consequence upon the general administrative work, and the absence of Dr Menzies at the General Assembly, served to paralyse the work of the departments. The railway's department was forced to come to the unpleasant but undisputable conclusion that the original estimates for the works were in no wise sufficient to cover the cost of construction, while the lands revenue was not up to the estimate. It became essential that the council should be called together early in February to discuss this grave situation, and provide for its amelioration. By that time the roads expenditure had swelled to such an extent that it was far in excess of the revenue while the floating liabilities amounted to £lOO,000. Dr Menzies was of the opinion that the unusually high roads expenditure would have to be continued while the sums advanced by the bank should be covered by a loan raised on the security of the waste lands, of which 90.000 acres were open for sale. He proposed that lands held in security for such loans should be administered as other Crown lands, but that the" revenue derived from them should be applicable only to the repayment of the loan. To complete the railways a task which Messrs Heale, Dundas and Merchant estimated as costing £35,000, the superintendent suggested that a loan of £40,000 be raised, with waste lands to be set aside for its liquidation.

But the council was not prepared to discuss business until the question of relative powers was settled. One section dogmatically asserted that the Superintendent was directly responsible to and punishable by the Provincial Council. Dr Menzies repudiated this claim. His high-minded conception of the duties of his office, combined with his strong, independent personality, gave the impression that he was something of a despot, and the continued absence of controversial issues had served to confirm him in his position of benevolent autocrat. While the province prospered this was accepted cheerfully, but with the turn of the tide of fortune, opposition and criticism raised their heads. Mr Chalmers who was appointed provincial treasurer on January 7, led the opposition party in the council. Messrs Stuart and Cowan resigned from the executive on the samecday, and, when the council met, they, together with seven other members, presented a note to Dr Menzies stating their refusal to accept executive office unless the “Superintendent for the time being pledged himself to act in accordance with the spirit of the Provincial Government Ordinance, 1862, -and not in violation of the principle which provides that ‘the superintendent shall act with the advice and consent of an executive council.’ ” Dr Menzies dignifiedly replied that his powers were not wholly subject to jurisdiction by the Provincial Council, but were derived from the Constitution Act and other acts of the General Assembly together with specific powers delegated by the governor. The councillors, however, persisted in the attitude that the superintendent must carryout the wishes,of the executive, and, in the event of no harmony being possible between the two, affirmed that an appeal to the people must be made. They then stated that, despite their anxious willingness to proceed with the important -work of the province; they would first require a distinct recognition of Ihe principles and duties of responsible government. On February 22, a resolution passed by the council demanded that' all powers legally conferred by the “Provincial Government Ordinance 1862,” should be administered by the superintendent only with the advice and consent of the Executive Council, and that appropriated moneys should be expended under the supervision of the Executive Council chosen

from the Provincial Council, and responsible to it.

Dr Menzies chose a temporary executive on February 26 in order tqprepare a financial statement, and draft a bill defining the respective powers of superintendent and executive. This executive consisted of Messrs Cowan, McNab, and McKay. Mr Chalmers resigned the treasury, and became leader of the opposition, thereby implying that the office was a political one. Mr Rogers was again 'appointed interim treasurer. Mr Chalmers was most strenuously opposed to the superintendent, and did hi.s best to move the council to pass a vote of censure on him, while a movement was afoot to depose Dr Menzies in Mr Chalmers’ favour.

Although this movement failed, the emi of the disputation -was not yet reached. On March 3 the executive resigned owing to being unable to pass the representative ordinance, its attempted solution of the political enigma. This action was in reality, the first instance of responsible government seen in the province. Mr Stuart, who had proposed the amendment defeating this ordinance, endeavoured to form an executive, but was unable to come to an arrangement with the superintendent on the question of relative powers, and Mr Tarlton was called on to draw' up an executive. He himself became Provincial Treasurer, thus confirming the political nature of this office, and Messrs Cowan and Bcaven were associated with him on the executive. Retrenchment was the watch word of this govern ment, as Mr Tarlton was well known for his categorical detestation of borrowing and debt. He therefore proposed that the estimates should be pruned to the extent of £6OOO. This was a move in the right direction, but when this sum is compared with the huge amounts of the loans floated, it is seen to be no more than a drop in the bucket. The advent of a strong stable executive was a great relief and lessened “the tension in politicial circles.” Two ordinances of a political nature were then passed by the council. The first, another “Representation Ordinance,” was passed after a rather exciting career. It was arbitrarily reserved from the Governor’s pleasure by the superintendent, to the unbounded indignation and chagrin of a large section of the ci'izens. The ordinance aimed at broadening the franchise and involved the immediate dissolution of the council. The latter proposal was distasteful to the superintendent as it did not permit of the selection of a new council under the new' conditions, the electoral rolls not appearing until October. The lapse of time overcame this objection, and the ordinance was assented to in May. The other political measure passed was the “Provincial Govern ment Ordinance.” If carried into effect this would have reduced the Superintendent to a member of a committee with a deliberate and a casting vote. This was a grave infraction of the Constitution Act, and was therefore immediately consigned to oblivion by Dr Menzies. Urgent financial measures then passed the council. The "Debentures Bill (No. 1), 1864” had for its purpose the supplying of the discrepancy of £49,090 between the original estimates and the actual necessary expenditure on the B.H. and I. Railway. “Debentures Bill (No. 2), 1864 was to raise £120,000 to meet liabilities incurred on account of advances made on behalf of public works, especially roads. The first of these loans was placed with the Bank of New South Wales at a rate of six per cent, interest. By agreement dated May 13, 1863, the same bank had undertaken to make advances on the B. H. and I. Railway’ Debentures,. at six per cent., amounting to £140,000, under the "Debentures Ordinance (No. 1), 1863.” The other loan ordinance of 1863 had been taken up by the Otago Bank, an agreement having been made on January 8, 1864. lite conditions laid down granted to the Bank of Otago all the financial business of the provincial government except the loans with the Bank of New' South Wales, at a commission of one and a quarter per cent. The present loan of £llO,000 was to be provided at a cost of seven per cent., the security being land. The Bank was also to make advances up to the extent of half a year’s revenue on the ordinary account current at a price of seven per cent. A fortnight after this arrangement had been arrived at, Dr Menzies asked for £50,000 to be paid into the Government’s account, and an interim manager to negotiate this operation and succeeding ones for the bank, was sent to Invercargill. In spite of the extensive nature of these various financial commitments, there was a general feeling of confidence in the transactions, and no fears were felt as to the ability of the pro vince to meet its liabilities. The railways, which had first set the feet of the Government on the slippery path of borrowing, were progressing rapidly. Mr Marchant’s report of January' had brought it home to the Government that an increased loan was needed to carry on the work. Mr Marchant was the engineer in charge of the railway works, and the estimates he subpitted on the B. H. and I. Railway were as follows: —•

Railway, exclusive of extensions 124,840 Railway extensions •• 11.100 Provision in contract for public roads 9,8/2 Bluff Harbour and Mokomoko piers 35,351 £181,163

Mr Heale explained the discrepancy between this total and his own original estimate as being due to the fact that various works which he had reserved for eventual completion had been commenced straightaway ; for example, the Mokomoko gradient had been lessened, and extra rolling stock provided for in view of the unexpectedly rapid advance in trade.

But the work was not giving entire satisfaction. It was said that soft slushy material was being used in constructing the embankments of the B. H. and I. Railway, in stead of the solid material from the cuttings. It was also asserted that the contracts were not being strictly carried out in other ways. A commission of inquiry, consisting of Messrs Sheath and I. N. Watt, was set up to examine Mr Marchant on these matters. On March 26 Mr Marchant gave his evidence and stated that Mr Dundas, the Consulting Engineer, had been cognisant of all the proceedings and especially- of the works on the embankments, on which subject Mr Marchant confessed his inexperience. Mr Dundas, who had had much to do with railways over peat bogg in England, professed his complete satisfaction in the work. The springy vegetable matter used for the embankment would not impair its efficiency as it had a heavy covering of sand. As the understanding had been that the line should be opened by June 22, he considered that this device, which had been adopted to save time, was amply- warranted. (To be continued.)