PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 49, 2 December 1871, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Thursday, November 30. The Speaker took the chair at 3 o'clock. Mr Hamlin presented a petition froni the Volunteers at the Mauku, asking aid in the erection of a hall there, for the purpose of drill. The petition was received. Mr May presented a petition from tlie trustees of the Wairoa Highway Board, praying for relief in a certain cause which bad been heard in the Supreme Court lately, in which petitioners were plaintiffs and Mr D. McXicol was the defendant. The action was taken in the interest of the public, and for any personal benefit. The case was lost on a technical ground, and not upon the merits of the case, and the petitioners had been mulcted in a total amount of costs of £2OB 19s.—The petition was received. Dr. Nicholson asked the Provincial Secretary, “ When the Government will bring down the Hospital Management Bill?” The Provincial Secretary replied that much of the complaint against the Hospital was in consequence of the state of the building more than the mode of management. If the Executive were i ■ office another year they intended to strike at the root of the matter by beginning the erection of new buildings, which could bo carried on year by year until completed. Dr Nicholson also asked the Provincial Secretary. “ If any objection will be made to laying on the table of the Council the report and plans of the slaughterhouse and site ?” The Provincial Secretary said lie had sonic returns in his hands which he would lay on the table, but plans had not been drawn and could not be until it had been ascertained whether the railway would be by the beach or through the Domain. Mr Ellis asked Provincial Secretary without notice, “ When the Executive would bring down the new Education Bill.” The Goldfields Secretary said lie would answer that question. It was his intension to bring it down on Tuesday next. Mr Swanson moved, “ That the petition of William Mills be referred to the Petitionc and Private Grievance Committee.” Mr Freer seconded the motion, which was agreed to. THE PETITION OF GEORGE WILSON. Mr Mitchell moved, “That the petition of George Wilson, dairyman, of Shorthand, be referred to the Petitions and Private Grievance Committee.” Mr Macready seconded the motion which was agreed to. TIIE CONSTITUTION OF TIIE COUNCIL. Mr Creighton moved, “ That the members of the Provincial Council of the province of Auckland desire to express their regret at the attempt made in the General Assembly last session to alter the constitution of this Council, without consulting its wishes. They hope that in future, should an important constitutional change be thought advisable by the General Government, the sense of the couutry will he taken before it is submitted to the Assembly. Whilst recognising the salutary character of much of the legislation of the General Assembly last session, they cannot but regret that the exigencies of the Colonial Treasury entailed so large a pecuniary loss on this province as £13,570 2s 4d annually ; and that, in addition, it was necessary to impose new taxes, some of which fall with especial weight on the inhabitants of this province. Without presuming to review the legislation of the General Assembly in this respect, they cannot refrain from recording their opinion that a more economical administration of the public funds might have rendered the imposition of new taxes unnecessary.” He explained at very great length the steps the Auckland members had taken when down in Wellington, and read a number or documents relative to the matter. A memorandum was drawn up and signed by every member of the Auckland province, save the Colonial Treasurer, who was an Auckland representative, and presented to the Colonial Secretary. He maintained that the expenditure of the Government under the Public Works Act was unfair to this province. The Defence Minister said the roads and purchase of native lands were conducted for defence purposes, hut he maintained that roads were being made and land purchased where there was no native difficulty, and never would he. He instanced the case of Rangitikei. What roads had been made, and were being made, were from Taupo to Tauranga, to connect thence the town of Napier and the very flourishing province of Hawke’s Bay. The whole plan of the proposed expenditure of the General Government much displeased the Auckland members. But while those works were being done where they were not wanted, this province would he saddled with the interest and sinking fund upon these works. He referred to the proposed capitation allowance of 15s per head. Although the capitation allowance and special grant on behalf of the natives amounted together over £50,000, yet the charges which were put against that by the General Government, and he had gone over the figures carefully, only left a balance of £lO9 available to the 30th June, 1872, for all the great colonising works which are to be undertaken by this province. So long as the General Government was held at Wellington no improvement could be expected. That was a hole where no public opinion could be brought to hear upon the Government. Everything there was done for the interest of speculative members. He reviewed the financial proposal of last session at considerable length, and showed that Wellington, Hawke’s Bay, Marlborough, Canterbury and Westland were the gainers and the oilier provinces losers. Nelson, was the only province that was freed of debt, was mulcted in a sum of over £9.000, and Otago over £15.000. He referred to his free trade principles, and, complained of the protection tariff that had been passed last‘session for the benefit of the settlors of the south. When the foreign ports were shut against the people here, the council, in the interests of the local producers, should impose duties or charges on the produce of the Middle Island. That would he the legitimate result of protection, and he would he willing to go that length, although he still remained a free trader, and he hoped the Executive would be willing to go that length also. He reviewed the disposal of a number of the officers of the General Government, and looked upon their situations as mere sinecures. Everyone at Wellington, during the sitting of the General Assembly, was continually nudged by colonels, majors, and gallant captains; in fact, it seemed to he a point to secure offices for such men. Mr CADMAN seconded the motion. Mr Buckland did not wish to prolong the debate, hut he could say that he endorsed every word that Mr Creighton had said.

Mr Mackay had been so long a Government servaut that he had naturally become a strong centralist, but if the same course of conduct were continued for a short time longer as had been carried on during the past two years lie would bv that time be an ultra-provin-cialist. It was said the roads to be made were to be military roads through disturbed districts, but could there be any truth in those statements ? Were any roads being made to Tokangamutu, the head and centre of disturbance in the colony? Notone; not even an attempt was being made to do so. Iloads instead were being made in the Southern portions of this province, connecting it not with Auckland, but with Napier, so that those portions could be more easily annexed to Hawke’s Bay, and the trade .of those fertile districts be made to flow to Napier instead of the capital of this province. Mr Ellis opposed the motion, and moved an amendment: —“That in the opinion of this Council, any alterations that should be proposed in the organization of provincial institutions, to be acceptable to the country, should be in the direction of simplifying the working of those institutions, and making more effective the working of local self-government in country districts.” Mr Farmer seconded the motion. The Provincial Treasurer defended the policy of the Provincial Executive and the Superintendent. During last ses sion of the Provincial Gevernmcnt certain resolutions were passed upon the subject, and so far as his memory served him those resolutions were forwarded to the General Government before the Council was prorogued. After that they did not take very energetic steps until once they knew whether the money would be obtained. They did not consider that itwas necessary to do much so long as there was no money to spend, but when the Provincial Executive became aware that the money was obtained, only a few days elapsed before a memorandum was drawn up sketching out a policy, and asking for this province one fourth of the whole loan. Mr. Mitciiell never listened to such speaking as he had heard that night. So long as such men as the last speaker existed, Zadkiel would never be in want of an assistant. While he was Goldfields Secretary he was usually in a happy jaunty mood, but since he became Provincial Treasurer he had been continually in a miserable desponding frame of mind. He could make a guess at whence he had obtained such “ dismal ” inspiration. He was glad of the policy of the General Government, and believed it would be very likely to attract a large population, and if population came, there would be no want of men of capital amongst them. Mr Mackay spoke to the amendment, and condemned the manner in which Mr Ellis had referred to his remarks. Mr Freer spoke on the subject, and asked that all the members of the General Assembly should call their constituencies together to tell them how they had fought for the public, and how difficult it was to do so. Dr Nicholson spoke at some length in favor of what was called the “obstructives” of the General Government. He thought the present motion did not bring the matter fairly before the Council, and that it referred to subjects they had nothing to do with. The Provincial Secretary moved that the debate on this question be adjourned. The Goldfields Secretary seconded the motion for adjournment. The debate was adjourned until next sitting day. THE HIGHWAYS BILL. The Council went into committee on the Highways Act Amendment Bill, — Mr Douglas in the chair. The following new clauses were agreed to in committee “ Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the said Act, contained, at all meetings of ratepayers under the said Act the ratepayers shall be entitled to vote, excepting in the election of chairmen of such meetings, either in person or by proxy Provided, however, that the authority to exercise any proxy vote shall be in writing under the hand of the ratepayer appointing such. proxy, and shall have been signed by him in the presence of a witness. And no such authority shall have any force or effect except at the meeting at which the same shall have first been tendered, and at regular adjournments of such meeting. Provided also that no person shall exercise more than six proxy votes, at any meeting of ratepayers in anj r Highway District in the election of the District Board, or of any member thereof, anything in the said Act to the contrary notwithstanding.” u At the annual meeting of the ratepayers of any district, the persons present thereat in person, and duly qualified as by the said Act required, shall elect from among themselves by a majority of votes, according to the scale set forth in section 48 of the said Act, any one of their number, not being the chairman, or a member, or an officer of the outgoing District Board, to be chairman of such meeting. If any auditor appointed for any district under the provisions of the said Act shall die, resign, refuse, or neglect to act, or cease to reside in the province, it shall and may be lawful for the Superintendent, on being notified thereof by the chairman of the board of such district, to appoint some other coinperson to act as auditor in the place and stead of such auditor so dying, resigning, refusing, or neglecting to act, or ceasing to reside in the province as aforesaid.” Another clause was also adopted, authorising the annual meeting, or special meeting, of ratepayers, to pass a resolution for the establishment of a pound in the highway district in which such meeting shall have been held. The Council resumed; progress was reported, and leave given to sit again next sitting-day.