The Tuapeka Times. " Measures, not Men." SATURDAY, MAY 23, 1863.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 15, 23 May 1868, Page 2

The Tuapeka Times. " Measures, not Men." SATURDAY, MAY 23, 1863.

The greatest event, as yet, of this most unprolific session of the Otago Provincial Council took place on Tuesdaylast, when Mr. Thomson, one of the Clutha Members, moved the following resolution :—": — " That this Council has no confidence in the present Executive," and he moved the resolution in a clear and comprehensive speech, in which he held that in granting leases to all who came in and surrendered their licenses, the Government were not carrying out the spirit of the Land Act. He then referred to the Hundreds question. The system of Hundreds had worked well ; and he thought it should still work well; but instead of trying it, they found the Government entirely flinging aside the old system. Instead of first declaring the land into Hundreds, the Government selected blocks of land in pans, and sold these blocks ; and he did not consider that the right way to promote settlement. The Government were also selling all the reserves. They had thrust into the market Bush Reserves, Sheep Reserves, Camping Reserves — in fact all their Reserves. They had also been forcing into the market the remnants of old Hundreds. Instead of being a policy fitted ! to promote settlement, he considered the past policy of the Government, \n respect to the Waste Land, only fitted to make the rich man richer, and the poor man poorer : a policy fitted to drive men out of the country, and one eminently fitted to prevent men coming into the country. Mr. Thomson then referred to the Statement of Expenditure for the past year, in which it appeared that a great many items had lapsed, and that a great many items had not lapsed which might well have been saved. The estimated revenue was far too high, and the estimated expenditure was far too great. It was evident the Government did not believe in Hundreds. They had the assurance of the Provincial Treasurer, and of the Secretary of Lands and Works, that they did not believe in Hundreds. They had heard the Provincial Solicitor say he did not believe in Hundreds. Mr. Burns rlbo had said, over and over again,,

that he did not approve of Hundreds. He (Mr. Thomson) believed the only members of the Government who held proper views on the question of Hundreds were Messrs. Hughes and Mollison ; and he was sorry to see those hon. members on the Government benches. He believed if they were not there they would vote in favor of Hundreds, as they used to do. In the face of the Provincial Treasurer's Financial Statement, he dreaded the continuance of the Executive in office during the next twelve months. The Council passed resolutions for Hundreds last session, but the Government took no action whatever in the matter. The estimated revenue they found was £330,800 ; Crown Lands were put down at £160,000 ; he did not think they would realise above £30,000. Tolls were put down at £12,000 ; he did not expect more than £8000 would be realised. If the estimates of the Provincial Treasurer were carried out, they would only have £40,000 to expend on roads and bridges. He was sorry to find the Treasurer proposing to go in for a loan. He (Mr. Thomson) was utterly opposed to it. Loans should be raised only in times of emergency ; but in ordinary times he thought they should be satisfied with expending their ordinary revenue. He believed the Executive had far less the confidence of the country than they had. of the Council. There was not a person one met who had a good word to say for the Government ; and there was not a local newspaper from Oamaru to Queenstown that had a single good word to say for the Government on those benches. The resolution was seconded by Mr. Mitchell, and supported by several members. After the discussion was continued for a considerable time, a division was taken, which resulted as follows : — Ayes, 18. Messrs Barr, Brown, Clark, Green, Haughton, Hay, Henderson, Hutcheson, Julius, M'lndoe, Mitchill, Mosley, Mouat, Muir Murray, Reid, Shepherd, Thomson. Noes, 18. Messrs. Burns, Driver, Duncan, France, Fraser, Haggitt, Hughes, Mackenzie, ' Main, M'Dermid, Mollison, Robertson, Seaton, Shand, Sibbald, Tayler, Turnbull, Yogel. The Speaker gave his vote with the Noes, and so decided the debate. It was remarked after the debate, that the Government held its seat by a tie ; but Mr. Reid thought differently. He said the Government held office from a mistaken sense of honor on the part of Capt. Mackenzie, who voted for the Government. We think it very evident, from Capt. Mackenzie's explanation, that great pressure had been put upon him by some friends of the Government ; for while he believed that a reconstruction of the Government was absolutely necessary, he yet gave his vote as having confidence in it. He confessed that he waa not by any means satisfied with the Government, but regretted that he saw but little prospect of getting a better one. This may be so ; but it is no reason why another should not be tried, especially when we keep in view the fact that a Government which receives such determined opposition can never carry on satisfactorily the affairs of the Province. It has now been defeated on the motions respecting the Bush Reserves, unsold land in Hundreds, and the Hundreds question ; and however qualified in financial ability it may be regarded, the fact is patent, that a Government so diametrically opposed to the wishes of the people should resign their seats, and give those who can better interprit public opinion an opportunity to conduct the Province through its present critical state. _________^_ - ___