PROROGATION OF THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 124, 23 June 1870, Page 6

PROROGATION OF THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

In his address at the prorogation of the Council, the Superintendent expressed himself as follows :—: —

Gentlemen — As this is probably the last occasion on which I shall have the honor of addresseng you, perhaps I may be permitted to say a few words expressive of my own individual views with regard to a question which, sooner or 4 later, must be grappled with — one which^" deeply affects our future position. I allude to our present style or system of Government. The conviction has long forced itself upon my mind that our present system of Government, both. Colonial and Provincial, is unnecessarily costly and complex — there is far too much of state about it. The fact that, amidst all its depression, Otago has actually contributed to the General Grovernment during the past year £137,000, not one farthing of which has been expended within the pro vince, must, I think, speak for itself as showing that some change is absolutely imperative in this direction. As regards the system that has grown up among ourselves, it appears to me to be, to a great extent, incompatible with a political organisation, so limited in its sphere of' action as a New Zealand Provincial Government must necessarily be under existing circumstances. As a general rule, I think it will be found that divided responsibility is not conducive to efficient and economical administrationI feel persuaded, could we see our way to exercise the important functions which have been conferred upon us as a Province, without the formality of Parliamentary Government, "with its oufcs and its ins," and its ministerial crises — that instead of circumlocution, we should have direct action, and the public service would be conducted with more vigour and at less cost. I think that this might be effected without substantially diminishing that responsibility of the Executive to the Legislature, of which the latter is naturally and properly so tenacious. I shall not trespass upon your patience further than to express an earnest hope that, if any change does take place in our system of Government, it may be for the better and not for the worse — a change not forced upon us from without, but which shall spontaneously emanate from the intelligent convictions of the people throughout the Province.