ME MOORHOUSE ON PROVINCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

West Coast Times, Issue 666, 12 November 1867, Page 3

ME MOORHOUSE ON PROVINCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

At the dinner of the Christchurch Licensed Victuallers' Association, Mr Moorhou?e, in rising to respond to the toast of '• The members of the General Assembly," said : — That he supposed that his name had been associated with the toast, because he was the only member of the General Assembly who had the gratification of being present. As Mr Wilson observed in proposing this toast, it was very proper to avoid the making of political allusions of a personal matter which might lead into a discussion on the comparative merits of those men who were their servants in public affairs. (Hear, hear.) He quite agreed with Mr Wilson in this. For his own part he was sorry to say that he was not entitled to tho compliments that had been paid to him by Mr Wilson. To refer to " Hansard" would be to condemn him as being immensely inferior to many whosespeeches had been published there and in the newspapers. (No, no.) He had read '■ Hansard" through, and he was bound to admit that upon the whole the debates were exceedingly creditable to New Zealand generally, and he might say, with justice, to Canterbury ! more particularly. (Cheers.) He would point to such speeches as those made by Mr Stevens, Mr Travers, Mr Eeeves, and others. The true value of these speeches could best be ascertained by a person now sitting down to read them, undisturbed by any conflict in dedebate. Mr Travers was considered to be an antagonist of his. They had not crossed swords exactly iv the Assembly. They had a difficulty — that _is to Fay, a little passage of arms. His friend Mr Travers, when he thought that ho (Mr Moorhouse), had dropped his sword, made a thrust in the Town Hall, but having laid himself open to his (Mr Moorhouse' s) attack, he (Mr Moorhouse) gave him a lunge in return in the Assembly. (Laughter.) Of course both Mr Travers and himself used somewhat vehement, terms in debate. Mr Travers had held him up as being inconsistent at a meeting in Christchurch, and he (Mr Moorhouse) upon hearing of this pointed out some inconsistencies on his friend's part. That was tit for tat, and a generous man would always be contend to receive as much as ho gave. In the last session of tho Assembly opinions were most outspoken and antagonistic one to the other ; but there would be antagonism so long as there was ground for argument and conflict of interest. So for as members of the Middle Island were concerned, there was great uneasiness in regard to the future. TLey perceived that the political world was heaving witha spasmodic effort to get rid of something it had been laboring under for a long time. He was quite sure, notwithstanding whatever political differences had occurred, that Mr Travers, Mr Stevens, Mr Somebody-else, and Mr Moorhouse — in fact the whole of those engaged ;n; n the advocacy of the interests of the province-r-anS—ihs'weolony, would yet be moving together in the progress of tho?e refoircs that were necessary. f l here had been great talk of reform in this province lately. He was not going to talk of the particulars of provincial politics. Persons who didn't travel politically out of the province were apt to limit their opinions to whst most concerned their own homes, but those whom they sent to the Assembly, ,and those who read the debates, had a great deal more to engage their attention than in the affairs of a particular province merely. The reform that was going to be prosecuted must not be en exceptional reform, but must be partaken of by the other provinces as well as Canterbury. He was prepared to wiilk shoulder by shoulder with any man — with Mr Travers, Mr Stevens, and others, who had been in political conflict — and hoped thatbefore long they would all be moving together; in the tidiness of time, and as a whole army, he should like to see .them rise and sweep away all those rottennesses that now exut. He attended the General Assembly burdened with a double anxiety. As Superintendent of tho province, he was interested in every Canterbury constituency. There was a good many things •nithin his own knowledge which could not be acquired by anybody without having a considerable amount of experience. Ago was a terrible thing to encounter. An old man having an experience of the world had realised a hundred facts w hich a young man had yet to learn. • Although ho was not a very old man, he could at all events lay claim to a certain amount of experience in public affairs. He had been curious enough to enquire who was the oldest member of the General Assembly, and had ascertained that he was the first member elected to that tody in the colony. He had sat in most of the Parliaments since, and so had enjoyed opportunities of learning a good deal about the growth and progress of New Zealand institutions. (Cheers.) The time was rapidly approaching when great changes would be introduced. The General Assembly would be called upon next session to consider reforms in New Zealand, which, if publishcdas beinginthe minds of particular men he could mention, would cause the greatest consternation possible. Ho was said to possess the capacity of concealing Ins intentions. He trusted he should retain the capacity in a proper degree. He did not think it necessary, in governing a 'family, that a father should in all cases make an exact statement of his scheme of economy, lest it should be anticipated, and so perhaps rendered impossible by weaker members of the family. He could see that a change was being sought for. . He could sec that Provincial systems must be remodelled, for one very explicit reason among a great many others, and that was, the people were determined to have it so. He was convinced, that Provinciaiists — moderate or ultra— must be content to see the present Provincial system changed tooneinore adapted to the advtmeecl condition of the colony and the present temper of the public. This was the first occasion on which he had committed himself to an expression of opinion disclosing his idea of a scheme for the future. -He had a scheme complete in all its parts. Some such would 'probably be laid before the Provincial Council presently, and they would then have an opportunity of expressing an opinion upon and perfecting a plan which, if adopted by the General Assembly, would involve a radical change in the administration of the provinces. The Licensed Victuallers' Association and himself were associated in ties of friendship. (Hear, hear). He did not know that he had received much, more personal or political comfort from any other section of the public than he had derived from that Association. Considering the fact that he had been their counsel, and that they had been very good clients of his— (laughter)— and considering a variety of other circumstances, among othors

tlieir desire to elevate themselves by the erection of provident and charitable institutions in connection with tlieir mercantile organization, lie did nol think that any other section of the public were more entitled to an early disclosure of his intentions than the Licensed Victuallers' Association". (Hear, hear, and cheers.) He might tell them that he was in favor of reform tg_ an extent not yetdreamt of even by those who were moi-t loudly insisted upon it. He wished reform in a sense that Jewother reformers had any idea of reaching up to. His reform would not be a tinkering one. Thej r would understand he was not speaking as a demagogue, but in a a full sense of responsibility as Superintendent of Canterbury. He was speaking there, not as an aspirant to popular favor, but as a mau who Avould use the oppoitunities he had at his command to influence measures for the good of tho public. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) He was a member of the General Assembly and Superintendent of the province, with certain powers which might not be taken away for a period at all events. Having promised so much, he would say that the plan lie had in view was not the product of anything that had appeared eitner in a morning or evening paper. He had lately been talking the matter over with a few friends of the country. The public were now in such a temper all over the country that the institutions we live under must be radically reformed. In common with many who were earnest in their desire that the provinces should realise the benefits intended by the Constitution, he had always been -Anxious for the complete independence of the provinces in the ordering of their own affairs. Ue desired this still. But most undeniable evidences had been ra.pidly accumulating for years that entire or even comparative independence _iv legislation by the provinces was impossible under tho existing form of the New Zealand Constitution. There had never existed any distinct line of demarcation botwecu tho functions of the Assembly and tho ProYindal Coxmcils. In consequence of this and other circumstances the provinces had b # y degrees become completely demoralized. The peoplo wero naturally discontented with the cuinbrousness and great cost of legislative sj'stems, with their accompanying political machinery, whose labors wcro (owing to tho absence of any exact definition of their separate and independent power) for tho most part labors in vain, and therefore ridiculous and wasteful. It was impossible not to admit that, undci 1 normal conditions, the Parliament of New Zealand was quite rqual to making all tho general laws re quired by tho wholo colony. That being granted, wisdom would suggest that the provinces should bo limited to a very simple legislative power to enact such bylaws as wero necessary to give effect to a strictly independent provincial administration of the waste lands. Under these considerations it would follow that many departments now controlled by tho Pro vincial Governments would be undertaken by tho General Government with great advantage, both as regards the saving of expense and the greater uniformity oi law that would naturally follow such a change. A synopsis of such an altered system as he desired would disclose two great principal facts. First, complete independence of the provinces within exactly defined limits, and outside those limits undoubted and solo power to the General Assembly. Secondly, the great distinction between the functions of the General Assembly and the provinces would consist in the rule that one should care exclusively for the land, and woik and immigration ; the other for the inhabitants of the colony. As the Superintendent of a province he had hitherto felt himself io be, by implication the champion of the office and of existing provincial institutions. So he had endeavored to be, as long as it was in his opinion (and iv the opinion of many wiser men) possible to maintain them advantageously to the public. Doubts which he had for some timo felt himself bound to examine in complete silence, had at length resolved themselves into convictions, aud no folt himself bound, after great consideration, to express them to tho public. They were not going to got a Government to do the work lor nothing. Whatever change might occur the necessary expenses ol maintaining order would

have still to be borne. He was not one who would cut down a man's salary below the marketable value of his services, but he was averse to having more officers than were necessary to carry on the Government. He thought Provincial Councils and Superintendents as at present constituted had almost done their work. He thought the country ought to be cut up into Eoad Boards all over the colony, and that the land revenues ought to be made the absolute property of ihese Road Boards, subject to tho payment of such sums as were sufficient to carry on surveys and sneli public works as were necessaiy. (Hear, hear.) The chairmen of these Boards and the chairman of the Municipalities might act as a Central Board, standing in place of the Provincial Councils, and a Chairman of such Central Board might displace the present Superintendents. He would not be vain enough to believe that such a scheme proposed by himself would be necessarily accepted as the best. When a man honestly proceeded to argue and demonstrate that it was not, he would always find in him a candid listener. No matter what scheme was acted upon, let them above all things take care that the other provinces didn't catch hold of their land revenue ; let them see that the other provinces did not take their substantial inheritance. Tho land revenue would be in danger unless they took a larger security than had yet been exhibited to their view. The best security was to cut up the country into Eoad Boards, and endow them with such powers as would enable them, by individually independent, yet generally harmonious action, more rapidly to advance the colonization and prosperity of tho country. They might depend upon it — not because he or auy section of persons willed it; not because ho or they wishpd it, — but that out of tho inherent peculiarities of their present condition great changes would come. These changes would lie effected in the General Assembly. Let them make any change they pleased in the Government of ilae j >l<ov^ :uces > *ho frequent expressions of discontentment such as were now prevalent, that exist at present, would be evoked by the force of times and circumstances. In time like the present they would have any Ministry in the greatebt possible odium ; but in good times, no matter how bad or incompetent might be the personnel, they would have the Ministry in tolerable good repute As to the future of tho colony, he had not the slightest doubt. (Cheevs.) He would just remark that, concurrently with the reform he had already indicated as being desirable, an enormous reduction of taxation would be attempted. He was sanguine that the colony would rouse itself to making commercial efforts which would have the effect of placing it at the top of all her Majesty's dependencies in these waters. (Cheers.) He would suggest for thm* consideration tho fact that mercantile activity and commercial industry, more particularly in a colony, were of very much more importance than political agitation. (Hear, hoar.) The time had now arrived when they must go in for a far greater export. His Honor thanked the meeting for tlieir attention and the compliment they had paid to the members of the Assembly, and was loudly cheered on resuming his scat.