THE NELSON EXECUTIVE.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 716, 27 September 1870, Page 2

THE NELSON EXECUTIVE.

We understand that His Honor the Superintendent has accepted Mr A. Reid'a resignation of a seat in the Nelson Executive Council, and, in doing so, has been pleased to express his regret that the Province should lose services calculated to be of value in connection with its goldfields or its interests generally. The seat thus vacated has since been offered to Mr George Donne, the member for Charleston, with a similar expression of confidence as to the value of his presence in the Executive. We are not aware whether Mr Donne has yet accepted. We believe that the reasons which actuated Mr Reid in resigning were simply—that the majority of the votes for the West Coast proved to be retrospective, instead of for current or prospective expenditure on public works ; that there was thus absolutely little or nothing to administer during the year ; and that his position would, to a great extent, be a pretence, and practically useless until the approach of next session, when the estimates and the Government policy for the year ensuing would come to be considered. The problematical service which he might then be able to render, he considers, was not sufficient to justify him in losing the greater liberty of an outside position, in affecting injuriously his professional connections, and in incurring expenses for the re-imbursement of which there was no guarantee except to a ridiculously inadequate extent. With, the circumstances sufficiently understood by the constituencies, and upon a definite understanding with the Executive on the matter of expenses, there might still be an advantage to the Goldfields in some West Coast member accepting the vacant seat for the remainder of the recess ; and, no doubt, these considerations will weigh with Mr Donne.