The Westport Times. TUESDAY, JULY 30, 1872

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 991, 30 July 1872, Page 2

The Westport Times. TUESDAY, JULY 30, 1872

The West Coast communities declaring in favor of a change in existing forms of government, and, with rare unanimity, expressing desire for the «stablishment of uniformity in the management of their public affairs; have yet one difficult point whereon to agree, so far that opinion is divided whether, in the constitution of a now Province, a nominated or elected chief-officer would best conduce to the harmonious working of a system, to be especially inaugurated for the promotion of radical reform. The .propositions of the General Government indicate a desire to.' further the wishes of the people, by the adoption of measures tending to place the future administration of West Coast affairs on an equitable and uniform basis, conforming to their circumstances and expressed wishes ; and, whatever may be the precise details of t'.ie new Bill framed for such purpose, it may be assumed that the particular point indicated will be left to the decision of the people thomselves. The present Government has never hesitated to lavishly bestow appointments upon its supporters as rewards for due subservience and friendly votes, but neither the prt-sent or any prospective Ministry would venture to force a nominee Superintendent upon a people adverse thereto. But upon this express point the public mind vacillates, or rather seems yet to have become impressed with only very shadowy convictions. While holding little faith in the present Ministry ; wo give a candid expression of opinion an favor of a nominated jSuperinten•dent. For the reason that, although, under the present or succeeding Government, the appointment wonld in all probability be given to some zealous Ministerial supporter, the choice at least would fall upon some man possessed of admit ittrativo expedience, and practical ideas of the details of government. Having, in fact, just that particular store of indiflpehaable knowledge which candidates for elective appointment would

most generally lack. And being moreover, independent of all local party influence, and beyond tbe suapieion of corruptibility or personal motives in the conduct of public affairs. The whole matter seems to resolve itself into an arrangement of details for a simple, inexpensive, mode of procedure. For instance, leaving in the hands of the General Government, the appointment of a Superintendent, Commissioner, or Chairman of the Provincial Council —ths precise titular distinction matters little—the whole of the West Coast Goldfields might be declared a Province, subdivided into four districts ; the people within each district, entrusting the management of their local affairs to an elective council of seven. Each such Council being endowed with the full powers conferred by Municipal and Road Board Acts. Each District Council, thus formed, would appoint from their number, a delegate to consult, net, and advise, in what might be termed a Cabinet Council, with the Chief-commissioner or Superintendent, upon matters affecting the general interests of the entire province; and, to the end that the Commissioner himself, apart from his own personal observation, might obtain reliable information as to public requirements, there might be appointed a well qialified Surveyor or Inspector, the title here is again immaterial; whose constant duty would be to travel throughout the Province, and keep his chief posted up in all matters affecting the general interests. To the Councils would be entrusted the local expenditure of revenues locally ra ; sed, under the Acts giving authority to such Councils; and, as regards the subdivision of the share of general revenues apportioned to the province, it might be based upon an annual or biennial census return, the grant to each district, and the population in such district bearing numerical proportion; each Council being responsible for the careful expenditure of its share of the general revenues, in addition to revenue locally derived. The office of District Councillors might be honorary, except so far as payment of expenses to delegates to the Cabinet Council. The Commissioner aud his staff would be paid out of the General Revenues of the Colony, and also the Magistrates, Wardens, Police, and Harbor departments. Under such system the appointment of a chief-officer of the Province might be well left in the hands of the General Government, and the communities on the Coast, while obtaining advantages that neither Nelson Provincial Government or County Councils can now accord them ; would avoid the false step of linking themselves too closely with a system of troublous Provincial Government, rapidly pinking into deeay ; homo down to destruction by forms, and manifold inherent defects. If a new system of government is to be established on the West Coast Gold fields, it will be well that it shall be administered from head quarters. If we must have something new, let it at least bo effective. The natural development of hydra headed Provincialism in its present form, has been a division of the colony into hostile territories, each striving by iguoble practices to obtain some stragetic advantage of the others. It has been for years past a pitiful exhibition. The final scene in the drama of Cross Purposes is nearly played out, and surely the people on the West Coast need not now degrade themselves to the position of melancholy supernumeraries, coming on in the last ineffective tableau. Rather let them be prepared for the new order of things, when each insular portion of the Colony shall become a separate province, and, in any present temporary arrangements, prepare for the eventuality of existing Provincial institutions being blotted out of record.