The Westport Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 1873.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1079, 10 June 1873, Page 2

The Westport Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 1873.

It is difficult to conceive what possible good will follow the persistence of the Provincial Executive in forcing the progress of the Goldfields District Bill, against the strongly expressed and unanimous opinions of the Goldfield members, that its provisions are opposed to all constitutional law and practice and in no wise suited to the requirements of the Goldfields. The bill is at the best an abortion, a tricky measure, devised like the interpolated " gag " of some too clever buffoon " to set on some quantity of barren spectators to laugh," and having no fitting connection with the practical and necessary business of the session Except so far, that his Honor the Superintendent having made profuse promise that a measure to be specially devised for the advantage of residents on the Goldfields, should be introduced, it was necessary to make some show of keeping that promise, even although the combined wisdom and good intent of the Superintendent, the Provincial Solicitor, and the entire Executive to boot could accomplish no better result than the measure which the Goldfields members, guided by their practical knowledge of the requirements of their constituents, declare to be worthy of utter condemnation. The Bill passing through all its preliminary stages, and ultimately becoming law, will be of just as little utility as the famous " Town Improvement" or " Twopenny Bate" Act passed last session, ostensibly framed to suit Goldfields townships, but perfectly inoperative outside the boundaries of Nelson City, by reason of its too petty and childishly restricted powers. The Goldfields Districts Bills is yet another convincing proof that Nelson rulers are absolutely incompetent or unwilling to perfect any honestly useful measure for the better government of the Goldfields. Want of practical knowledge, lack of preceptive ideas as to the fitness of things, or a positive disinclination to attempt anything beyond make-believe legislation ; one or all of these obstacles seem to be continually in the way, and serve the more to aggravate discontent than to allay it.