PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1149, 10 February 1874, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

[CONDENSED FROM NELSON TAI'EUS.] In discussiou on the subject of immigration the Provincial Treasurer moved —" That in the opinion of this Council it is expedient that the General Government be requested to instruct the Agent-General to arrange for the transmission to this Province of 150 persons per month, to consist of laboring men and tbeir families, calculated for employment upon public works and in agricultural pursuits, but including in the number a fair proportion of artizans, such as blacksmiths, carpenters, coal and iron miners ; at least three-fourths of the entire number to be natives of the United Kingdom." In support of this motion he said that it had been calculated that every family engaged in agricultural pursuits kept another supplied in town, so that by increasing the country population, that of the town would be enlarged in equal proportions. There were no better openings for a limited number of immigrants in other provinces than there were we in ours, if we would only open it ourselves, and he believed that many who six months ago would have strongly opposed immigration were now disposed to encourage it. It must be remembered that immigration now cost the provinces nothing, but that it was entirely a a General Govment charge, and that in order to enable them to meet it the capitation allowance had been reduced, so that we were actually paying for immigration to otber provinces without reaping any benefit from the scheme ourselves. It might not be a very high ground to take, but still it was the fact that here was a large benefit offered to us without our being called upon to pay one shilling for it. The mere fact that people were being steadily imported would induce others to come, and by introducing laborers we should be encouraging capitalists to cast in their lot with us. To pass this resolution would be a strong argument in favor of our obtaining a loan, for if we were not prepared to increase our population our public works scheme would be viewed with suspicion. Mr Kelling seconded the resolution. Mr Maclean thought it important to encourage immigration, but it was a most delicate subject to handle, a.-i any undue addition to the population might produce great distress. If the educated por ion of the community might be said to bo the head of the body politic, the laboring classes were certainly the heart and they required the more consideration, because from their want of education they were not so well able to take care of themselves. On the other side of the ranges the case was different to what it was here, for there were many men working on claims that did not pay very well who were always willing to take work under contractors for public works. The Executive should therefore confine their scheme to the eastern side, and as he considered that 150 per month was too large a number for this portion of the province, he would move as an amendment, " That until the main trunk road has been opened for traffic from Nelson to Westport not more than 50 immigrants per month should be introduced." Mr Gibbs seconded the amendment, and Mr Guinness opposed it, as from his knowledge of the goldftelds he was able to say Mr M'Lcan's statement about the labour market was altogether wrong. Ordinary labor could not be obtained under 13s 6d a day, while carpenters and mechanics were not procurable under £5 a week. He would ask the Government to be careful with regard to the distribution of the immigrants, and not retaiu them all on this side. Mr Shapter thought that 150 per month would be easily absorbed. At the Lyell, Charleston, and Westport, labor was very scarce. He thought that Mr Maclean's argument about men leaving their claims to work on the roads was not worth much, as the real miner, even when not actually on gold, was still in search of it, and did not care to go to ordinary labor. They might as well introduce none at all as only 50 per month. Mr Adams suggested that no more labour should be imported than was actually necessary for public works. Mr Kerr was disposed to support a motion for introducing double the number of immigrants proposed by the Provincial Treasurer. Mr Donne thought the resolution altogether unnecessary, as it was a purely administrative matter, which should be left entirely to the Executive.

Messrs Fisher, Ivcss, Sharp, and the Provincial Solicitor also opposed the amendment, which was rejected on a division by 16 to 4. Upon discussion of the motion by the Provincial Treasurer " That the Council go into Committee to consider the schedule of works and securities contained in tho message of His Honor the Superintendent." Messrs Adams, Gibbs, Donne, and Guinness opposed

the schedule- as being somewhat vaguo. J Mr Fisher proposed as an amende meut, " That the Council adopt the schedule proposed l>y the (Jovcnuuuiit as a general scheme." Mr Parker proposed, " That the proposed consideration of the public works schedule be postponed until the next Session of the Council." This on a division, was negatived by 14 to 7. Mr Fisher's amendment was then carried by 10 to 4. On the motion of the Provincial Treasurer, it was resolved, " That in the opinion of this Council it is expedient that the Resumption of Land for Mining Purposes Act, 1873, be brought into operation in the Province of Nelson." "Mr Ivcss moved, "That a select Committee be appointed to take into consideration the expediency of amending the Goldfields- District Bill passed last session ; such committee to consist of Messrs Donne, Guinness, Adams, Sharp, the Provincial Solicitor, and the mover." The name of the Speaker having been added, and Mr Shapter substituted for Mr Donne, the resolution was agreed to. On the motion of the Provincial Treasurer it was resolved, " That an address from this Council, signed by the Speaker, be transmitted to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to send this Council a recommendation to grant a sum of money out of the Provincial revenue to meet the unauthorised expenditure for electoral purposes, amounting to the sum of £304 15s 6d."_ On the motion of Mr Donne it was resolved, " That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to direct the Provincial Engineer to report upon the best method of improving the acoustic properties of the Provincial Hall, and if it be found that a simple and inexpensive method can be devised, ' this Council recommends that it be proceeded with forthwith." A motion by Mr M'Lean, that the occupied portion of the Township of ) Lyell should be sold to occupiers, ' under the proyisions of the " Nelson | Waste Lands Act, 1863," "Amendment Act, 1872," was seconded by Mr Guiness, and agreed to. [ The Provincial Secretary moved, I " That his Honor the Superintendent j' be authorised to purchase a sufficient r quantity of land to recompense the natives for any land that may be taken . by the General Government for the purpose of opening a chaunel for the , overflow of the Buller river through j sections 53, 54, and 55, square 141, and that the value of the land claimed and ot that to he given in exchange, as well as the position of the latter, be determined by arbitrators to be mutually chosen." Mr Fisher seconded the motion, which was agreed to. ' Mr Donne asked the Provincial , Secretary, " Whether his Honor the Superintendent would be disposed to withdraw from the operation of the Cattle Trespass Act, the goldfields comprised within the Electoral District of Charleston. The Provincial Solicitor said that ! the Superintendent had no power in e the matter, unless on the requisition } of two-thirds of the electors.

On consideration of the Supplementary Estimates, tho item " Provincial Treasurer, £100," being proposed, Mr Donne said, lie was not prepared to vote a salary at tbo rate of £±oo a-year unless there was some guarantee that tho whole of the time of tho gentleman holding the office was devoted to its duties.

Without detracting from the services of tho Provincial Treasurer, he said that there was not a parallel 1 case in the Colony of the Superintendent and Treasurer being absent at the same time from their duties a3 Provincial officers. It had been the cause of complaints on the West Coast that applications from that district were not attended to with promptitude, from the fact of the absence of these Executive officers. He should oppose the it "m.

The Provincial Solicitor said that the Council had recognised the desirability of a division of the offices of Secretary and Treasurer, and had on former occasions voted the same salary as was now proposed. Mr Donne had no right to assume that the duties would not be satisfactorily performed. Mr Guinness moved, as an amendment, " That £75 be substituted for £100." He did so because if his amendment were adopted, it would be voting a salary at the rate proposed by the Government for nine months. The gentleman at present holding the office received payment for the performance of certain duties elsewhere, which necessitated his absence from tho province, and ho contended that the Executive had no right to ask this Council to pay officers, while they wore engaged in another place. Ho did not object to tho salary but he did that it should be paidrfto this pari icular officer. After some further dissuasion the amendment was withdrawn and the item passed. " Gohlfields Representative, £50." Mr Ponno proposed as an amendment " To striko out the words ' Gohlfields Representative,' and insert in lieu thereof ' Miscellaneous.' " Question put " That tho words proposed to bo struck out do stand." Council divided : Ayes, 17 ; Noes, 2 ; tho Noes being Messrs Guinness and Donne. Mr Guinness proposed that £IOO bo substituted. He could state most

distinctly tli.it such an officer was necessary, but it was also-imperative that tlio duties of this officer were satisfactorily performed, and that the gentlemen should not be allow, d to carry on any private occupation. After some discussion, the amendment waa withdrawn, and the item passed. " Survey £500." This item was, on the motion of the Provincial Treasurer, increased to £BOO.

Chairman of Committees. The salary of this officer was voted at the rate of £SO per annum. Mr Ivess moved that the Government should purchase Dalton's wire bridge situate opposite Reefton. Mr Adams proposed the following amendment • —"That prior to the next session of the Council, t'.e Government he requested to ascertain at what price Dalton's bridge can be purchased, and also to obtain the opinion of the Provincial Engineer as to the desirability of purchasing." Mr Shapter seconded the motion fro forma, aud stated that the Executive had already instructed the Provincial Engineer to report upon the •work.

Motion withdrawn and amendment passed. Mr Sharp moved, " That in the opinion of the Council it is desirable, in order to develope the coal measures of the Buller Reserve, the construction of the Westport and Ngakawhau Eailway should be proceeded "with as speedily as possible, and that a copy of this resolution bo forwarded by his Honor the Superintendent to the Hon. the Minister for Public "Works."

Seconded by Mr Adams, and, after some discussion unanimously agreed to. The Provincial Solicitor, without notice, moved the first reading of the 'Goldfields District Bill, Mr Ivess' motion having been withdrawn. The debate on the second reading of the Licensing Bill was postponed. The Council adjourned shortly after midnight till 3 o'clock on Friday. On the 6th Mr Donne asked the Provincial Secretary "What course his Honor the Superintendent proposes to adopt with respect to a petition from the inhabitants of Charleston, presented to his Honor on the sth instant, by the member for Charleston, having reference to the subject of affording some ready assistance to a certain scheme of permanent water supply for that district." The Provincial Secretary replied that •the Government had decided to recommend the General Government to construct this desirable work under the provisions of the Immigration and Public Works Act, and that a resolution would be moved to obtain the sanction of the Council to the Government proposal.

Mr Tarrant asked the Provincial Secretary, " Why not more than one third of the sum voted to Boad Boards had been paid, and whether it is the intention of the Government to pay the remaining two thirds before the end of the financial year." The Provincial Secretary replied that •it was intended to pay the ba'ance of •the votes for Boad Boards before the close of the financial year. The condition of the revenue would not admit of an earlier payment. The Goldfields District Bill, and the Appiopriation Act were passed, and the Licensing Bill read a second time and ■committed, and the Council adjourned. On the 7th, the Licensing Bill was passed after some discussion, and at 2 ■o'clock his Honor prorogued.the Council in the following speech : Me Speakee and Gentlemen of the Provincial Council : I have assented on behalf of his Excellency the Governor to the following -Acts:— "An Act to amend the Law relating to the Sale of Alcoholic Liquors." "An Act to amend the Goldfields Local Revenues Act, 1873." '" An Act to further appropriate the Bevenue of the Province of Nelson for the year ending 31st March, 1573." I am much gratified to find that the important proposals 1 submitted to yc~. in reference to Public Works and I migration have received your approval. I forwarded your resolution on the latter subject to the Colonial Government by telegraph, and have since been informed by them that they have instructed the Agent-General to despatch 150 immigrants per month to this province. It may, I think, be fairly assumed from the readiness with which the Colonial Government have complied "with the wishes of the province in respect to Immigration, that thoy will give an equally cordial support to the other portion of the scheme — namely, the proposals for opening the country by the construction of Tublic Works, without which the introduction of M) considerable an accession to the laboring population would, in my opinion, be at best a doubtful experiment. The unanimity with which these proposals as a whole have been approved by the Provincial Council will greatly assist the representatives of the province in procuring the sanction of the Colonial Legislature. I new declare this Council prorogued.

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