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The Westport Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 1874.

The Provincial Coinir.il having affirmed the principle of responsible government, there is now a possibility of the affairs of the province being intelligibly conducted. The people will now' stand some chance of knowing the why and wherefore of provincial politics and of provincial finance. Their representatives in Council will in cither respect obtain more direct control, and it may be that more men of energy and talent will be induced to bestir themselves in public affairs, aforetime left to the tender mercies of a few self chosen guardians. The Executive Bill, as passed by the Council and assented to by the Superintendent, is proof that the party of progress is endued with strong vitality, and impressed also with the conviction that its strength lies in unanimity of action. Hence it also commands, in a degree, the moral support of the community. The Bill marks a giant stride in provincial politics and in one respect alone is it unsatisfactory. The members of the reform party have each and every one overlooked the fact that the province is already too much governed. Instead of simplifying the machinery they have but re-arranged details, running the risk of additional complications becoming necessary to keep the machine in motion. Provincial governments in New Zealand at the best resemble the employment of steam hammers to crack filberts, and puny Nelson Province is the shocking example. Where is there a man of business who would not admit that it is quite practicable for one or two men to conduct the affairs of a commercial establishment wherein the yearly monetary transactions are double or treble the entire provincial revenue and expenditure of Nelson, present or expectant. The ramifications and contingencies of such business be : ng quite as complex as provincial affairs ? Is it an unfamiliar circumstance in Britain to find the factor of estates, a solicitor,' may be, also engaged in the active practice of his profession, managing and controlling businesses in various parts of the country, each involving the yearly receipt and expenditure of mono}- to which Nelson provincial revenues bear but small proportion ? And is not such work well and faithfully performed by the assistance of a small staff of clerks r.nd subordinates ? There really seems no just reason why Nelson provincial affiirs mightmotbe as economicallyand efficiently cinducted. It is time the inflated bladder labelled "Provincial Executive" should be pricked and cast aside as an ungainly and expensive toy. The Superintendent should be Treasurer, the Provincial Secretary should be his only permanent aide, the services of the Provincial Solicitor could be paid for when required, and the Council itself would be the real and only necessary Executive. The Superintendent would then hold the position of factor of the public estate, and would be accountable directly to the

proprietors of such estate—the people through their representatives in Council. The Provincial Secretary would be the Superintendent's chief factotum, and he would depute the supervision of details to the Wardens of the Goldfields, who in their turn would supervise the administration of local matters. The very term Warden is suggestive of active exercise of local authority. Not alone in controlling the one particular industry of goldmining but in general affairs, where prompt and decisive action by a resident authority is the one thing always needful. It may be argued that under such regime the presence of the Council at Nelson would be often necessary, but surely in these days of swift communication by mail and telegraph such contingency might be avoided. The members of the Council, in the character of proprietors of the public estate, meeting their factor once in every year, receiving from him a true and faithful account of his stewardship, and arranging details of action for the coming season, might then each rest content in watchful regard fur the just administration of affairs in his own particular district. This is the real reform needed. A. simplification of machinery, an avoidance of the risk of making responsible government a mere pretext for hard-up members of Council constantly manoeuvering to oust the holders of ofiice, so that they in their turns may enjoy the incidental emoluments. But, it may be asked, what about Provincial legislation if the duties of the Council are confined to controlling the administration of the public estate ? Nothing more easy. Let the Council depute to legal skill the duty of codifying and making clear the present interminable collection of Provincial Ordinances, and then let the Council enact that any member attempting to introduce another Bill or an amendment shall instantly forfeit his seat. He should fare even worse. In times past men have been hung without benefit of clergy for mor«? venial offences.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WEST18740602.2.7

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1181, 2 June 1874, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
786

The Westport Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 1874. Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1181, 2 June 1874, Page 2

The Westport Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 1874. Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1181, 2 June 1874, Page 2

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