The Daily Southern Cross. TUE8DA Y, SEPTEMBER 7.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXV, Issue 3760, 7 September 1869, Page 4

The Daily Southern Cross.

TUE8DA Y, SEPTEMBER 7.

LUOBO, NON UKO. If l Iiavo boon axtlatalshod, yot there rl«o A tbontand boaooni from th* np«rk I bora.

The interview between a deputation from various out-districts in the province and Dr. Pollen in the character of a candidate for the Superintendence", which we reported in our yesterday's issue, contained many subjects for remark and comment. Perhaps the most remarkable point was Dr. Pollen's view of departmental reform. On being asked his opinion on this point, he told the deputation that he meant to take a seat in the Council himself if the electors would give him one, and in this way he hoped to (effect a great reform. The idea is certainly a novel one, and will well bear some degree of careful consideration from the electors in this crisis in our affairs. Our reader are no doubt well aware that there have been various attempts made to simplify the relations between Provincial Councils} and Superintendents. The idea of having a Superintendent sitting in the Council has been entertained, and even acted upon, but the idea was confined to placing the Superintendent in the position of Speaker or President of the Council, not ay a mere ordinary member. In the session of 1868 the Government proposed to bring in an Act which should place every Superintendent in some such position as that of Speaker of his Council, but the Act never arrived at at anything like maturity, owing to various defects of other kinds in its composition. In all cases in which it has been pioposed to place the Supeiintendent in Council, however, we believe the idea has been that the Council should elect the Superintendent from their own number, instead of as now that the public at large should do so. And there is much reason to suppose that this course would be the best for many reasons, if it could be carried out. It would have this advantage, at all events, that it would effectually urge the people at large to elect a really efficient Council, and, apart from the efFeot on the working of the system generally, we should obtain in this a benefit of no doubtful character, In looking at the idea broached by Dr. Pollen, ifc will be necessary to consider it with reference to its practicability, as well as to its beneficial character. It 13 proposed for the Superintendent, as soon as he is elected, to come before one of the constituencies and ask for election as a Provincial Councillor. It is quite evident that such a course is entirely an innovation, not only on the practice, but also upon the very scheme of the Constitution Act in reference to provincial institutions. We do not, however, feel cer tain that it i.s contrary to any express provision of the Aot, and therefore we do not know that such an election, if made, would be void. Wo can, however, say that such a course was never contemplated by the law ; and more, that, however desirable it may be in itself that the law should be changed, little private innovations, such as this proposal seems to us to be, do not, as a rule, fit in satisfactorily with the rest of the fabric of a Constitution. In saymg this we do not absolutely condemn the idea. There are no doubt reasons why a Superintendent should come into closer contact with his Council than heretofore — there are no doubt also reasons for considering the system of doing the Government work through the Executive in many cases inconvenient ; what we are not sure of is the practical character of the new plan, even admitting, as we do, that we do , not feel sure there is any legal objeotion to the [ validity of suoh an election. And if the scheme is not impracticable the question still remains — is ib likely to work well ? Are the people likely to reap a benfit from the appearance of a new Superintendent in this double capacity? The scheme is professedly one of retrenchment and saving, and it must be asked in what way and in what degree will this new plan, if carried out, prove such a saving ? On the face of it, the answer of Dr. Pollen to the deputation would seem to mean that the saving of all expenses for 911 Executive

is to hinge upon the idea of the Suporiti- ', tendent becoming a Provincial Councillor. He would thus see the Government business through the House. He would himself answer all questions ; he would see all bills safely through committee ; and he would bring forward his own estimates, and make his own financial statement. And in some , sense we do not doubt that Dr. Pollen, if elected as Superintendent, would be found equal to all this multiplicity of offices and duties. But, in the first place, we do not believe he would thus save money to any appreciable extent. In the Council ho could not do without a legal adviser of some sort, for a lawyer in opposition is sure to prove too strong for an executive officer who is not a lawyer, whenever the details of a bill are under discussion. Thus a Provincial Solicitor would be found necessary, and no saving would bo effected here by the presence of the Superintendent in the Council. And if there were no Secretary the chief clerk in the Superintendent's office would inevitably take in great measure a Secretary's place and a Secretary's pay. Where, then, it may be asked, the saving consequent on the Superintendent's innovation ] And if the saving would be only trifling, not so, we fear, would the the inconvenience, possibly the positive mischief, of the scheme be found. As we have said, the Constitution Act clearly contemplates the Superintendent being wholly apart from the Council. He is to communicate with the Council by " transmitting" messages, not by personally appearing and advocating his measures. And if he is to do so, it may be feared that he will bring an undue weight to bear ou the Council. Is it conceivable that an official who has to sanction all acts done by the Council, who is to carry out into practice all the Council decides on — without whom the Council cannot take a step in many directions, and who can, if displeased, prorogue the Council at any moment — is it, we say, conceivable that he can sit as an ordinary member without doing the other members a great injustice 1 Our own opinion is that the thing is impossible. The Superintendent would be in a filse, even if he were not in an illegal, position, and the Council would be in a still more false position in many respects. As for responsible Government, there is only one way in which that could be maintained at all under the circumstances, and that would be by the Superintendent changing his mind whenever the Council told him to do so. As the Executive, which really he alone would be, although others might be nominally members of the Executive, tho Superintendent Councillor would be permanent, There could therefore be no responsible Government unless the Superintendent would become the puppet of his Council — unless he would consent to bring forward plans and estimates, and, after advocating their adoption, be content to see them roughly handled, modified, and perhaps rejected, and be prepared to oarry out with all energy the reverse of all he considered for the good of the province. TVe cannot say we wish to see the Superintendent of this province placed in this position. "We do not indeed believe he will place himself in this position, and we can only hope that, even should it prove that a Superintendent could legally become an ordinary member of the Council, the experiment will not be tried here, as it is one whioh promises much difficulty, and, so far as we can see, no compensating advantage.