LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 960, 14 July 1868, Page 2

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

The Editor does not hold himself responsible for opinions expressed by correspondents. Sib, — On reading the report published in the Herald of this day, of the debate that took place in the Provincial Council on Mr. McLean's motion respecting "the future form of government," I find that I am very inaccurately reported. For instance, I am reported to have spoken as follows : — The borough of Marylebone had far higher powers than any Provincial Council, and yet it was a mere municipality. He had never heard of the Lord Mayor, who possessed as much power as the Sultau of Turkey, having an Executive. — I believe that an lion, member of the Council did make such statements, but I must distinctly deny that I did. My main object, however, in writing this letter is to explain a statement which is also reported to have been made by me on the same occasion, and which, as reported, does not fairly, represent what I said upon a question of lai'ge importance, and on which. I do not like to be misunderstood. The paragraph I refer to is the following : — He (Mr. Ormond) hoped something would • be done to check the over assumption of power by Provincial Governments, but tho statement that he was at any time ready to exchange provincialism for centralism was unfounded and contrary to fact. • — I was replying to a statement which Mr. Carlyon, the member for To Aute, had thought proper to make forme, to the effect that I was ready to accept unconditionally what he called centralism for provincialism ; and what I did say was that that . gentleman had totally and unauthorisedly misrepresented me ; that I was not of opinion, and never had been, that it would be wise or desirable to vest in the General Government any ; of those powers relating to local affairs which are vested in tho Provincial Councils. On the contrary, I hoped and believed that, so soon as direct taxation was resorted to — as, in the financial position of the provinces, it inevitably must, to provide means for carrying out public works and other matters of local interest and advantage — the people who would pay those taxes would then take a more active interest in the way their affairs were managed, and require that the fullest control should be vested in the local bodies which would administer tho funds accruing therefrom; and that the Provincial Councils and Provincial Governments would have cither to give up their present ostentatious and costly character, or yield the position and powers they now hold to. more economical and simpler working bodies — call them Boards or any other name. I did not enter at length into the question of the motion, as it was understood the debate was not then to proceed ; but what I did say was to the effect that, in my opinion, the General Legislature of the Colony should have vested in it the law-making power in all matters of colonial interest, and that the Councils or Boards should have the fullest powers of administration : in respect to local affairs vested in them. I shall feel obliged if you will insert this letter in an early issue of the Herald. — I am, &c, J. D. Obmond. Napier, July 11, 1868.