MESSAGE No. 5, FROM HIS HONOR THE SUPERINTENDENT TO THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 277, 27 June 1855, Page 4

MESSAGE No. 5, FROM HIS HONOR THE SUPERINTENDENT TO THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

The Superintendent has received from the Provincial Council a copy of a resolution requesting him to place on the Estimates a vote of money as an acknowledgement for the services of the Chaplain to the Council. The Superintendent feels it his duty, with respect and deference to the opinion of the Council, to request the reconsideration of

the vesolutionii^question. The appropriation of any part of the public funds for tlie payment of a Chaplain to the Council appears to the Superintendent to involve a principle of the greatest magnitude, namely, the recognition by the Government of a state religion. The Superintendent believes the recon-ru., tion of such a principle to be fraught with evil equally to the well-being of the Province and to the interests of religion, by laying up,, in store for the future the inevitable intro-^ duction of religious dissension into the affairs of secular government, and the paralyzing of the energies of religious bodies by Inviting them to look for pecuniary aid from the civil power. The Superintendent does not indeed imagine that any such evils will immediately arise from the proposal in question ; but he does not perceive how, if the principle be once admitted, any future proposal having the same object in view can be consistently resisted. Where the legislative body 13 provided with the services of a Chaplain, the head of the Government has at least ait equal claim to a similar privilege ; and the council could not consistently refuse to provide for a chaplain to the Government, should any future Superintendent require such an appointment to be made. The appointment of a Chaplain to the Provincial Council is provided for by the Standing Orders. Whatever might be his own views on the subject, the Superintendent abstained from raising any objection in a matter which concerned the internal regulation of the meetings of the council, and the convenience and wishes of its present members. But when it is proposed to expend the public monies by voting a salary, the aspect of the question is wholly changed; and the Superintendent feels it incumbent on him to pause before assenting to the request of the council of sanctioning the introduction of a principle of which he entertains great doubts whether the Provincial Council itself would upon fuller consideration approve. Upon distinct gx-ounds Uie Superintendent would be very reluctant to increase the staff of paid officers of the Government more than is absolutely necessary for the public service, especially at a time when the absolutely necessary demands of the public service exceed the estimated revenues. James Edward Fitz Gerai<d, Superintendent. June. 6, 1855.