HOW TO SAVE OURSELVES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2134, 23 October 1867, Page 3

HOW TO SAVE OURSELVES.

TO THE EDITOB OF THE LXITELTOX TIMES., Sir,—l hare read the recent articles in your paper witli some care, and agree with nearly all you have stated. You evidently feel, that the time has arrived for a thorough reform, in our Provincial Government. You hare written strongly, but hare you made any impression on those in power? I think not; and the question arises—Can we expect any real effective reform to be initiated or carried put by the,present .Government? l I understand the overdraft froi the Bank of New Zealand now exceeds £l,. 3,000, and that it will in all probability exceed £160,000 before the first of January. We are paying salaries out of anticipated proceeds of loan. You are aware that our land sales have fallen to something like £16,000 per annum. Westland, the most troublesome half of the province has got' separation, 'l'imarii lias got a per-centage of the land fund, and yet there is no sign of any retrenchment or reform with our Government. No wonder that you say, "In fact it. will not only be difficult before long tofind the pretence of work to be done, but it will be more difficult-impossible— to find the money to pay the salaries mw being paid." You have not drawn a.pleasant picture of our position, but do our rulers see it as you see it; or do you think you can make them see the wisdom, of any course which may deprive them of their—offices? Why, Sir, you " insist on some departments being largely modified and. othersaltogether .sw'ept' away." If you sweep away departments: what is to4)tcome of the chiefs? Do you think the Provincial Secretary will approve of being swept away, or that the. Provincial Solicitor would'wish to be abolished ? People may say that we pay £4OO per annum to Mr Duacan, the Crown Prosecuto". and that he might-advise the. Government when lfcgtl advice would be required, hut is it reasonable to suppose that the Hon. Provincial Solicitor-will'see tilings in that light? And His Honor, the superintendent—will he. like to carry on the government without a paid Kxecutive..... Might lie not find an unpaid Executive troublesome anil independent ; and is it at all likely he will prefer trouble and, perhaps,; contradiction to the present easy, mode of getting along ? . , De-.. pond upon it, the Government will never, reform itself. You must speak louder )'(?t if you wish to save the remnant of provincial institutions in this province. I agree with; you that a.superintendent and Provincial Council could mid,should do more for the advancement of the best interests of •he province than we can expect the .General Government to do ; for I do not think the General Assembly is very wise, very high minded, or very free from corrupt influence,: and I for ooe, would be very sorry to see the control of our land fund, of education, immigration, &c., handed over to a Government Spending for its existence oil a. majority of that body (the Assembly)': but' I think it ; would be better to have the demoralizing influence of bad Government removed to a distance, rather than have it in our very ■ "•iist, and there!ore I will give my voice for 'he total abolition of the very form of provincial Government in this province, if it he lot very soon ,so. reformed; anil ' simplified as to meet the wishes of the people. Hi? Honor may depend on thiß-his last chance is rapidly passing away, and he may awake to fmd that it is too late. He has a Wt ak Executive, .which has not a single sup-, porter. Their weakness and love of office are the only things for, which they' are distinguished. '1 hey have brought. Provincial Government into' discredit here; they have wade it worse than useless; they have made !t contemptible ;, and how can these men carry out a radical.reform ? As well ask a Wind man to choose colours. Our only chance of reform depends on the expression of public opinion acting on the members of the; Council. -If the Council be called together soon, and the members set

about the mutter in a proper spirit, eschewing lmlf-aml-lmlf measures,' wc may to preserve what is-.goodof. the proviiiviii'l form of governmentbut should the Council not be summoned for.' an /curly, day, an<i the expenditure be not at once reduced ihen 1 venture to say that one more session will bring to. ut close Provincial 'government in Canterbury. . . \our obedient servant, '• I'UomiALiST. .