WHEN PROVINCIAL COUNCILS REIGNED

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6947, 28 June 1929, Page 2

WHEN PROVINCIAL COUNCILS REIGNED

Early History Recalled

EVENTS THAT LED TO THEIR ABOLITION

The early history of New Zealand which led up to the abolition of provincial governments was dealt with by Mr. K. Ross in a lecture iu St. Andrew’s hall last evening under tho auspices of the W.E.A. The lecturer pointed out in opening that tho only survival of the provincial government to-day existed in tho edtieation boards and - possibility was that even they might yet be wiped out. There had boon a great difference of opinion as to the wisdom of abolishing the provincial governments, yet there had been no attempt to re-establish them. ' By the Constitution of 1853, New Zealand was to be governed by a Viceroy and two Houses —the Lower House being of 37 representatives and the term of office was for 5 years. Sir George Grey also inserted a clause, giving New Zealand tho privilege of nominating its own government, but it was never put into effect. There were then established six provincial councils, with a superintendent at tho head of each and Sir George Grey delayed bringing the central Parliament into existence and so encouraged the provincial councils to get a start. This system worked for 22 years and in tho main, worked well and over a period when New Zealand was faced with a tremendous number of difficulties, such as lack of communication, slow settlement, trouble with the Maoris and arising from the inability of tho pioneers themselves to adjust themselves to the difficulties of their new land. The superintendents and members of eac-h provincial council were elected by the people. There was no direct Maori representation, although two Maori chiefs were called to the Legislative Council.

It was not until 1880 that the term of office was changed from five years to three. Members of the Provincial Council wore elected in August and members of the General Assembly a fortnight later. Auckland had 12 representatives, Taranaki 3, Wellington 8, Nelson 6, Canterbury 5 and Otago 3. The first Council to moot was in New Plymouth on September 16, 1853, followed by one in Christchurch on September 27, 1853. The provincial councils were given big scope. They had control of education, police, immigration and the making of reads, bridges and railways. Tho northern provinces ihad more difficulties to contend with than the southern and the Maori wars 'of 1860 added to their troubles. The result was that the South Island population increased much more rapidly 'than in the North Island. The southerners were able to sell more land and so had more money in hand to spend on public works. Then there came the discovery of .gold in the south, which attracted many. One of the defects of the provincial systom was that superintendents were also members of the general assembly. They were thus serving two masters and often they demanded local benefits before giving consideration to the requirements of New Zealand as a whole. For instance, railways were built to Serve the interests of the provinces, irrespective of tho requirements of New Zealand and ono of tho difficulties governments of to-day had to face was the fact that a tremendous number of the railways in Canterbury and Otago were constructed with the purpose of serving the province and not New Zealand.

' At one time there were no fewer than seven gauges, but fortunately that stato of affairs was stopped. In 1858 tho provincial system was further weakened by the increase in the number of provinces—Hawke's Bay, Marlborough, Southland and Westland being admitted as separato provinces. ~ The speaker touched upon tho work accomplished by the provincial councils, recording that much of tho progress in the Manawatu was due to Br. Eeatherstone, who was a superintendent of tho Wellington district. Mr. Ross dealt witJi the progress of education and tho effects of the Maori wars. There were 37 major engagements between tho natives and whites, involving the loss of 800 Europeans and 1800 I Maoris, besides many wounded. The !dcbt left upon tho people by the wars (amounted to between £3,000,000 and £4,000,000, to be borno by a population of less than a quarter of a million people. The wars were fought in the North Island and so immigrants were .driven.to settle in the South, including I people with a great deal of capital, j Those who followed and eventually 'settled in the North Island had less (wealth and so tho South Island had scored onco again. Tho speaker briefly referred to the !gold discoveries on the West Coast. | In. 1870, tho 1853 system was still found working but with the greatest friction. The factor that counted most in tho abolition of the provincial councils in 1875 was the extensivo borrowing policy of 1870. In 1870, the proIVinciai exchequers owed 7i millions between them. Then Sir Julius Vogjff proposed a borrowing policy to encourage immigration and to establish public works. His scheme was to repay the money and interest by the sale of land handed over to the central government by the provincial councils in proportion to tho amount of borrowed money each received. The councils, i however, would not agree, with tho result that tho ten millions was borrowed without provision being made fqr interest and sinking fund. Tho provincial governments did not fall w-ithout a struggle, but they were Anally 1 beaten. Local bodies took over the administration of district affairs and their work fully justified the-stop that was taken. One could not visualise the same efficiency if those duties were administered, say, ifrom Wellington. The smaller tho area over which a local body worked, the greater tfc* efficiency.