THE SOUTHERN CROSS ON THE AUCKLAND GOVERNMENT.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXVII, Issue 17, 8 February 1868, Page 4

THE SOUTHERN CROSS ON THE AUCKLAND GOVERNMENT.

The following article, which tells pretty plainly what is the feeling of the Auckland people in reference to the present form of government in that province, is taken from the Cross of the 3rd instant : — "We think the proceedings of the Provincial Council, during the past week, must satisfy the public out of doors " that the form of local government now existing in the Province of Auckland ought not to be continued." Never, perhaps, during any former session, was there an example of such disregard of principle and public honesty, as the last week's proceedings of the Provincial Council supply. If any proof were needed that Provincial institutions, under the guidance of Superintendents, were unlit to make wise provision for the public service, that proof is supplied by the record of recent events. A great constitutional authority has given his opinion that a revolution is possible in constitutional countries only when the Legislature becomes as corrupt as the Executive ; from which we may infer, that in such a contingency the people ought to insist upon reform. And we have no hesitation whatever in saying that the Council has of late made it unpleasantly apparent to all careful observers, that, however corrupt the Executive may be, the Legislative branch is not many removes behind. We do not now particularly refer to the vote on Mr. Davy's resolution, carried in a thin House, when several of the independent members were known to be absent. That was brought about by what may be called small attorneyism, which, in all human probability, will recoil on its authors, and except in so far as it stultifies the Council, and in so doing casts a slur upon the province at large, it can have no influence, one way or other, on the present crisis. It is useful in this way, however, that it puts upon record a resolution, expressive of a desire to cling to place and pay, by those who may have profited, or who do profit, by public expenditure, so long as a shilling can be wrung from the Provincial Treasury, no matter on what pretence of service. To that extent, it is useful; in all other respects it is regrettable, because it stultifies the Council, and casts discredit on the province at large. But it is when we come to the Estimates that we are struck . with the utter want of principle— want of honesty, we should say— which has been displayed. The Executive, let us at once admit, show more of this than the Council ; but then the Council latterly followed the lead of the Executive, aud voted away money which is not forthcoming. "What would be said of a trader who carried on his business after he knew he was totally bankrupt; who kept up costly establishments, and on the strength of a fallacious statement of assets, obtained further advances from his banker and goods from merchants ? Would this be considered honest in the mercantile world ? Would such a trader obtain a firstclass certificate from the Commissioner in Bankruptcy ? Most certainly not ; and yet, and we say it without fear of contradiction, the Provincial Executive of Auckland, backed by a bare majority in the Council, at the fagend of the session, are now doing pretty much the same kind of thing. It is to be regretted that the more prominent of the independent members, and several of their friends, have left for their homes. They have been wearied out by the delays, and prevarications, and mendacities of the Executive, so that now it is hopeless to expect anything like a thorough check upon the Government. They shall have their own way, and an unpleasant way for the province it will ultimately be found. Towards the close of 18G6 the Government got well upon "the road to ruin," and they have advanced along the same line by rapid stages ever since. They are now, as we take it, upon the last stage, and will about finish the journey when their six months' appropriation runs out. We are loath to bring charges of wilful mismanagement, and a desire to mislead the Council against the Executive, but the truth is only too apparent. We are equally loath to charge the Council (or the very small remains of it), with a disregard of public requirement and of public honesty, by appropriating sums which exist only on the face of the " fallacious aud dishonest estimates " of the Executive ; but when we know that the Council has evidence before it — evidence furnished by servants of the Government and assented to by the Provincial Treasurer — which proves the estimates to be fallacious and dishonest, a regard for truth compels us to stigmatize the votes as we have done. Let it be remembered, that in ISG7 the Executive pledged themselves''ta keep the expenditure of the year within the income; and in nine mouths alone, £26,515 13s. Id. in excess of income was expended. So much for their promise and performance. The Council, early in the session, wisely doubting the promise of such an Executive, appointed a Einauce Committee, the greater part of whose proceedings we have already printed ; and yet, when money comes to be voted away, aud patrouage to be exercised, the conclusions of this committee are disregarded ; ignored by the Executive, who want large salaries for themselves and followers ; ignored by the majority of the Council, whose reductions cannot at all avert the speedy collapse of the province. We cannot conclude without saying one word regarding the unseemly and improper message which his Houour sent to the Provincial Council, relative to its vote on the Provincil Secretary's salary. Let it be borne in mind that the Executive still stand upon their dignity as " responsible advisers." Well, the Committee of Supply, by a majority of two, decided that £100 was ample remuneration for the Provincial Secretary for the half-year, seeing that Mr. Graham, who had beeu Superintendent, and Mr. Carleton, who is well acquainted with the duties, and other gentlemen who discharged them, have publicly asserted that the Superintendent and one clerk ought to do all the

work. "Whereupon the Provincial Secretary, " not on any question of principle," but on purely personal grounds, resigned his seat in the Executive; and his Honour— who appears to evade the promise made by the Executive to reduce his own salary — sends down a begging letter, in the shape of a message to the Council, asking it to reconsider the vote, and give a little more money to the Secretary. And so it happened that the very docile Council consented ; and the committee voted another hundred a year to the Secretary. We hope this bonus will heal the wound which the previous vote inflicted; and that self-respect and £100 a year being placed in the balance, we shall find on Tuesday the worthy Secretary in his place, having pocketed the affront and the guarantee of extra pay at the same time. But surely this is a caricature of Responsible Government ? Surely it is a burlesque on all Government, and ought to rouse the indignation of all respectable and honest men in the community. And so also of the Provincial Solicitor's' salary. Never were such hag1 gling and promises to get the present law officer a decent income from the public ; and by dint of palaver and promise, £300 a year was ultimately obtained for this gentleman. Seeing that this is a fee to do all manner of work inside and outside the Council for the Government, we should say the law is dirt cheap — and " dirt cheap it is." But the over-burdened ratepayers, and neglected country settlers, ought to know that the late law officer relinquished his salary, owing to the state of the provincial finances, and instead of pocketing £133 6s. Bd. for the last four months he held office, as he might have done, lie only received £15 as fees for services actually rendered. "We think the Government were not justified in goiug to a large expenditure to retain counsel when, in reality, the work might be very well done for much less. However, this vote is in keeping with several others ; and perhaps a more flagrant case is under the head of tho Waste Lands Department— a department which ought to be swept away, and which has been a source of wasteful expenditure and jobbery since the very first. There is one comfort, however, that all this cannot last long. When a Government is carried on solely for the purpose of finding a few paid offices for those who may chance to need them, government of that kind must soon come to an end. This, unhappily, is the present position of the Auckland Government. There was a probability of saving the province when Mr. John Williamson was elected Superintendent. That opportunity was neglected. The last chance is gone ; and now, it is only a question of months, when the General Government must step in and administer our Provincial affairs.