THE NEXT PLACE OF MEETING.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 76, 20 January 1872, Page 13

THE NEXT PLACE OF MEETING.

" Nelson Examiner," January 13. Prom all that we can learn at present, we fear that it is, quite possible that the absurd resolution of the House of Eepre.sentatives, for the next meeting of the Assembly to be held at Dunedin, may be given effect to. We hear that the Clerk of the House, Major Campbell, has been sent to Duuedin, and he is understood to have reported that sufficient .accommodation can be provided. Mr. Clayton, the Colonial Architect, /has also been despatched to the same place, his mission being to report upon the nature and cost of the alterations and additions which, to a greater or less extent, the meeting of the two Houses of the Assembly in a new place will necessitate. Should Mr. Clayton report that these alterations can be effected for any not utterly unreasonable amount, we may take ib for granted that members will be called upon to read their bills the necessary number of times next session in the chief town of that province, of which the Englishman in search of a place for settlement in New Zealand observed, that it was much too far South, and the people much too far North for him. We would , not advise those who disapprove of the proposed step to roly upon an unfavourable report from Mr. Clayton. Mr. Vogel has set his heart upon starring it in Dunedin. It is a characteristic of the ancient and highly gifted people of whom he is one, to possess in a large degree the bump of — we really forget what phrenologists call it — self-esteem, or in more ordinary language, perhaps, vanity ; and the idea of exhibiting himself in the capacity of real leader of the Government of the day in a place where some years back he was known only as an obscure and struggling journalist, no doubt possesses an attraction with which it is difficult not to feel a certain amount of sympathy. We could even fancy it not altogether disagreeable for a man like Mr. Yogel, secure of his position, and possessed, we are willing to admit, of much intellectual activity, to hear the question that was put to us not long since by au old Nelson settler, who writing about the present and the past, says: "There is one thing that puzzles me, and I want you to answer it, Who the dickens is Vogel ?" Mr. Bell, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, is said to favour the idea of meeting at Dunedin, and Mr. M'Lean voted for it. The Cabinet is about equally divided upon the question. On the whole, we are inclined to think that the thing will be done. If we were living within our means, or if our governing body considered it of the smallest importance that we should do so ; if we were even spending our own money, we doubt whether our Parliament would have committed itself to such a piece of reckless expenditure. We will not commit ourselves to any estimate of the expense it may entail on the country. But it is perfectly evident that it means expenditure, and to a very considerable amount. The Legislature cannot conduct its business without constant reference to the departments of the Executive Government, and holding a Parliament at any particular place means transporting to the same place a large number of Government officials and the records of their departments. It is a most inconvenient and a very expensive proceeding. It is alleged that the settlement of the question of the seat of Government in 1564 did not carry with it the question of the settlement of the place where Parliament is to meet. Literally, and in a narrow technical sense, perhaps it did not ; but in a larger and juster view of the matter, and ruled by considerations of expediency, economy

and the advantage of the public service, it must be held to have done so. If the choice of the place of the seat of G-overn-inent be a bad one, let that be boldly argued. The question is one that rests after all upon the will of Parliament, and like any other question resting upon a similar basis, is open to be reversed by the same authority by which it was originally settled. But so long as it remains unaltered that Wellington is to be the seat of Government of the colony, we assert that over-ruling considerations of expediency require that the Parliament should meet there also. It is a great pity that a question of this nature comes before the House of Eepresentatives in the way it annually does. By the Constitution Act, the power of summoning the legislature is given to the Governor, who calls it together when, and at what place he chooses. When, in 1856, responsible Government was conceded to the colony, it appears to have been taken for granted that this power, like most others, was to be exercised in accordance with the will of the majority of the popular branch of the Legislature. ' No doubt it is a question upon which the Assembly as «' lohole ought to be in a position to pronounce a decided opinion ; but that is not the position pratically assumed at the present moment. The claim of the I House of Representatives is to settle the matter by its own vote, without reference to the other branches of the Legislature. The Parliament of New Zealand consists of a Governor, a Legislative Council, and a House of Eepresentatives. The united will of these three bodies is expressed by an instrument termed an Act of Parliament. It is a pity, we think, that the question of the place of meeting of the Legislature has not been settled by this legal and constitutional proceeding. If it rested upon the authority of an Act, it would still be open for the consideration and possibly revision of Parliament ; but it would not be the privilege of the popular branch alone, as at present, to be constantly tampering with and deranging everything that has been settled. All discussions that have not a tendency to advance directly the real business of the country, are much to be deprecated in our Parliamentary bodj\ Dealing with an immense mass of business of a most important character, consisting in great measure of untrained, and in many respects defective material, it is impossible to keep the Legislature together for more than three months, during which time it is expected to do more than is done in three times that time by larger and more experienced Legislatures enjoying the advantages of long experience and every assistance that can be offered by thorough organization and highly trained staffs. But every year, this abominable question of the place of the next meeting of Parliament cornea to the surface. Every year, in one shape or another, it is offered for discussion, and becomes the nucleus ronnd which all sorts of schemes and combinations cluster and conflict. The vote of last session can be understood at a glance. Auckland and Dunedin, uuited in the attribute common to each of being near the extremities of the colony, place themselves in opposition to Wellington, which is in the centre. Auckland, which has never surrendered her claim to be the capital of the colony, seeks to keep the question open by unsettling as far as she can everything that has been done. We had not until recently given Otago credit for a similar ambition. But it seems that she is moved by it, for we read in the Bally Times that recently, upon the occasion of a deputation from the Municipality waiting upon the Superintendent with regard to accommodation for the Assembly, Mr. Macandrew replied: "I have no expectation that the Assembly will be held in Dunedin permanently as yet, but this is the first step." So that, as between Auckland and Otago, the bond of union is promoted on the principles of the old Scotch, maxim, " Ca' me, ca' thee." We shall be glad to see the affectionate attitude, and to hear the kind interchange of compliments that will take place, when, after Wellington and Nelson and other central places have been disposed of, the question comes to be, whether Dunedin or Auckland shall be the seat of Government. We have no particular affection for Wellington. We regard the tempestuous character of its climate as a positive evil, the bad effects of which it is difficult to exaggerate; nor are we in any degree moved by admiration of its leading poli-

ticians, whom we believe to be as timeserving and selfish a lot as any in New Zealand. We look to the advantage of the public service, and to the fact that we are daily getting deeper into debt, and living upon borrowed money ; and we say that under these circumstauces it is sinful to inflict tipon the people of the colony an unnecessary expenditure. This would not happen if we had a Ministry who were guided by any considerations of prudence or sound finance. But a colony that has had millions thrown down for it to scramble for, and which is being trained to trading on borrowed money, comes to lose all regard for solvency, to think only of present gratifications, and goes on as long as it has any credit. The time cannot be very far distant when we shall not be able to borrow any more. Every cloud has its silver lining, and one good effect of the meeting of the Assembly at Dunedin may be, that it will hasten the advent of that period so much to be prayed for, when this unhappy colony will have exhausted its credit, and find itself unable i to borrow another penny.