SURRENDER OF THE GOLD REVENUE

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 680, 20 October 1852, Page 3

SURRENDER OF THE GOLD REVENUE

(Fiom the " Sydney Morning Herald," Sept. 11.) Within twenty-four hours after the delivery of Mi\ Wentworth's speech on Wednesday, insisting upon the right of the Legislative Council to the control of our Gold Revenue, and after the request made on the part of the Government for time to consider whether such was the case or not, there was transmitted to the House, with a Message from the Governor-General, a despatch in which the whole question was authoritatively and finally settled. The honorable and learned member'for Sydney has gained a signal triumph. Sir John Pakington has ceded to him the palm of ■victory^ The battle is over. The gold is ours. This is an important event in many points of ■view. In the first place, it has removed one of the main grounds of contention between the Council and the Government ; and uever was it of greater moment than now that the two branches of our legislature should have a good understanding with each other, and pull strongly together for the public weal. As regards financial arrangements, they may now go on smoothly, without bitterness on the one side, without timidity on the other. The Council know what are their powers, and may freely exercise them ; the Executive know what are their duties, and wilkcheerfully perform them. The main business of the session needs no longer to be delayed. The Estimates may be disposed of with \ igour and despatch It is to be hoped honorable members will show that they have been actuated by no factious spirit of opposition, but that their right of free action in dealing with an important brani-h of the public revenues ha\i.i» been distinctly admitted by Her Majesty's Government, ihey will without further scruple make all due provision for the service of the country.

Again, this Despatch arrives most op; ortuncly for the Co mniftjc appointed the ol her evening, on Hie motion of Mr. James Macarthur, " to inquire into the system now in force for the management of the Gold Field-, and the collection and administration of (he revenue thence arising, with a view to the suggestion of such measures as may be deemed expedient for the improvement andgreater efficiency of the system." Under the new liijht which the despatch has thrown upon their path, the Council will feel that they have sure ground to tread upon, and that, while their powers are more clearly defined, their responsibilities are more onerous, than 'it the date of their appointment. In moving for this Committee the hon. member foMVest Cnmden observed that he could not overestimate the vast impoit.mce of the subject to which it i elated ; that importance was not confined to this colony alone; it was not even con- j fined to thisgreat group of gold -prod ». -ing colonies : but the principle in which that impoitance mainly consisted was a principle of the deepest interest and concern to the whole civili,ed world. If all this was true at the moment it was uttered, how much more forcible has its truth become, in so^ far as it relates to the functions of the Commit tee, since the delivery of the Message on 'I hiirsday evening. Until then, their position had in it this anomaly, that they were about to investigate a subject with which it was at least doubtful whether they had any legal right to intermeddle. Their right is now a settled and a solemn reality. The prerogative of the Ctown, as the undoubted proprietor of the precious metals, has been placed in their hands by the Crown iteelf. "It will be for the Legislative Council," says the Coloiuvl Minister, "to fix the amount' of fee at which licenses should from time to time be granted. It will be for them, in addition, to take into consideration the propriety of raising a revenue from the mineral produce of the colony, either by export duty on gold, or by royalty, or in any other manner which their local experience may suggest." These plenary powers have to a certain extent been delegated bj the Council to Mr. Macarthur 1 a Committee. His Committee, therefore, in a f.ir higher sense than the honorable gentleman supposed on Tuesday ln.'-t, have not only the interests of this colony, but those of the British empire at large entrusted to their gravest consideration. May they accomplish their task in a way that shall reflect honour upon themselves, and prove beneficial to all concerned ! In the next place, we may view this concession of the Gold Revenue as a favourable augury of the future policy of the Imperial Government Adverting to the claims of the local Legislature to the 'Management of the territorial revenues generally, Sir John Pakington says, " You will bo fully aware that it is not in the power of Her Majesty's Government, even if they consideied that policy required such a course," to make, on their own authority, any concession to the views of the Legislative Council on this subject. The appi-opriation of the Laud Fund is fixed by Acts of Parliament, and the policy of those Acts cannot be reconsidered without much deliberation. I am, however, especially anxious to avoid all controverted topics at a period so critical as the present." Coupling these observations with the actual surrender of the prerogative in respect of gold, and with the concession made to New Zealand in respect of the whole territorial administration, we do think that, if the Derby Cabinet remain in office, the further claims of the Council will receive a candid consideration. Persons who have been accustomed to read despatches from Downing-street will, we think, perceive in the one now before us something very different from the style in which such documents are usually couched. There is in it no stiffness, no reserve, no dignified curtness, no official pomp. It is more like the familiar letter of friend to friend, than those imperious dictations which Colonial Ministers are wont to address to Colonial Governors. Sir John speaks his mind ,freely, frankly, confidingly, as one who lms nothing to keep back, nothing to disguise, nothing to fear from saying too much. It shows, too, an earnest anxiety on the part of Her Majesty's Government to protect our interests in the great emergency that has befallen us, which we doubt not u ill bo gratefully appreciated throughout the colony. Their promptness in responding to the appeal of our Goveinment for increased naval and military protection, their readiness to assist us in the organization of an efficient police, their wish to strengthen the hands of our authorities by any imperial legislation which may be found expedient and praticable, and, though last not least, their vigorous measures for supplying our labour market with copious and rapid streams of immigration, superadded to the decision which has placed our Gold Revenue under the absolute control of our own Legislature, leave us no reason to regret that a Dei by and a Pakington have been given to us in exchange for a Russel and a Grey.