A DEAD LOCK-THE BEGINNING Or THE END.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume XII, Issue 1289, 9 December 1857, Page 3

A DEAD LOCK-THE BEGINNING Or THE END.

To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Wellington, Dec. 7th. 1857. Sir. —Under all kinds of government, finance is ihe subject of chief importance. Error*-in money matters have been the principal cause of most nai lienal disturbances and revolutions. It is on this account, doubtless, that under representative government, wherever established, finance conies bcibre everything else. Strict legality with regard t" the public money is the rule wherever represeti- | taiives of the people make the laws. Under all >uch legislation the money is voted from year to year by what is usually called an Appropriation Act. The Legislature authorises the disposal of money by the Executive down to a fixed day. The day named is a limit bbyond which the Executive cannot legally spend a shilling on. any account whatever. Wherever this subject is well understood. as in Britain; Parliament is commonly assembled some lime before the Appropriation Act expites; and if it does not pass a new Appropriation Act before the day named in the old one x it usually passes votes of money on account, to meet current expenses; but without such votes, or a new Act, the outlay of a farthing is, I repeat,, wholly contrary to law. In Britain it would require an Act of Indemnity; and if there had been, f<oin any cause, an impossibility of assembling Parliament before the current Appropriation Act expired, the Executive would be made safe by an Act cf Indemnity. But if Parliament could have been assemb ed at the proper time, and were not, ministers would be impeachable for the illegal outlay. All this applies to our own case.’ The ?ippropriation Act of the Provincial Legislature limits all outlay of the public money to the 31st December, 1857. The disposal of a shilling next day would be illegal, unless authorised by the new < oiincil. Dr. Featherston bugs himself with the noiion that outlay in 1858, on account of contracts made in 1857, will be legal. This is mere foolishness. Any engagement to pay money after the last day of this year, is itself very irregular. If carried i to effect, the payment tinder it would be just as blegal as one about which there should he nocon-j tract—provided, always, that it were not authorize# by the new Council, which exists on purpose, among other things, to give the Executive authority _f"r carrying out. in 1858, contracts made in 1557. The notion that contracts will make that legal which is illegal, is a blunder, or worse. The’ Council c; n make all right; but without a vote of the Council, the Superintendent and his Executive will be personally responsible for whatever they may spend after the last day’ of this month. The only way of putting matters right is for the Executive to call the Council together immediately, and ask fur votes on account in anticipation of the new Appropriation Act. I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, FREE institution;