THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam." DUNEDIN, SATURDAY, JUNE 1.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1691, 1 June 1867, Page 4

THE Otago Daily Times. " Inveniam viam aut faciam." DUNEDIN, SATURDAY, JUNE 1.

The Goldfields Provincial Management Ordinance is to have effect given to it to-day. Throughout tho Province, the votes of tho people will be taken to ascertain whether they are " desirous that the Management and "Administration of the Goldfields in " this Province sliall be conducted by '" the Superintendent and Provincial " Council." A great deal has been said, both in praise and blame, of the Ordinance. The few who can see no harm in anything the General Government does, and nothing to approve of in any action of the Provincial Government are, of course, loud in their expresI sions of disapprobation of the measure. This, perhaps, might not be of importance, but that in addition they misrepresent its nature, and have created a great deal of misconception concerning it. If the Ordinance were what some suppose it, an attempt to introduce by a side wind the principles of Universal Suffrage registration, and the Ballot, they would have good causefor complaint. For, without discussing those principles, it is clear such organic constitutional amendments should not he introduced without very ample and direct consideration; To smuggle them into operation, or toopvertly

bind the Council to an approval of them, " would be a highly censurable course, and w if tho Ordinance is open io the construe- re tion put upon it, that it is an innovation upon the Constitution, it would certainly *" be productive of as much harm in ono 7. direction as it could be of benefit in ! another. But there ia another way |:,' | .to look at the Ordinance. It was ' \ brought in with a distinct explanation to / I tho same effect as stated in the preamble : t< j " It is expedient that provision should bo -^ I " made for testing the feeling of the people a . |' ( of Otago in reference to tho management p 1 " and administration of tho Goldfields," The Ordinance, in fact, was feiibniiited # for tiie purpose of obtaining a legal- \. ised expression of general opinion on tho p subject, and to set at rest all doubt aa to b what that opinion is. Much mischief, l> during tho last two sessions, has been done in Wellington by misstatements as ' to there being a desire on tho part of the f residents that the Goldfields should ba- a come subject to General Government control. Vaguely worded petitions, capable, 8 after more or loss straining, of such v interpretation, wore handed round c as indications that tho Goldfields * were languishing for tho direct paternal assistance of the Central Government, j And some of those not ordinarily regard- £ fu lof popular privileges, were loud in ] their 'sympathies for the unfortunate * t Goldfields. Even now, those same men oc- . casionally have the temerity to declare that public opinion is in favor of tho General J Government. There aro statements of ] the kind to be met with in some of the newspapers. Of course, they aro entirely i untrue; but so they were before, and so again their want of truth will be no bar to their utterance. Without this general ' vote it is certain that, next month ; in -Wellington, assertions would not be wanting to the effect that public opinion is against the Provincial Government. A general vote, a huge recorded declaration, will simply act as a bar to such sinister statements. Tho Ordinance seems to have been drawn out with a view to allowing votes to be freely recorded. Tho introduction of tho Ballot is an indication that it is not desired to exercise any intimidation. Provision is made foi*- the appointment of scrutineers, and we are able to say tho Colonial Secretary has been invited to nominate scrutineers to act on behalf of the General Government, and informed that if ho sent in their names they would bo duly [ Gazetted. The question each voter lias to answer is clearly stated :— , " Are yon desirous that the management , v and administration of tho Goldfields in " this Province shall be conducted by : " tho Superintendent and Provincial "Government]" Tho voter may write either " No," or " Yes," opposite the question. Before be votes, he is bound , to answer the three questions :—" Are j " yon of the full age of 21 years '/" " Have you been resident in thia Province " for six months at least?" "Have you . " already voted upon the questions con- " taincd in this voting paper ?" If any ■ person wilfully makes a false answer to any of these questions, or votes, or offers to vote, more than once, ho subjects himself to a penalty not exceeding £50. j. Careful provision seems to have been made for the securing a correct return of the result of the voting. Each presiding officer is to preparo two lists of the votes, one to be sent to the Super- j = intendent, the othor to the Speaker, who \ '. is to forward it without delay to His Excellency the Governor. Regarded oh a convenient means of recording public opinion upon the subject of the con- - trol of the Goldfields, and of setting at rest any doubts created ir by. garbled petitions, the Ordinance has J» a useful purpose, and it is to be hoped j| the use will not be frustrated. Let every t. man record his vote conscientiously, and there is uo fear aa to what the result will be.