DEPUTATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4166, 25 June 1875, Page 3

DEPUTATION.

A deputation from the Legislative Com "mittee of the Harbour Board, consisting of Messrs Reevts, E. B. Cargill, Tewsley, and M'Neill, waited on His Honour the Superin--fcendent yesterday morning. Mr Reeves explained that the Harbour Board was anxious to secure His Honour's ..good offices iv the matter of the Bill the ' Board is to bring beforo the Assembly. The deputation were there to discuss with him -anything which he did not altogether approve of, to smooth down anything, and to ■come to something definite. His Honour mentioned that he had read over the draft Bill, but confessed that he •did not see exactly what was to be gained loj it. Mr Reeves replied that the Board would have a better standing in the borrowing market of Britain, and an improved position, if they could s}iow that this work had the sanction, not only ofthe Provincial but of the General Government. His Honour : I don't see how. You have . got now everything you can get from the Legislature, except power to levy dues on shipping ; and though you have not that, you have an equivalent. Mr Carciill remaiked that the Board did not want the power to levy on shipping. His Honour also mentioned tliat the Board had the power to levy- dues on goods. Mr Rkeves : Indirectly. His Honour : Directly. He did not ihink the Bill would better the Board's position at ■•home. So far as that was concerned, the monej'lender would, he thought, look to the ■security : and this Bill would not alter that " in any way. Mr M'Neill dared say there was not much in it; but, as the Auckland. Board had an Act of the Assembly, it was thought if the Dunedin Board had an Act of the Assembly the Board's positiou would be strengthened. His Hoxo'JE : There is one thing about it ■which Ido not like. It implies that the • Ordinances and Acts of the Provincial Council are, to all intents and purposes, invalid. " I do not believe, as a rule, in going to the Assembly to validate an Ordinance, co long as it is not idtra virex. The short title of the . Bill is "The Otago Harbour Board Validation and Empowering Act." It was'explained that it was sought hy the Bill to clear up points in the Ordinance • .about which there was some doubt. • His Honour : Then there is a proposition "So give the Governor in Council a power which he has already got hy an Act of the Assembly. Mr M'Neill pointed oiit there was also a clause which required any person making -any alteration in the Harbour to give timely notice to the Board. His Honour did not want to place cold water upon the thing. The movement did not commend itself to his judgment as being necessary. He thought there were objections to assuming that it was required—that "the legislation of the Province itself was not ■ sufficient. Mr Tewsley thought if the Board had only to deal with the people here, there might be some force in his Honour's remarks, bnt it was different going to the Home market. His Honour : The Assembly will insist upon the addition of a clause making it clear that neither the Provincial nor the Colonial - revenue is implicated. Members replied there would be no objec--tion to that. Mr Cargill pointed out that the Bill, giv--ing statutory power to levy a distinct tax -for a separate purpose, would give greater security to the borrower. Mr M'Neill mentioned that the Board '■thought people at a distance regarded it as -having more stability, if stamped by an Act -ot the Assembly. His Honour : I must say I am not at all with you. I think people will lend the money, and will look to the security without reference to the General Assembly at all. Your security is ample enough. Besides, I think there is too much tendency on our parts to rush away—outside ourselves—for advice and assistance, and I do not believe un that principle. Mr Reeves agreed with Mr Tewsley'a •opinion that an Act of the Assembly would -strengthen the Board's position in the money market. Besides, there was the fact that, -«re lon£, Proviucialism would goto the wall. Provincialism was ridiculed not only here, imt in the neighbouring colonies. It was therefore considered that an Ordinance of -the Provincial Council would not place the JBoard ia so good a position as an Act of the General Assembly. An Act of the Assembly -would strengthen the Board's hands considerably ; with it, they could get the money much more easily. Mr Cargill admitted that th°. only ground on which the matter could be taken to the ' Assembly was that an Act would give the Board a better standing, and enable it to manage its advances with greater advantage. His Honour : I am inclined to think that it is better as it is. Mr Tewsley said they knew His Honour's -very strong views upon Provincial institutions, which were not to be wondered at. His Honour : As a money lender, I would sooner have this security. Mr Tewsley pointed out that the lenders at home had not the special knowledge of His Honour ; that was just why they sought to get an Act of the Assembly, which, it seemed to him (Mr Tewsley), merely summarised and made clear what had gone be--fore. His Honour :It is adding to the volume of legislation. However, I have already expressed my opinion, which is, that the Bill is totally unnecessary. Of course, if the Hartiour Board think otherwise Mr Reeves : What we want to secure is your Honour's good offices at Wellington. His Honour: Of course I should not oppose it; but I will net agree to give it active -support. Mr Reeves : Does your Honour not think there is something on the point? By the grace of the Provincial Council we have got cer tain powers, and do you not think it would strengthen our hands to get them secured by an Act of the Assembly, seeing what may be done by the superior Legislature towards doing away with one branch of the constitution, and that it is likely to give very little consideration to Provincial institutions ? His Honour : I think that were Provincial institutions abolished to-morrow, your interests would not he affected one iota. The fact is, I think we are altogether too apt -to rush to the Assembly upon all occasions. It would, I think, have been much better if we had not. I <lo not see ihat I can very -well stultify myself by agreeing to your reMr Tewslky was understood to observe that His Honour appeared to think it would be lowering institutions that had been a sue

cess to fche position of those which had made Provincialism a-non-success His Honour : IsTot exactly that. I think there is far too great a readiness and disposition to take it for granted that we cannot manage our own affairs, hence the present position of the Colony. Mr Tewsley : We cannot do away with the feeling that at Home and in the Australian Colonies they are howling away and hammering at Provincialism to bring it into dispute. Is it necessary that we shonld pay a higher rate of interest when, with an Acfc of the Assembly, we can get the money on better terms? ! His Honour : If you can show me that you can get the money on better te-ms I j should be inclined to pocket my prejudices j (if you call them such) on the subject; but 1 don't sco it. Mr Reeves urged His Honour to take into consideration the anomaly of the Province being unable to borrow, and yet being in a position to create this Board, with power to borrow on the security of its debentures. A fter some conversation, His Honour said he did regard his individual vote of very much importance. However, he would not oppose the Bill. Jlr Tewsley : If your Honour should see your way ti speak in its favour, a great many persons will look to you as a guide as to wdiich way they should vote. His Honour : It will be dealt with upon its merits if introduced by one of the members for the city. Mr Reeves remarked that Mr Reynolds had given a promise that tlie Governmentwould bring it in if it saw nothing objectionable in it. His Ho your : Then if the Government is ngrceahlti to it, it is sure to be carried. While I hold the opinion that it is unnecessary and like the fifth wheel of a coach, I should not like to pledge myself to support it. Mr C.vr.ini.L pointed out that from the current course of events in the Colony, it appeared probable thafc there wonld be a large reduction iv the Provincial establishments—that they would be somewhat cur tailed and simplified—and there might come about changes which would make it desirable to have a work of this kind stamped by an Act of the As-embly. His Honour : I fail to see what possible healing the existence ot Provincialism has upon this question. Mr Caiustll : Simply the standing it would give tho Board, particularly as to borrowing money. If Provincial functions are curtailed or greatly reduced, the Board's position would be reduced, accordingly, in the eyes of the public at home. His Honour : You might as well say that, the status of the Corporation of Dunedin would be reduced, if Provincialism wero abolished, because the Corporation is the creation of the Province. Mr Garoill observed that the Board would go upon the London market as perfect Strang-rs. and then fathers and godfathers would be enquired. His Honour remarked that it was not impossible that the Assembly might first go to the wall. That would be the case were the people of the Colony of the same mind as himself. Mr M'Neill : I am afraid we must say that w*e have not succeeded in convincing your Honour. His Honour : I confess I do not see the matter with the same optics as you. However, 1 promise not to take any action detrimental to the Bill. The deputation having stated that that was all they could expect from His Honour, withdrew.