PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Colonist, Volume XV, Issue 1532, 31 May 1872, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

[We give a summary of the more important proceedings of the Provincial Council, reports of which unavoidably fell into arrear because of the pressure of late election proceedings.] MONDAY, May 27. TEH GOLDFIELDS AND THE SETTLED DISTRICTS. Mr. O'Conor's motion which was introduced on Thursday, was again taken under consideration. It was as follows: —" That, in the opinion of this Council, it is advisable to place the Nelson Southwest Goldfields under a local form of Government, so as to promote the material prosperity of that district by securing to it a more equitable public expenditure, and a more advantageous disposal of the Waste Lands of the Crown." In bringing forward his motion, Mr. O'Conor said that, although the coldfielda contributed by far the larger portion of the revenue, they were not sufficiently represented in the Council, where nearly all the power rested with the members of the settled districts who were entirely ignorant of the wants and necessities of a mining community. The Executive too, acted entirely upon hearsay in matters connected with the West Coast, being guided by the representations of the heads of depai^tinents who never consulted the public on any single question. He could not understand why the goldfields should be denied the same privileges that were accorded to other parts of the community, or what was to prevent their having some local form of administration that should have the power of carrying on the public works that at present were so grossly mismanaged. The contrast between the roads on the Nelson and Westland Bides of the Grey river was most marked ; on the former they wore a laughing stock to the visitor, on the latter a credit to them who undertook them. A glance at the Estimates showed that matters were growing worse, as there was not enough set down on them to maintain the wretched roads already existing, not to say anything of making new ones. The administration of ths Waste Lands was a complete failure, as the system of agricultural leases, as it was carried out, simply gave rise to speculation, and did not tend to the extension of agricultural pursuits. He did not believe this mismanagement was wilful on the part of tho Government, but simply the result of ignorance, and that a far different state of things would exist were the Executive resident on the Coast. It must be seen that if matters were to gc on as they ware going on now, the Province must be ruined aod the goldfields deserted, and to remedy this a totally different kind of government muat be adopted. On the resumption of the debate, The Provincial Treasurer protested against the complaint that the Council was not willing to do all in its power for the goldfielde, and showed that in tho Highways Act every alteration suggested by the West Coast membarj was willingly adopted. He objected to breaking up tho country into smaller divisions each with its own Government, but would rathe 1* reduce the number of Provinces already existing. The roads on the Nelson side had been contrasted with those in Westland as showing the advantage of local Government, but, he would ask, how many of those roads had been made by the country itself? Almo3t every bridge too, was erected by private enterprise and protected. The systom of agricultural leases had been found fault with both inside and outside the Oouucil, but he contended that it was a great boon to the settlers, and offered advantages that had been struggled for in vain elsewheie. To show how it worked as contrasted with the system pursued in the County of Westland which was daid to be so far superior, he would quote a few figures. According to the last returns, the number of holdings in the Buller and Grey districts, not including the extensive valley of the Buller was 142 ; in Wostland, 18i. Of land broken up but not under crop there were in Nelson 174 acres, in Westland, 215 ; in oats for hay, Nelson, 721, Wostland, 280 acres; in oats for grain, Nelson, 223, Westland, 7 acres ;in barley, Nelson, 11 acres, Westland, one ; in gr.iss hay, Nelson, 87, Weatland, 119 acres; in permanent artificial grass, Nelson, 1352, Westland, 1336 acres ; in potatoes, Nelson, 256, Westland 218 acres. The total under crop in the goldfields on the Nelson side, in the Province that was said to have neglected its duties by not providing facilities for settlers to go on to the lands, was 2644 acres, while in the model Connty of Westland it was only 193 i acres. Nor must it be forgotten that the population of the respective districts were, Nelson 8466, Westland 15,357. It must be remembered, too, that the above figures did not include a single acre in that important district between the Lyell and Rotoroa, the whole of which was included in the Waimea electoral district. Mr. O'Conor complained that the evils arising from the government of the West Coast were entirely owing to the Executive, being wholly on this side. He (Mr. Shephard) so far agreed with him that he thought it was a great mistake nob having a member of the Executive resident on tho Coast, as had been provided for two years ago. If at a->y time errors had been made by the Government, they were now earnestly desirous of remedying them, aud were most anxious to see the country well governed, opened up iv every diract'on, aid made as prosperous as the means at, their command would permit of. Mr. Kynnersley would vote for the resolution by way of expressing- his opinion that the Goldfields would be better managed by a system of local selfgovernment than by an Executive residing in Nelson. • Mr. Collins opposed the motion on several grounds. He regarded the accusation against the Provincial Government as unfair, nor could the Council bring about the change the motion advocated. Mr. Reid s;iid great dissatisfaction prevailed throughout the West Coast against the Nelson Government. Its administration of West Coast affiira' was the bane of the district; but he did not thiuk the present motion was calcu ated to bring about a rainody. The district to which it applied was not yet sufficiently advanced for self-government, being too thinly populated, and destitute of Road Boards. He would move as an amendment:—"That this Council recognises the desire of tho inhabitants of the West Coast Goldfields to possess aooording to revenue and population, a fair and equitable share in the administration of the publio estate and expenditure ; and, with a view to that object, recommends that such measures should be taken as may be deemed best calcalated to secure uniformity in the government of the goldfields, and full participation by the inhabitants in the advantages of popular representation of locil interests and requirements, as contemplated by the constitution of the Colony." Mr. F. Kglling and 'Mi1. Gibb3 spoke against the motion. Mr. Baigent moved an adjournment of debate, which was agreed to. TUESDAY, MAY 28. ROAD BOARD VOTE 3. The Estimates were considered this evening, some of the items beiug freely discussed. The votes to the Road Boards, namely, Nelson, £100 ; Suburban North, £110; Waitnoa, £650; Moutere, £230; Motueka, £170 ; Pangatotara, £200 ; Hiwaka, £100; Takaka, £170; Colling wood, £100 j Amuri. £270 ,■ and Upper Motueka, £125. WEDNESDAY, May 29. DISINTEGRATION 01? THE PROVINCE. Mr. Reid's amendment upon ihe motion of Mr. O'Oonor. for placing the South-west Goldfields under a local form of Government, was lost on the voices. Afterwards the original motion wns put, aud on a division, was lost by 12 to 4. ANOTHER MOTION RESPECTING THE GOLDI?IELDS. ' Mr. Reid, on behalf.of Mr. Donne, moved, "That i this Council, reoognising the desire of the inhabitants I of the West Coast goldfields to secure an equitable participation in the representation, administration, and disposal of the publio revenues, would recommend that, whatever Legislative or other constitutional measures may be needed to secure for them the foregoing objects, such measures should oe adopted without delay; and that the Speaker be requeeted to forward a copy of the foregoing resolution both to his Honor the Superintendent of the Province, aud the Honorable the Colonial, Secretary.". This, he said, was simply a resorve motion, implying that some change was necessary, and that the change should bo effected without delay* He proposed it

chiefly for the purpose of enabling him to explain why he had spoken against Mr. O'Conor's motion and had voted for it. , He had moved an amendment to that motion because he questioned its manner, though, to a certain extent, he sympathised with, its matter. .If Mr. O'Conor meant merely separation of the Nelson South-west Gold fields, and their erection into a distinct district, for the purpose of better government, he doubted the chances of that being achieved, but he was decidedly favorable, to the administration of the goldfields being more direct and localised. His feeling was that the proper local government would be the government of the West Coast Goldfields, as a unity, either as a new Province or otherwise, and that, he believed, was the feeling which was growing on the West Coast, and would grow with a strength which would force itself upon the notice of the Legislature.. . . , Mr. Guinness seconded the motion, and in support of his position in favor of separation, quoted from the speech of Mr. Duncan, in Westland, protesting against annexation to Nelson; and. referring to what was termed the ignorance, ineompetency, and arbitrary power exhibited by the Provincial Government of Nelson in dealing with the applications for goldfield leases at Reefton. He (Mr. Guinness) was no advocate of Provincial or County Governments, but desired to see the West Coast, placed under the Geueral Government. He supported the proposition, not with the view of any disintegration of Nelson Province, but because he believed Nelson would do better if Provincial institutions were abolished. Mr. F. Kblling moved the previous question, which was seconded by the Provincial Secretaby, and which, after a Bhorfc discussion, was adopted without division, and the motion was thereby shelved. THURSDAY, May 30. EXEMPTIONS BROM TOLLS. Mr. Baigent presented a petition against those clauses in the Highway Act which exempted ministers of religion and Government officers from payment of tolls. The petition, which was stated to be signed 760 persons, is as follows : —" That your petitioners are very dissatisfied with a principle, introduced into our laws this session by your honorable body of exempting; a certain class or classes of fellow-settlers from the payment of their proportion of a common tax or impost by the clause inserted in the Highways Bill, exempting clergymen and Government officials from the payment of all tolls at tho various toll-gates in the Province ; we therefore respectfully request that the obnoxious clause referred to may be expunged from the Bill." The Council went into Committee to consider the petition. After some remarks from Mr. Collins, who advocated the exemption for ministers, but not for Government officials, The Provincial Solicitor said it appeared to him that tho,whole petition was got up under a mistake. It was supposed that the Provincial and General Government officers going out for a ride were exempted from tolls, but, they were not, but, were only exempted when on duty. In England ministers were exempted when on religious duty, and he should not otjact to their being so here. The whole thing ho believed would not make a difference of £5 a year to the Wainiea Road Board, and it was unworthy of the Council to receive such a petition ; the whole affair seemed to him to be mere claptrap on the cry of class legislation. Mr. Barnicoat could not disregard a petition signed by 750 petitioners. He wished to see the clergy exempted, out of respect to the class, and because the Council had formerly promised to exempt them. Mr. O'Conor objected to the petition and declared the signatures had been obtained by false representations, arguing that the Council had passed a law on the subject a year ago. Mr. Luokie pointed out Mr. O'Conor's mistake, said th« petition referred to the law just passed, and that the resolution of the Council in favor of exempting clergymen, two years ago, was only a recommendation, and not a law, so that there was no misrepresentation in the petition. He objected to the tone of the Provincial Solicitor's remarks as to receiving the petition, which was signed by all ranks and conditions of men : lawyers, doctors, bankers, merchants, tradesmen, farmers, and politicians, the boa. Mr. Stafford being one of the petitioners; and, the Council was bound to consider it. If, as the Provincial Solicitor had said, it was only a matter of £5, it would be far wiser to abolish the clauses than allow rancorous or embittered antagonism to Bpring up against a privileged olass or classes, who would be far more uncomfortable in presence of opposition of the kind, than by having to pay a paltry toll; and in such circumstances it was doing no service to the clergy or others to maintain an exemption of the kind, especially if it created personal or class feeling. After some keen discussion and various proposals, The Provincial Solicitor moved, "That the Committee, having taken into consideration tne petition referred to, are unable to reoommend any alteration in the law during the present session ; but should any amendments be required in the act in another session, the subject should then be taken into consideration." As an amendment upon this motion, Mr. Baigent moved. " That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to send down a bill to amend clauses 51 and 52 of the Highways Act, during the present session." The motion that the words in the original 'resolution do stand, was then pub to the Committee, and on a division, was adopted. Ayes, 10: Messrs. F. Kelling, Guinness, O'Oonor, Reid, Kynaersley, and Tarrant, the Provincial Secre(ary, the Provincial Treasurer, the Provincial Solicitor, and the Speaker. Noes, 7 : Messr3. Donne, Collins, Wasfcney, Luokie, Baigent, Macmahon, and 0. Kelling. The amendment wag therefore lost, and the motion adopted. THE ESTIMATES. The Council then went into Comtnitfcea on the Estimates, which were passed through and reported in full with a few small amendments.