BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL.

Colonist, Volume XVI, Issue 1632, 13 May 1873, Page 3

BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL.

A hopeful indication that sound common sense will guide the further deliberations of the Council was given in the action taken when the customary echo reply to the Superintendent's address was moved. Weary of the continual apeing of Parliament, and clearly perceiving that the discussion of every paragraph would consume much valuable tirrie, and produce angry feelings difficult to allay, a short and not discourteous answer was given. Enough was said when the Superintendent was thanked, and the Council declared its intention of proceeding to work. The obsolete and absurd custom can never be revived. The Goldfields District Bill is the natural product of the Separation movement, for when that was it its height on the West Coast, it was manifest to those who were firmest in their opposition that unless a change was made in the manner of treating goldfields affairs the agitation would _be renewed year by year, and in no long time would certainly succeed. It was nob that money had been taken from the goldfields to spend on the settled districts, as was alleged by some agitators, for in the bare question of caßh outlay, there has never been any case made, out to prove injustice. A complaint with a true foundation was, that though the money might have been spent, it was to a considerable extent wasted, from the want of local authority to deal promptly with the requirements of each district. For instance, it was said that sometimes when a road required repair a small oatlay at once would have done all that was needed, but when there were months of delay, the damage proceeded to such an extent as to necessitate entirely new formation; in other cases, probably sonle trifling damage had been sustained by a bridge, which, in the absence of those empowered to order its restoration, was allowed to go on till the whole structure was ruined. Cases might be indefinitely multiplied to prove the truth of the assertion that from the large funds expended on the West Coast tha inhabitants received not half the benefit they ought to have done. How could it be otherwise ? The Superintendent in Nelson could knownothing of what was passing, except from the reports of hia officers, and they, however diligent, could only have a most imperfect knowledge of such a vast extent of tracks, few could properly be called roads. Hence arose the pressing necessity for some form of local self-government capable of dealing with at least the ordinary road and bridge work. The machinery of Eoad Boards had been so successfully employed in the settled districts that to many they appeared to furnish a satisfactory solution of the difficulty. It was forgotten, or rather to most unknown, that rates raised in the mining districts would press with great inequality, because while the miner was not unwilling to contribute fully to the formation and maintenance of roads, he was determined to resist all attempts to levy rates on mining property or plant. Eoad Boards were thus proved to be incapable of doing the work, and it became necessary to find some other form in which the people could be organised to govern themselves. Erom this sprung the attempts of Mr. Collins and Mr. Shepbard to introduce County government, and the Goldfielda District Bill of the Superintendent, crudely and imperfectly as it is framed, is based on the same principle, though so far attenuated as to be barely visible to any but the most friendly eyes. The Bill has properly been referred to a Select Committee, and their labors ought to res-ilt in the production of a measure that will satisfy the reasonable demands of the goldfields, and relieve the Provincial Government from a large amount of detail, attention to which wastes time that would be better employed in promoting the opening and settlement of the country. As rapidly as possible the Provincial Government should divest itself of all purely local business, with which County and Town Boards are better fitted to deal; when errors are committed ty them, the electors have the remedy in their own bands, and if they do not displace the incapable have only themselves to blame. It bas not been only the question of money that has caused discontent on the goldfields. The inhabitants have felt themselves thrust into an inferior position by unfair inequality in representation. It has been no trifling cause of irritation to the energetic and intelligent men employed in raising gold to be spoken of as " migratory," and less fitted to be entrusted with a full share of influence in public affairs than their fellow colonists who are engaged in agriculture. In the early days of all goldfields the population id doubtless oue with ; little attachment to the district, ths story of i whose treasures has attracted them from other lands. These were times when the term " digger" could be properly applied, but they have passed away, and now we have to deal with the " miner," who cannot carry on his labor without the outlay oi' large capital, and possesses, man for man, as, large a money stake in the country as the inhabitants of the settled districts. Expensive machinery and water-races will no more be wantonly abandoned than farms or mills. The patient industry with which for many months the miner labors to bring in water to ( «nable him to begin work is evidence that he

is actuated by a spirit directly the opposite to the migratory. It is too much to expect that such men will submit to being treated as inferior beings, and an apportionment of representatives according to population cannot be considered more than bare justice. The Council has taken this view, though opposed by the Executive, whose sole argu-. ment was the repetition of "migratory." Ie could not be expected in the face of Government influence, that Mr. Shephard]s resolution would obtain a large majority ; it is satisfactory that it has been adopted, and it now only remains for the Council to give effect to it, and prove the existence of a sincere desire to treat all parts of the Province alike. Let the miner find that he is no longer treated as a lawless wanderer, but is esteemed a valuable member of the community; possessed of not less intelligence than the farmer, and enjoying an equal share of political power, and the Separation Movement will be heard of no more.