tfianpmii Qjlnjmiii^, AND PATEA AND RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER. . "NTTXiLA DIES SINK liINBA." THURSDAY, 7th MAY, 1874.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XVII, Issue 2426, 7 May 1874, Page 2

Wanganui Chronicle. AND PATEA AND RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." THURSDAY, 7th MAY, 1874.

The Rev, Mr Andrew, whose Parliamentary eccentricities have gained him a reputation of a certain kind, has brought forward in the Council, a motion of want of confidence in the Provincial Executive, that is to say he has tabled a motion which amounts to that in effect. Looked at as a party move, the ground of attack is cleverly chosen, but if it be desired to really test whether or not the present Executive possesses the confidence of a majority of members "of the Council, the course pursued by Mr Andrew is quite irregular. Obviously, the easiest and f-traightforward mode of trying that question would be to move That this Council has no confidence in the present Executive," when the whole policy of the provincial administration could be ti aversed, and the Council give a deßnite epinion upon the merits uf, JJiat, adminisi ration. Mi 1 Andrew, however, carefully avoids this plain question, and in an amendment to the Superintendents ad_

dress, raises the side issue of whether or not the conduct of the Executive has been proper in the dispute with the General Government about the Roads and Bridges Act. That is undoubtedly a matter important in itself, and fairlj open to debate in the Council, although, as it happens, no time could be more inopportune for such a discussion than the present, when the dispute is being settled in a friendly manner, and the two Governments are harmoniously endeavouring to . devise a scheme of settlement, on a large scale, in the province. The course which prudence suggests is to iet the subject test, at all events .until this project of settlement is settled one way or another. The public cares nothing for legal technacilities, but it cai-es a great deal about the construction of public works and the promotion of settle raeut, and is quite willing to forgive I many errors and injuries provided these important ends be attained, nor will it thank Mr Andrew and his friends if, to gratify their factious feelings by recording a vote of censure upon the Executive for their action in this particular matter, they check the progress of settlement in the slightest degree. Doubtless Mr Andrew is wise in bis generation. He knows full well that the Council would not dare to vioalate public feeling by stopping the construction of roads and bridges to please him and his fellow runholders, but he is equally aware that a considerable diversity of opinion exists amongst the members of the Council as to the conduct of the Executive in the ldispnte with the General Government ; hence, he raises" that point alone, but does it in such a way that if a majority vote with him, there is no course open for the Executive but to resign. Were a direct motion of want of confidence put, the important question would at once arise - Supposing the present Executive be ousted from office, who will take their place % Th*t» to the public, is & vital question, fncompetency in the administration of its affairs means to the Province loss of money, confusion of affairs, and retrogression generally. The people may fairly say to factious Councillors, who are quite wiling to overturn everything to gratify their personal spleen or to grasp the emoluments of office, " What is sport to you is death to us." The Borough of Wanganui at the present moment affords an example, on a small scale, of the actual loss entailed by incompetent administration. Mr Hutchison was Mayor for only two or three months, yet, during that period, it happening that the import mt task of ordering the waterworks plant fell to his lot, he. contrived to so mismanage matters that the Borough, upon this item alone, will lose at least £700 or £800 in hard cash ; while there is reason to believe fiat the full extent of the mischief has not yet seen the light. Had he to do with the larger affairs of the Province, what unbusiness-like confusion and waste might be anticipated ! Yet, if an Executive were formed from the present O | >position, Mr Hutchison would almost necessarily be a member of it, with Messrs Andrew and Charles Pharazyh as colleagues — two runholders. and the former pre-eminently the squatter's advocate in the Council, elected to that office by a runholding constituency. Could it be expected that such men would promote settlement % Their interests are dead against its extension, nor have they even expressed opposite sympathies. Public opinion would doubtless force them to maintain the present policy, at least in name ; but what heart could they have for the work ? It would be the body without the spirit, and in such a case, the Apostle tells us, the body without the spirit is dead. But even if it be desirable to abandon the policy of public works and the extension of settlement, it should be dofie boldly and openly, so that everybody in the Province may understand ;exactly what is being 'determined upon, and not indirectly, so as to entrap people, as it were, into an entirely different course. It the hour be come for a battle between Runholders and the Progress of •Settlement, let the ring be cleared and the herald proclaim the purpose of the contest. Let us have no flank attacks, but a clear and definite motion of want of confidence in the Executive.