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Wellington Independent, Volume XXV, Issue 3041, 3 September 1870, Page 9

from the commencement of these important works. But though all the North Island provinces are a stage behind the more fortunate settlers of the South, our members must not lose sight of the necessity of making a beginning at the earliest possible period. AVith the difficulties of a somewhat rugged and very heavily wooded country to contend with, no time should be lost in commencing the work of explorasion and survey, and unless this important preliminary work is energetically proceeded with during the next twelve months, another session will see the same argument again brought forward in favor of largely extending the railways in the South, and for delaying the commencement of our iron roads. A pledge should be taken by Northern Island members that the Government will, during the recess, take such steps as may be necessary for determining in the first place the general direction of the main lines proposed, and for preparing accurate plans and specifications of such parts of that line as it may appear possible and expedient to commence after another session.

The objection to Mr Vogcl's Public Works and Immigration Bill have resolved themselves into a demand for the appointment of a Minister of Public Works, and of a Board of professional men to assist him in the duties of his department. We cannot think that the Government will have any difficulty in meeting such a demand. It was not to bo expected that the duties of a department of such importance could be discharged conjointly with any other, nov was it possible that those duties could be performed without having constant recourse to professional advisers. But we think that the Ministry would have some difficulty in meeting the real objections of the speakers in opposition on Tuesday evening. They, most of them, belonged to the old Anti-Provincial party, and though afraid to embody their real objections in any direct resolution, the secret of their opposition evidently was in a desire to prevent the exercise of the slightest control by the Provincial authorities over the expenditure proposed within their own boundaries. While all were agreed that the great difficulty in the administration is to provide sufficient checks upon the expenditure, a morbid jealousy of Provincial Institutions would lead the opposition to ignore entirely the advantages to be derived to the Colony from availing itself of the local knowledge and experience of the Provincial officers. The success of the scheme is, we venture to assert, in great measure dependent on the harmonious working of the two bodies, and it is not to be supposed that powerful Provinces such as Otago, Canterbury, and Auckland, would submit to the dictation of irresponsible engineers, new probably to the country, and having no experience of the direction which trade or colonization would be likely to lake. We by no means desire to place the I executive power too largely in the hands of the provinces ; we are quite ready to admit that the General Government, as being responsible to the Assembly, should have the general control of the works, but in order to secure due administration it is necessary that the opinion of Superintendents of provinces, acting it may be with the advice of their Councils, should have their duo weight in the determination of the extent and character of the works to be undertaken in tho province of which they arc the trusted heads. With few exceptions the public works hitherto performed by the provinces will bear very favorable comparison with those executed by the General Government ; and the re sponsibility of a member of the Colonial Executive is by no means so direct as is that of the head of a province to the people whose affairs he administers. We cannot but think that tho Government exercises a wise discretion in not allowing itself to be too closely restricted in the details of its administration. The circumstances of the different provinces arc so varied that it would be impossible to lay down any cast-iron plan of works in every partof the colony. Those political divisions again, which are almost entirely dependent on the General Government, cannot expect to exercise so large a control as those which are comparatively independent of any external aid ; and it would bo absurd for Taranaki, for instance, to arrogate to itself the powers which Olago would have an undoubted right to assume. Tt is impossible for the Assembly to do more than define the extent and general direction and character of the works to bo accomplished year by year, and it would bo better for tho Government to submit to a large reduction in the amount of work to be performed in the first twelve months, than to allow itself to be deprived of the power of taking advantage of the now circumstances which will constantly arise, requiring as frequent changes, perhaps, in the administrative details.