Wellington Independent TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10. 1871.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3375, 19 December 1871, Page 2

Wellington Independent TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10. 1871.

We are afraid that the division of the responsible management of tho Public Works Department between two Ministers, — one for the North and tho other for the Middle Island, will not be found to work satisfactorily. As matters now stand Mr Ormond is the Minister for Public Works and is the responsible head of that department; but Mr Reeves, as agent of the General Governfor the Middle Island under the Public Works Act, practically denudes the Minister of all responsibility so faras the works carried on in the Middle Island are concerned, and is in fact a second Minister of Public Works. This arrangement might have been all very well if the works authorised by the Assembly had been iv full swing ; when the Ministerial supervision would have been probably rendered more efficent and prompt by the presence of members oftthe Executive near the places in which those works were being constructed. But we must confess that at a time when the whole public works scheme of the Government is under the process of incubation, it appears rather unbusinesslike to separate the political heads of the Department of Public Works from the professional offices. The EugineerinOhief, and the Assistant Engineer, have their offices in Wellington. All the plans, specifications, and other documents, must of necessity come to the head office, and it seems to be almost impossible that either Mr Ormond or Mr Reeves can discharge his functions with that promptness and efficiency that is necessary without the opportunity of consultation with the Engineers or perusal of the documents which must pass through the Under Secretary of Public Works. We can quite understand that under certain circumstances the division of ministerial labor might be advantageous. We can appreciate the convenience that would be afforded by the presence of a member of tho Government in each island were works in actual operation, and constant reference as to matters of detail had to he made to them. But what is the actual condition of things ? As yet, no final conclusion has been given to the negotiations between the Government and Messrs Brogden, and although those negotiations may with propriety be left in the hands of the Colonial Treasurer, who initiated them, it does seem extremely inconsistent that the Minister of Public Works should be away at the time when — if his office is worthy its title — he should be present, aud act as a party to the transaction. But not only is the Minister of Public Works absent at this important juncture, but his aide, Mr Reeves, is also away. There is absolutely no one re presenting the Public Works Department in Wellington but the Under Secretary. This is not right. It will be some time before the people of the colony are made fully aware that they must address their communications upon the subject of public works to Mr Ornioud at Napier, or Mr Reeves at Christchurch, and meanwhile an enormous amount of delay and circumlocution will be occasioned, This is no time for such obstacles to be thrown in the way of the prosecution of public business. A t least one of the Public Works Ministers ought to be present at the Seat of Government, and the public havo a right to insist that this should be the case. How is it to be expected that the proper amount of responsibility can attach to tbe Minister of Public Works if he be only so by a polite fiction. It is absolutely certain that no Minister holding that position, who has any adequate conception of the duties of his oflice, can discharge those duties properly away from the proper scene of his departmental work. The Colonial Treasurer is no doubt a most hard working Minister. He can and does combine with the duties of his own special department an enormous amount of work that should attach to the offices of his colleagues. But it cannot be expected that he can do everything. And, with all his close application to business, his fertility of resource and unflagging perseverance, it is absolutely impossible for him to relieve the rest of the Cabinet from all responsibility. We make these remarks in the most friendly spirit. They aro inspired by a knowledge of the state of public feeling throughout the colony. There is just now a latent spirit of impatience — possibly unreasonable impatience — in tho public mind. And when this is (he case, as we assure the Government it is, it is the extremity of folly to minister to it by any measures capable of being uncharitably criticised. Just now there is more than one subject about which I the public expect the' Government to take a decisive stand. First there is the question of removing the Assembly to Dunedin, upon which the Ministry ought not to hesitate for a single day, and then there is the question of carrying out their public works policy. With regard to the latter, it is only fair

!o tell Ministers that the division of authority, and the isolation of the responsible Ministers from the practical work of their department, is regarded in anything but a favorable light. It will not do for the Government to vely blindly upon the large majority they had last session. We all know how evanescent political majori- ! ties are in this colony at a time of j transition, such as that we now live in, i and if the Governmont expect to maintain that strong position which is so I essential to the success of the great j policy they have initiated they must not trifle a moment with the task they have taken iv hand. No doubt they have much to contend against ; for the work they have undertaken is a great work, and at its every stage meets ! some obstacle resulting from our complicated system of government. But it is a work worthy of great and grand effort, and of the most unselfish and patriotic zeal. And nothing less will | carry out the policy of the Government in the manner every colonist fervently hopes it will be carried out.