✨ Provincial Resolutions
laid on their table relating to the Waste Lands of the Province, Resolve :—
That whilst this Council learn with great satisfaction that His Excellency has been pleased to place the management of the Waste Lands under one control, they see no reason to depart from the opinions stated in the Resolutions passed on the 13th October.
That this Council, however, regret that they cannot regard the arrangement made by His Excellency as one likely to result in a satisfactory management of the Land Department. It appears to this Council highly undesirable that the office of Commissioner of Crown Lands should be held as an independent appointment; first, because the powers vested in that officer are greater than in the opinion of this Council can ever be intrusted to one, especially to an irresponsible officer, with a due regard to the interests of private individuals, or with the hope of his acts commanding public confidence. Secondly, because the duties attached to the office are not such as to justify the expenditure of public money in a separate salary. With an efficient staff of Surveyors, and the services of the Chief Clerk at present employed, the whole duties of the Commissioner might be performed by, and his powers most fitly entrusted to, the Superintendent of the Province, acting by the advice and with the consent of the Executive Council. And the Council are persuaded that such an arrangement would be more conducive than any other to public confidence in the administration of the Waste Lands.
That this Council have learned with the greatest disappointment that there do not appear at present to be any funds whatever placed at their disposal for public works and immigration. The expenses of the Land Office, and of the Survey being a first charge on the Revenues, and the Provincial Government having no control over that expenditure, it appears that the disposal of the whole of the Land Fund is virtually vested in the Land Department itself.
That in the opinion of this Council, the Revenues from the Waste Lands within the Province, and the expenditure of the Land Department, ought to be subject to the disposal and control of the Superintendent and the Provincial Council.
Resolution on the subject of Immigration.
Adopted 23rd Nov., 1853.
This Council having taken into their consideration the letter from the Civil Secretary to His Honor the Superintendent, dated the 12th August, 1853, No. 1062, Resolve:
That it is desirable that that portion of the Land Fund of the Province which is now by law applicable to immigration purposes, should be expended under the management of the Provincial Government.
November 24, 1853.
THE Council was this day Prorogued by His Honor the Superintendent until Wednesday, 15th February, 1854.
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Canterbury Provincial Gazette 1853, No 4
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
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Resolutions on the Waste Lands
(continued from previous page)
🗺️ Lands, Settlement & Survey23 November 1853
Waste Lands, Provincial Council, Land Department, Public Works, Immigration
🛂 Resolution on the subject of Immigration
🛂 Immigration23 November 1853
Immigration, Land Fund, Provincial Government
🏘️ Prorogation of the Council
🏘️ Provincial & Local Government24 November 1853
Prorogation, Provincial Council