✨ Government Address
3
Government propose to proceed with the set-
tlement of it during the present session. Should,
however, any material opposition be made to
the plan proposed by the Government, it will
be suggested to you to postpone dealing with
the subject until the Council shall be enlarged.
The main object in view in the Regulations
which will be proposed, will be that the land
shall be disposed of only to persons competent
and likely to use it for beneficial occupation.
I cannot but express my hope that you may be
able by a settlement of this question upon a
basis which may be satisfactory to all classes of
the community to meet the wishes of that large
body who desire its speedy adjustment. No
time will be lost by the Government in placing
its proposal in the hands of the public.
The Provincial Secretary having signified
his wish to retire from the public service of the
Province in a short time, I have considered the
propriety of endeavouring still further to carry
into effect the principle of ministerial respon-
sibility in the conduct of the Government by
appointing that officer in future from the mem-
bers of the Provincial Council, and making its
tenure dependent on the ability to command
the support of the Legislature. It does not
appear to me that any alteration in the law is
required to effect this change. I would remind
you that the real responsibility of the Executive
to the Legislature is maintained, not by any
specific enactments, but by the exclusive power
of the representatives of the people to grant
supplies. The responsibility of the ministers of
the chief Executive power is but convenient
machinery by which the harmonious working of
the Legislative and the Executive is secured.
And that harmony will be, I conceive, more ef-
fecutually secured by the gradual growth of such
a system in our Government, as we may find
most applicable to our circumstances than
by any stringent application by law, of a
system which has grown up, not by law but
by custom, in the Government of England.
The system we have hitherto adopted has worked
satisfactorily. If it should be thought desirable
to adopt that more complete and more costly
system which renders all the principal officers
of Government responsible for their tenure of
office, I shall heartily concur in any alterations
which your experience may suggest, and which
may lead to the effective and harmonious work-
ing of the Government and of the benefit
which must necessarily ensue to the Province at
large.
(Signed) JAMES EDWARD FITZGERALD,
Superintendent,
31st October, 1854.
PRINTED BY I. GILLIES, AT THE "TIMES" OFFICE, LYTTELTON.
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Canterbury Provincial Gazette 1854, No 23
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🏛️
Address of His Honor the Superintendent to the Provincial Council
(continued from previous page)
🏛️ Governance & Central Administration31 October 1854
Superintendent, Provincial Council, Canterbury Association, Executive Council, Legislative Process, Electoral Rolls, Sheep Disease, Infrastructure, Waste Lands
- James Edward Fitzgerald, Superintendent