✨ Provincial Government Address
172
Until the result of their deliberations is known, and some definite plan is placed before the country having for its object to secure a satisfactory form of local government in the place of that which it is proposed to abolish, it is difficult to form a clear opinion upon the decision which has been arrived at.
As purporting only to affect the Northern Island, it might seem unnecessary for me to make reference to it, were I not convinced that on mature consideration any change in the constitution will be such as it will be deemed advisable to apply to the whole colony.
For the present the only indication of the intention of the Government in respect of the resolution I have quoted is contained in a resolution subsequently submitted to the House of Representatives, and carried by that body that ‘the provincial system of government in the North Island should as soon as possible be followed by an inexpensive but more thorough form of local government, under which the island should be divided into districts and sub-districts endowed with substantial revenues, and the residents therein be enabled to take a larger and more direct share in the management of local affairs, and the expenditure of local revenues, than is at present the case.’
To understand the full bearing of such proposals, it is necessary to be in possession of more detailed particulars of the manner in which effect is to be given to them.
I regret that I am unable to place before you such information, especially in relation to the endowments mentioned, as I think you would wish for, as the subject is one which must, sooner or later, affect this in common with the rest of the Provincial Governments of the colony.
I now declare this Council open for the dispatch of business.
WILLIAM ROLLESTON,
Superintendent.
Printed under the authority of the Provincial Government of the Province of Canterbury, at the office of the “Press” Company, Limited, by W. H. Surr, Official Printer for the time being to the said Government.
Canterbury Provincial Gazette 1875, No 16
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
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Address by His Honor the Superintendent at the Opening of the Forty-Second Session of the Provincial Council of Canterbury
(continued from previous page)
🏘️ Provincial & Local Government2 April 1875
Provincial Council, Canterbury, Local Government, Legislation
- William Rolleston, Superintendent declaring Council open
- William Rolleston, Superintendent