✨ Provincial Government Address
NEW ZEALAND
OTAGO
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
GAZETTE.
Published by Authority,
VOL. XIV. DUNEDIN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1870. No. 703.
ADDRESS OF HIS HONOR JAMES MACANDREW, SUPERINTENDENT,
ON PROROGUING THE TWENTY-EIGHTH SESSION OF THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL OF THE PROVINCE OF OTAGO,
WEDNESDAY, 7th DECEMBER, 1870.
Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the Provincial Council—
On behalf of the Governor, I, on the 29th day of November last, assented to the “Road Ordinance (Southland) Repeal Ordinance 1870.” I now assent to the following Ordinances passed by you, viz. —
“Jetties and Wharves Ordinance 1870;”
“Dunedin: Athenaeum and Mechanics’ Institute Ordinance 1870;”
“Education Ordinance (Southland) Repeal Ordinance 1870;”
“Licensed Theatres Ordinance (Southland) Repeal Ordinance 1870;”
“Auction Ordinance 1862 (Southland) Repeal Ordinance 1870;”
“Licensed Hawkers Ordinance (Southland) Repeal Ordinance 1870;”
“Otago Roads Ordinance 1865 Amendment Ordinance 1870;”
“Otago Municipal Corporations Ordinance Extension Ordinance 1870;”
“Otago Municipal Corporations Ordinance 1865 Amendment Ordinance 1870;”
“Otago Representation Ordinance (No. 2) 1870;”
“Appropriation Ordinance (No. 2) 1870-71;”
“Licensing Ordinance (Southland) Repeal Ordinance 1870.”
The following Bills I have reserved for the signification of the Governor’s pleasure thereon, viz. —
“Port Chalmers Reserves Management Ordinance 1870;”
“Southern Trunk Railway Guarantee Interest Ordinance Amendment Ordinance 1870;”
“Invercargill Park Reserves Management and Leasing Ordinance 1870;”
“Race Course Reserves Leasing Ordinance 1870.”
GENTLEMEN—
Among other important questions which you have had under discussion, has been that of public departmental retrenchment. My own individual views upon this question are, that the most likely mode of effecting such retrenchment is to make the Superintendent the direct political head, and responsible for the efficient administration of every department of the Government—not that he should act irrespective of the advice of the Executive Council, excepting in matters of detail, but that the functions of the members of the Executive should be those of advisers only—not of administrators called upon to devote their whole time to the duties of their office. Of course, to some extent the Provincial Treasurer, who must sign all cheques issued by the Government, and who must keep himself acquainted with the state of the public accounts, would require to devote a certain amount of time to the duties of his office, and he ought to be remunerated accordingly. In the case of the other members of the Government, they should only be required to attend meetings of the Executive Council, for which they should be paid by fees and travelling expenses.
I am persuaded that, in the matter of Government, it will be found that the more we can adopt the principle of direct action, the more are we likely to ensure economy, efficiency, and promptitude, and that the whole of the administrative functions of the Government can be satisfactorily fulfilled by any Superintendent who devotes his whole time to the duties of the office.
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Otago Provincial Gazette 1870, No 703
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🏛️ Address by Superintendent James Macandrew on Proroguing the Provincial Council
🏛️ Governance & Central Administration7 December 1870
Provincial Council, Prorogation, Ordinances, Retrenchment, Governance
- James Macandrew (His Honor), Superintendent delivering address
- James Macandrew, Superintendent