✨ Provincial Government Address
PROVINCE OF WESTLAND GAZETTE.
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affairs in New Zealand, the more firmly is the conviction established in my mind that the time has now arrived when the system of double Government of the Colony should cease, and New Zealand should be united under one Government instead of being subdivided into nine sections each making its own laws, and carrying on a system of Government independently of the General Legislature. The construction of lines of telegraph throughout every part of the Colony, and the facilities which already exist for communication by sea and land, remove the obstacles which may have rendered the plan of Provinces a desirable one while New Zealand was in its infancy, and I can see no reason why this Colony cannot be governed by one Legislature supported by Local Road Boards and Shire Councils, such as the experience of neighbouring and larger colonies have proved to be sufficient.
Looking at the position in which Westland is now placed, I would ask, is it for the advantage of the Colony that this important division of it should have to be dependent on the General Government for assistance from year to year to enable it to carry on the bare necessities of Government, and be called on to pay annually £11,605 for interest and sinking fund on debts incurred by a neighbouring Province of which we once formed a part, while at the same time that Province is in receipt of a revenue of about £700,000 per annum; is it consistent with good Government that our children should have been growing up for years without the means of even the elements of education being afforded them, in many parts of the country from the want of sufficient means to provide it, while money is being lavished on expensive buildings on the other side of the ranges? Would this state of things have been allowed to continue for the time it has under a purely colonial system of Government? I think there can be but one reply, and so long as the present Provincial system exists so long will the weaker sub-divisions of the Colony continue to suffer. The subject is a large one and I would not trespass on your time longer.
Our special duty so long as we remain a Province must be wisely and prudently to regulate our affairs so as to do the utmost good with the means at our disposal. In this I feel fully assured that I shall have your most earnest co-operation.
I now declare the Council open for business.
JAMES A. BONAR,
SUPERINTENDENT.
Printed by Reid & Co., at the West Coast Times Office, Weld-street, Hokitika, authorised printers for the time being for the Government of Westland.
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Westland Provincial Gazette 1875, No 4
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
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Address by the Superintendent of Westland Province
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🏘️ Provincial & Local Government9 February 1875
Provincial Council, Roads, Road Boards, Legislation, Fencing, Ferrymen, Trespass, Impounding, Executive Council, Appropriation, Tramway Companies, Legal Claims, Financial Responsibility, Moral Claims, Land Compensation, Constitutional Change
- James A. Bonar (Superintendent), Delivered address to Provincial Council
- James A. Bonar, Superintendent