THE ABOLITION THE NORTHERN PROVINCES.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 7, 20 August 1874, Page 3

THE ABOLITION THE NORTHERN PROVINCES.

lii the House of Representatives on the sth instant, Mr Vogel made a forcible speech, in reply, in defence pi the -Forest Bill. In the course of remarks he was particularly severe upon Messrs Fitzherbert and Bunny, who practised " ways that are dark and tricks that aw Vain,'? Fitzherbert being like that ravenous and ferocious tree, the blue gum* which would not allow any ether tree qf shrub to-live along side of it.'He was the blue gum of New Zealand. MrVogtl pointed out that the colony during the last lew years spjjnt nearly L 3,500,000 of colonial money on the North Island, while the money raised by j the provinces in that island only amounted j during the same time to Jess than half a | million, and in consequence that the Qo- i yernment were obliged to expend Lloo,ooo in the Middle Island on works which, should be defray ed out of provincial funds.. 3?oe only remedy for this was to sweep the North -Island provinces away altogether. He agreed to take out the clauses regarding forest land, and insert one inviting the provinces to voluntarily -hand over to the celony a p rtion of their.land for forest reserves. The Bill was read,a second time and committed. ' . Two days afterwards, Mr.. Vogel obtained leave to make a statement as to the course the Government proposes to adopt in regard to the question referred to in the debate 6b the State forests B 11—namely, the question of abolishing all Provinces ~m the North Island,' At an early period of .the session, when the Financial Statement was made, he would not dif guise that ii was the desire of the Government to assist the' provinces in the northlsland to continue to discharge their functions, and proposed that fresh assistance should be given ia some cases. The: loan question was materially changed by the debate on the Forest Bill. It then appeared that someoi.the provinces, notably/ 'Wellington, looked upon the Forests; B.ill : as aimed at Prpviujpial inptitutiqiie generally, and Wellington in particular. One speech was of euch a nature as to direct the attention of the Government to the «hble question of Provincialism in the North Island especially. As a result, they arrived at figures which showed, to an extent he never dreamed of, or members generally supposed the enormous, proportion of revenue and means expended on this island that was indirtctly supplied by the, machinery; of the Colony and the Assembly. He could not say what impression these figures conveyed to the minds of members, Since his speech was made the evening before last, the Government had received assurance from all sides which would leave no doubt in the minds of Ministers that the majority of the members were anxious to see the Provinces abolished. Some of the conditions referred to the seat of government, the compact of 18.56 should be recognised, by Act. He believed, a Jarge majority: of the members were prepared to assent to such; a proposition; and see it given effect to with as little delay as possible; there-, fore it would be idle to deny that the Go; vernirient had taken into cousideratiop whether it would be opportune to bring down a proposal to that effect during the present session. After what he had said the other evening there could be no doubt as to his own opinion; but the question was whether action should be taken this see *. sion, and the Government had come to the conclusion not to ask for effect to be given to this proposal dur'ng present session. They did this because there had been some sort of understanding" that the session should not be unnecessarily prolonged, and that, beyond subjects indicated in his Excellency's epe.ch at the opening of Parliament, no important legislation should be proposed. Although the Government could demand that consideration should be given to .all matters of urgency, it would be always well to adhere to such understandings. But the chief reason which weighed mot with the Government in coming to their decision was .that, although the mi* jorityofthe House held the opinions be described, and although he believed the opinion of the people throughout the North and Middle Islands would make such a scheme exceedingly popular, yet there would be a general feeling that it would be a dangerous indulgence for large legislation to be hurried., and, without, due no.tice. Even those most favorable might say, "After a Burpriee of this kind might we ! not have a surprise we could not welcome?" There would naturally be a feeling of inpe- ! curity if, while Parliament w§s.sitting, . large; organic measures should be passed without ordinary.notice, so as to afford .constitutional means V) the people to ex-, : press their opinions,by petitions. Its warmest ■supporters* might dread a surprise in legislation jn the BhapeotAequp d , etot. He did not mA to :there waa any right to prevent the House expressing'its opinion on the matter. Many members might think the necessity of the country' would justify extreme 'action, but "the Gα-, vernmeht did not approve of such a course. He thought, such a measure would be more acceptable if it came from-the country, while parliament was not sitting. He was not, however, prepared to say there would, not be brought; down some resolutions on the subject, but the Government had opt come to a decision yet. ; . :'

The Premier on Thursday last moved the following resolution, of which notice had been given ;—-".That, considering the„pxer., pent circumstances of the Colony, it is desirable to abolish Provincialism inthe North -. Island—at ~ the • - same -time- fixingWellington as the Seat of Government, and providing for the localisation of the land revenue, according to the .Compact of .18563 that Government, during theirecesa, coni aider the best means of giving effect to these resolutions." Hesaidtheaction thefiovernment werenasv taking had been caused by the debate on itheforest fiilf/.The figpres, which came butsho wed theenoimous&mount of expenditure which came directly or indirectly out of been for some time appartnt to him that the government was compeiled to not only for itaelf,' but ior many oUhe Provinces. . Considering the at the conclusion that*there : rausf-Irafone; Province or ho Provinces 1 ?-at North Island He had long felt that some largechacgsi i^es^ i agbj(e2 "wm a very warm $eparatioh* but circumstances' bad since.'mfwl'ttSt'ji'ni?; possible. He was[in^favour '?. ofcoalition, bnt believed large to enable the Island to its work, carried opt uponi aTirgeand compre- [ hensveplan.'l/The*General Government w#uld be obliged to large sha-€;

of that Jt ?wpul#b> \sjsosffi;. * carry that it was better at once for the Govern- ; raent to be :ita;,pwn eier-general for stf : ■ He, bed becpm§ so v > that the whole questionshould be I out and a plain; understanding arrived Government itself; not iiSMff&cft opposition, which induced tteinnqt to bringidowfc a; three,years ending was spent in this island but bf the colonial funds, fc2,307,(X)0; ! cial rerenue, including the Land Fund, wee only L 448.000; -He; Übenv t«;--i = look at the map of the 1 Nbfth s pand"'an4 see the amount of roads and works main- ' tamed, The djyi&ionsof not; suited,politically of gjp ographipally, the only object apparently v tion of pulitical pow(prtk»gaf|^pereone,-:. -It was the financial relation*of these Provinces which was tbe real ground §1 con*plawt; He flatly denied having any deeignsttpoii • the local landrevenue, but It wai high tune ' * the North Island shqqjd meot tb,p c: of Uβ public works out of \ta land revenue. ; and get its eystern; of finance ad juflted. The '-- honourable gentleman detaikfj ~ the amount of the various Provincial eervi'cee, and the amount to which the Qovern, • ment aseisted. total co«»t ,of Ijortli Island services .last year , was 1i58,600, while capitation paid by the Colony wae LBB,OOO, The appropriations for the present yeap'." were LBB,pop, whilst we were proposing tQ give capitation allowances for. the year of L93i000. The land should be appropriated, to pay the interest upbn the debt, of executing public works, such as harbours, and other revenue employed for local pnrpo»e«, It was not intended to impound the revenue °r TO Province/}; iThere wae) UPthing; r ulterior or r |heyriierely f considered it advisable tb assume control Of iUnctiong which should bp properly pertbrmedj Hβ hfeant by local goverhmeht that; when they aSblish ihe. present s - they would introduce a sj stem of local control placed intb^fharidiofibepeople, : Th|' Timaru system might be abundantly ibtjro- • * duced, and the Naturally distrioteof the North Islands seemed to fit it. It waa also desirable there should be only one land law instead of many. It was time one prehensive laritL law. shbuld be brought down. With respect to dealing with exintrmg Saperintehdents, he thought, in regard :; to one at least, his lifeslong services should entitle him to a provision for life.. He not consider any compensation was called except that the other Superintendents be paid to the end of their terms of office. With regard to the Compact of 185$, any departure from that would .be dishonest, and any aTrangements to be made regarding - the North Island muat be in accordance with : that Compact. Owing to the teve.ioh, dread of Otago and Canterbury that theiv. lands would some day be attacked, they were realising them as fast as possible. He thought in Otago and canterbury they -' : the wo kof Croyernment well,; and f if the people were satisfied witti the way'StHeju?.'•: ; local affairs were administered, they could/ : : see no xncnance in these proposals. Why should not Auckland children be c4ucated - as well as those of the South ? The north spent 8s iod. per head on educating their children—tUe:south«pent J 6a. B'thei; qne was extravagant, or 'the gther wretchedly off.. :The Gaol and other: services of one . cost ios 1 d per head—the other lsi 6d. To the objection that the work was too much for .the Government, he thought they could get on very weljl with a JJesjojent, I^ipieter, .. .at Auckland, and a Government Agent at Hawke's Bay and Taranaki, without being more extravagent, though more efficient, than under the oil plan. It wa9 undoubted that the Gaole aadLunatie-Aaylaaiß of the North Island vgtf a disgrace to the Colonjt Education was sadly behind, and all ot these service? were carried on by a succeseion of expedients.' By giving the North Island one Province they would remove all Provincial prtjj tidicee, ensure the efficiency :. of its seryices, carry ,on the Public , Workj . policy without opposition, and give ficiiity of adjusting finance. Nature probably had never been more bountiful in gifts to any other Inland than the North Island, could support si larger population,.than, the, T Middle Island, Oα euch , great questions, as this the Government wou|dn,ot rbe satisfied solely with an expression of the House. He denied that he had changed his or that anything personal or of an ambitioug nature had induced him to take this step. It was solely upon grounds that the. Government volunteered to undertake so large, and difficult a struggle, aad wbicb might lead to the severance, of political alliaiices which had lasted' for: yearg; B*uJ the question he felt muat, fotibja igood IoJL.. the country,. be : faced bolyly and, at :<>nce. t ' t Mr. O'Rorke made a pereopal explana«C; tion, and wished to say that he had beei? no party, and cpuld be ,noparly, to "the ; scheme. Had he voted for it he woul4 • ' deeerye to be called a base political traitor: and, although there were many politic 4 * apostates, ib,e was happy lie could not imi- • tate them. If the scheme: was-carried put, . it must aJaflure..., Jfje.coujd.npt alter political opinion in the twink'ing of an eye. T He have; .joined () thr Ministry if he thought his honorable colleague had in bis copious armoury the dagger "to etib v the p^iticalflife-pf 1 i land.'. The "resolution contained ?ae much ;; as it was poesible to of all thai; - was offensive to Auckland. 3f/He tig /, personal grounds of ob^petipnJb'tiuTcolleague?. He had always been oourteouaiyby "thisvPreraier, but he entered upon a voyage ..oi whjch no maa The,Pi;emiei apology, forf ?of ttVp'GaipmefiJy:/ making sugk an exbibition_of his collea?ues* He -rijMi. neyer -'by asinglewofd intimated to himself dieapproyed the policy. .β^rprise , . , .*'- 1 . :,'■.'_. ib^-:>;:^i|^s;^/^ Tffie debaterwai^resumed^jfi^ ,'Mr^BeeS r tion. ( Maj l >r Atkiusbn :^aka^pan^a|d^g|||o^^^^^l^g