FEDERALISM.

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 82, 3 February 1876, Page 5

FEDERALISM.

j '* * TO THE EDITOR. A Sir, — I should like to see the term " Provincialism " substituted "by the correct expression, viz r " Federalism." A. great many of your readers, Mr Edttop, in the more rsmote districts, . understand that provincialism means the carrying on ofthe old stateof things, with all its .cumbrous detail and roundabout legislation, and feeling the necessity of a change, they cry but against it, while in; truth they consistantly believe in the federation of the Provinces. I am of opinion, Mr. Editor, that seventy-five per cgnt. of the people of all New Zealand are in favor provincial union, while they will oppose absolute" Government, alias Centralism, to the last. . The British people are not to be ruled ' absolutely. In England our Comriibns.ta&e care of that/ and.it is needful in- this new country that we have even' a more liberal form of government,* for the purpose of holding in check those persons who have the preponderance ot power by their landed estate, and money interest, in the politics of the country. I almost doubt, Mr Editor, if an absolute form of Government is constitutional, unless so constituted by a three-fourths vote of the people. Perhaps nothing would tead more to degenerate the history of this fine 'country than such an event, as it will involve us in ruin and expatriation. It is said that the desire of the centralists is to have the absolute ruling of taxation, and by this means be enabled to advance immigration and public works. This deeming contradiction is accounted for in this way. The owners of large landed estates are about to • establish an 'economical yeomanry by leasing or letting small blocks of land to' a respectable class of farmers with a little cajn*al. It will then be arranged 'that' they pay so much per acre rent (in which ; the geneyal -land . tax is included);, while the szTme* tax is levied on landowners great and small proportionally to produce they ;girow. Those, therefore who are at the grgfitest expense as the wheat grower*?, &0., , are to be charged accordingly, and' so on. Such a tax as this; Mr Editor, in the hands of an absolute 1 jR OWP^ wp-ftld 'produce a state of thing-? „:,-- most UUfa-vorable to the good estate- d£#| th£body,pblitic df New Zealand.*^ -j "'"§%*, ;';; In'conglu^iOnVlfet-The ffldsiha%Kfttl&y i> - papers wbich support the Federal view ofihik question; would adopt the correct %^*^ ? i*e^*! Umbh "O^the, ■-: *'APisM T fy*i'' i thVlr I politicsii *-; pdsitioti ;wo^ Ihyinciblej inihe^an*;tiraellMr-^i^r : Observe ;ttiatt^ Journal'^reirstill 'id^tayiiA AM v V r ;°*CT.^^^^^ in its trae^olbrs;""*li lsve#§h±in^rri^^3 themiitidfii^lipfiP :^olutha£|-is^ -^WJ^^^^m^o'M^^^^ ;f-#A*ral*care:*witb:^