The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA : FRIDAY, AUGUST 4, 1876.

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 108, 4 August 1876, Page 5

The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA : FRIDAY, AUGUST 4, 1876.

On Tuesday evening Mr Whitaker moved his resolutions, the object of which was to make all the land revenue of the various Provinces Colonial revenue. The introduction of the resolutions had been postponed from last week in consequence of the fancy ball to be j given by the Premier, and afterwards in consequence of the effects of the ball upon that gentleman. It is well known that the resolutions were intro- j duced by Mr Whitaker at the instiga- \ tion of the Government, with the view *of breaking up the convention of the Auckland and Otago members in the matter of separation. The stratagem leaked out, and therefore utterly failed in effecting the purpose intended. The Premier, as previously arranged, opposed the resolution, bun the value to be put on his opposition will be easily arrived at, when it is remembered that he previously signified his opposition to resolutions proposed to be introduced by Mr Wakefield, and that, too, upon the ground that they only provided for the Colony receiving the half of the land revenue. He then was of opinion that the exigencies of ColoI nial finance would necessitate a larger portion — viz., the whole of the land revenue. Now, when Mr Whitaker proposes to give him the whole he comes forward and acts tae champion of tl^e Compact of 1856. Had he been \ acting -£».n honest part in this matter, \ he cextain]y would have had the sym- \ pathy ancl support of the Otago and Canterbury members, but his unmiti- ; l gated duplicity oe^ng so apparent, they [ 1 simply treated the whole affair of the M Whitaker-cum-Yogel conspiracy with

contempt. They contented themselves | with giving* their silent votes against— j thus rejecting* the resolutions. Besides. Mr Whitaker and the Premier, only Sir George Grey and Mr Macandrew said a few words upon the question. The latter put the matter in its true light when he said : " Ihe proposals of Mr Whitaker were like stabbing a man in open daylight, nnd to his face. The proposals of the Government would slowly suck away the life-blood, as it were." The ultimate aims are the same, and yet Mv Whitaker and Sir Julius nre the only champions on either side. The farce is played out. and even children will see it was utterly unworthy of the positions those gentleman occupy. -The part the Government have acted in supporting* the integrity of the 1856 Compact will not gain them a single vote from Southern members, as they are still as united as ever with Auckland upon the separation policy, which had been fully agreed upon, and of which the whole details have been arranged. r l he debate upon thequestion commenced last night, when Sir George Grey was to move the following* resolutions : — *' That in tho opinion of this House the state of the Colony requires that its financial and constitutional arrangements should be reconsidered ; that the unity of the Colony should be maintained ; that tliere should be two local Governments, oue for each island ,* that the Colonial Government being responsible for the Colonial debt, for which the annual charge for interest and siuking fund is £815,000, that the North Island shall be charged with £190,000 per annum, and the South island with £025,000 per annum ; that, with tho exception of the matters of great Colonial importance, which must be reserved for tlie Colonial Government, each local government shall have entire control and management of its own affairs, aud the disposal of its own resources ; that the seat of the local government of the North Island shall be in Auckland ; that the seat of the local government of the South Island shall be in Christchurch • that tho seat of the Colonial Government shall remain as at present in Wellington.'' The debate wiil occupy some time, as almost every member will speak. Many and potent arguments will be brought forward in favour of preserving the unity ol the Colony, but it seems to us that a financial separation such as that proposed is the only way of relieving the Colony of the incubus of officialism l)y which it is at present so much oppressed. The country at present is virtually rulled by the civil servants, whose god is Sir Julius Yogel, and upon them are thrown away the revenues which are so much required to promote the settlement of the Colony. The course of the debate will be watched with intense interest. It is to be hoped it will end by placing in power an honest and prudent class of Ministers, in whose hands the people may with confideßce leave the destinies of the nation. But should the opposition fail in their present struggle, they will afterwards havo ample opportunities of joining- issue with the Government.