The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 1875.

Dunstan Times, Issue 696, 20 August 1875, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 1875.

Renea'h the rule of men entirely just the PEN is mightier than the sword.

Du'F.din people apparently take very haidly to the Abolition of the Provinces Bill: and well they may, seeing that they have for such a long time fattened upon the spoliation of the upcountry districts. Without desiring any undue haste in the passing of the Abolition Bill, we certainly o are of opinion that the Goldfields at least have nothing to lose by the mens a re any change in our case, unless the General Government are suicidal enough to abolish gold mining altogether, must be for the better, as things can scarcely be any worse than now. We have never received our fair share of the revenue, which, notwithstanding onr protestations to the contrary, has been expended upon dredging Dunedin Harbor, or some other work in which we possess an equally small and remote interest. It may be all very fine for Town journals interested in the perpetuation of Provincialism to argue that up-country districts, to receive any benefits of money grants under the new Act must tax themselves. This, in the agricultural districts has already been done; or, where would the Road Boards derive theirrevennes from, or be in a position to demand Government assistance in the shape of tlr> usual subsidy upon rates collected? So far as Road Boards are concerned all those who have travelled in districts where they have been introduced, to the excellence of the roads possessed by them over places where Road Boards do not exist, such as the Goldfields for instance, not withs'anding that the majority of Road Board di dricis are of comparatively recent origin. It cannot of course be expected that the Goldfields will tax tin mselves specially for road making, when they are taxed so heavily in the shape of a gold duty, and no sane Government would be foolish enough tosuppose—theopinion of our Dunedin friends to the contrary —that we could sustain, or that the General Government would desire to bleed us at both ends, in the shape of an extra tax for the maintenance of Road Boards, while we contribute so largely in other shapes to the revenue. The General Government quite understand the value the Goldfields «re to the Colony. They knowfull well that were there any serious falling off in the yield of the precious metal to occur that property in New Zealand would be alarmingly reduced in value, while our public securities would also become seriously affected. There are no politicians of eminence but what acknowledge the value of the Goldfields to the Colony, and they cannot but admit that it is upon their success and continuance that the basis of onr credit as borrowers in the money market stands. "Where would be the flow of ready money were it not for the Goldfields 1 Capital dug out of the ground by the miners is equivalent to money imported from abroad, while it has the advantage of being distributed amongst the ninny instead of the few, leaving out of the question altogether that the circumstances attendant upon its getting nrcassitates the employment of a large amount of labor. No Government would therefore be guilty of such an act of folly as to wilfully interrupt the progress of this industry, which could only result in almost universal disaster to other interests. The abolition of the Provinces, instead of narrowing the system of local self-government at present in operation would only be widening it, and in lieu of our local governing power being resident at Dunedin it would be upon the Goldfields thems°lves There is nothing whatever likely to occur which would influence the General Government to resort to anything else than giving the Goldfields increased facilities for development, and the fact cannot be gainsayed but that whenever the General Government have interfered On behalf of the Goldfields they have always looked upon things with a much more liberal eye lhan the Provincial, whose money grubbing propens'ties have always been exerted to our disadvantage, and

for the especial benefit of oilier places No one can expect that the Bill will at the utmost pass beyond its second reading this session of the House of Representatives, while, oven should it become law, effect could not immediately be given to it; therefore, we shall have ample time to consider its conditions, and which must form the clref feature in the coming elections, leaving, as it were, constituencies to decide how and when the Bill shall bo applied to the various Provinces, and whether they shall fall piece-meal or all similtaneously together. With railways and telegraphs connecting all the chief centres of population in the two islands together, the existence of ten separate governments is an absurdity', and besides being expensive is cumbersome and unworkable. Where the Colony one united whole its public credit would doubtless largely improve. As things exist at nresent. the pub'ic creditor is in a maze of bewilderment; he scarcely understands who will be bis debtor, and be hesitates, or rather, will hesitate to lend. The system of Provinces has done good in its day, but like many other institutions, it has become obsolete, its existence can no longer be to'erated, and like other things that encumber the earth, it requires consigning to some resting place, where it will cease from troubling any longer. We do not profess to advocate, or to look after the interests of the Colony generally, believing that the Goldfields are quite enough to engage our attention. The operationsof the Abolition Bill cannot be any disadvantage to us, and if Dunedin and some of the agricultural districts close by it feel aggrieved, they are well able to look after their own interests and protect themselves. Everybody has bad their say, perhaps some new features in the proposed change may possibly'be elicited ; but nothing can stay the impending dissolution which is closely at hand. It is only the exact conditions that we need trouble ourselves about The carrying of the measure is inevitable. i | | , i 1