RE-UNTON WITH SOUTHLAND.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2004, 7 October 1869, Page 2

RE-UNTON WITH SOUTHLAND.

The Southland News gives the report of the Commissioners, and an abstract of the proceedings. Th f e latter is rather too lengthy for our columns, and has been abridged ; but the report is given in extmso. The Commissioners held their first meeting on the 27th ult,, when Mr J. L. Gillies was appointed chairman. The subsequent meetings were devoted to the consideration of resolutions as the basis of union. At the meeting on the 29th ult, it was unanimously resolved that, if a union of the two Provinces take place, the following terms should form the basis of a Bill of such union, to be introduced in the General Assembly at its next session.

(1). Provinces of Otago and Southland to be re-united—Southland ceasing to exist—and the whole united Province to be called Otago. (2). That one Provincial Council govern the united Province, taking as a general basis of representation the population; and in conformity with resolutions hj, c, and d, appended to the report of the Select Committee on the Otago Representation Bill (passed by the Provincial Council of Otago, session 25, 18G9) as follows:— ‘ (b). That, wherever practicable, the boundaries of the Provincial electoral districts should coincide with the boundaries of the General Assembly electoral districts; and that as far as possible, the Provincial districts should be sub-divisions of the General Assembly districts.’ (c) ( That all fresh boundaries of Provincial electoral districts should coincide as much as possible with boundaries already existing, or with wellmarked natural boundaries—as the limits of hundreds, survey districts or blocks, runs, etc., and the watersheds of mountains, ranges, broad rivers, etc.’ (d) ‘ That while the population should, to a large extent, be taken into account in the formation of district, regard should also be had to identity of interest of the inhabitants of the different districts, and to the physical configuration of the country, so as to insure, as much as possible, ease and convenience as regards communication between all parts of the same district.’ ” The remaining seven resolutions provided for the united Province ; (2) one Executive Council (3) the various departments of Government to bo under one head; (4) the laws with due regard to existing rights to be assimilated as soon as possible ; (a) the revenue and expenditure to be kept separate as a Treasury account j (d) tiro cost of each depart-

merit, as a matter of account, to be charged in proportion to income and outlay ] (7) the united province to be subject to the laws of Otago, except the Waste Lands regulations, subject to alterations by the United Council ; (8) Laws to be assimilated by united Council as soon as possible, saving all existing rights under existing laws of both Provinces. Clause 9 is as follows : “ Notwithstanding the dissolution of the Provincial Council of the Province of Southland, the persons who immediately before the coming into operation of this Act were members of the said Council, shall on a day, and at a time and place to be fixed by the Governor by proclamation in the New Zealand Gazette, assemble, and by lot or by ballot, to be taken in such manner as shall be prescribed in and by such proclamation, select eight of their number to represent in the Provincial Council of the Province constituted hereby that part of the said Province which immediately before the coming into operation of this Act was included in the late Province of Southland : and if, at such time and place appointed as aforesaid, no such persons, or a less number of persons than hereby required, shall have been selected as aforesaid, it shall be lawful for the Governor, by wai’rant under his hand, to appoint a number of persons equal to the number so deficient, either from among the persons who were members of the said Provincial Council of Southland, or from amongst any other persons being electors registered on any electoral district returning members to the House of Representatives, lying wholly or in part in the said late Province of Southland, and the persons so selected and appointed as aforesaid shall be members of the Provincial Council of the Province as if duly elected.” (10) The united Council to continue until new electoral districts are defined and present Provincial Council of Otago expires by effluxion of time. (11) Land districts to be created by Act, to oopsist of th t e area presently included within the boundaries of the Province of Southland, together with sqch portions of the Province of Otago as shall, in the opinion of the united Council of the province, be geographically connected with the present Province of Southland. (12) Land district to have a Crown Lands Commissioner, as provided in clause 14, “ Southland and Otago Union Bill.” (13) All business relating to the sale, letting, disposal, and occupation of waste lands withip limits of the land district to be constituted by united Provincial Council, shall be conducted by district waste lands board. (14) Jurisdiction and operation of offices of Registrar of Deeds and Registrar pf' Supreme Court, and Registrar of Births, Mart riages, and Deaths, shall extend to whole of the area to be included ip boundary of land district. (15) Revei nue and expenditure in each province to be kept separate as a matter of Treasury accounts at Dunedin and Invercargill. (16) Proportion of the cost of departments to be chargeable against each province upon an equitable basis, (17) The revenue and expenditure to be kept as a separate matter of account, with a view to Southland deriving the entire benefit of revenue raised in Southland. The Otago Commissioners contemplate, fur a time at least, a portion of the revenues of Otago will be absorbed by the present absolute necessities of Southland, (18) The united province to take over liabilities and assets of both provinces. The following is the report of the Commissioners, which is to be submitted to the Provincial Councils of both provinces for their adoption ;

Tlio Commissioners appointed for the pur? pose of determining the basis of re-union between the provinces of Otago and Southland, having given the matter referred to them their most careful consideraiiop, have the honor to report as follows : Having resolved to treat the subject more in the light of a matter of general policy, than of minute detail, they beg to submit the proposals of basis of union (as per minutes of meeting of Commission, dated 29th September ult.), which, if approved of, would be heads of a Bill, to be introduced in the General Assembly at its next session, to provide for the union of the two provinces. T ‘ The Commissioners may be allowed, In support of these propositions, to express a few of the grounds upon which they recommend to the representatives of both provinces the adoption of the geiv ral principle of re union, and heartily urge the people to consider for themselves the advantages that are likely to accrue, especially to the outlying districts of both provinces. The Commissi ners are fully convinced that the principal cause of the present comp native stagnation of trade in the province of Southland arises from the crippled state of her finances, and the inability, consequently, of carrying out provision for rapid and easy communication with outlying districts, excepting by a ruinous sacrifice of her landed estate. Hep indebtedness to the General Government constantly accumulating, must shortly necessitate a realising of securities, as' it cannot be expected that other provinces will long submit to the course that has been hitherto pursued of relieving special provinces or counties of any diilicuities they may please to rush into. The Commissioners believe that a re-union of Otago and So .till aid won Id relievo the latter from her un nvialilc position, and go restore confidence as tq give a fresh impetus to settlement, trade, and commerce, apd

although, more immediately, would be a burden on Otago, would ultimately, in one if ited, powerful, and prosperous Piovince, conduce also to her benefit and welfare. The Commissioners cherish hopes that it would be the first stepping-stone towards one united Middle Island Government. Tire Commissioners, bclievinc the Government of Otago to bo in earnest in their desire to establish a settlement on the West Co vst, arc of opinion that re-union would facilitate the establishment of a steam coastal service, and that the Bluff being made a regular port of call for such service, would encourage the development of many industries now dormant ; this, in its turn, would improve the traffic upon the railways, and render them in their turn a profitable investment. The Commissioners would also point out that by opening up means of communication through some of the districts of Southland, some of the requirements of the outlying districts of Otago would be more speed dy ami economically met than had those requirements to bo met by expenditure within the Province of Otago. That under the seventh bead, the Commissioners would call particular attention to the exclus ; on from any chan ye of the “Southland Waste Lands Act 1865 ’’ should re-union with Otago be effected, during, at least, the tenure of the pastoral leases issued under its provisions, until the expiry of which any alteration would be incompatible with justice. The recommendation under clause 11 the Commissioners consider would naturally suggest itself to the inhabitants of the consolidated Province, and intelligence of the united Council. The fundamental principles which should, }n the opinion of the Commissioners, dictate the action of a wise Government, are the consideration of the moral and material requiiemcnts of the people, economy of expenditure, and efficiency of administration. These requisites can be best obtained by affording every facility to the inhabitants of a district to transact their business from a place which is its geographical centre, and with which their interests are identified. Some of the special advantages that would be derived from rc-union would be the extens’on, better development, and more economical working many of what have proved themselves to be, by experience, excellent ordinances and institutions of Otago. IMMIGRATION. In connection with this subject, without addition to the cost of working, and in addition to the present provision for keeping up a constant stream of immigrants, or in any future scheme, the Commissioners are of opinion that a stipulation should be enter, d into that immigrants for the Bluff should be landed there free of additional cost of passage, and that at least every third vessel should make the Bluff an advertised port qf pii’l, or oltencr, if fonpd necessary. Such a cpuvse would afford valuable facilities to the mercantile community in the cli.-trict for the importation of merchandise, and ensure an equal measure of justice to all outlying districts. POSTAL SERVICE. The Commissioners arc agreed that in any postal scheme entertained by the General Government, in which the mail service is conducted by way of Fovoaux Straits, the united Provincial Government should use their utmost endeavors to secure that the Bluff Harbor should be the first and last port of call, and in entertaining any contract Jo); a coastal service, the' Provincial Council should insert the provision that the Bluff should be one of the ports of crdl. ROADS. Though immediately on the consolidation of the Province, that portion of the district formerly comprised within the limits of the present Province of Southland would come Under the operation of the Otago Roads Ordinance in regard to the formation of main road's by the Government, raid subsidies to the district roads, as presently obtains in the Province of Otago, the Commissioners also contemplate for a time at least, a portion of the revenues of Otago will be absorbed by the present absolute necessities of Southland. EDUCATION. The universally acknowledged success of the Otago scheme of education renders it unnecessary for the Commissioner's to enlarge up n the advantages of having that scheme extended to Southland.