The Evening Star FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2082, 7 January 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 1870.

The multiplicity of local topics of interest, which have of late demanded our attention, has compelled us to hold in Abeyance Colonial questions of importance. The consideration of a reform in the Constitution is as necessary now as it was twelve months since. Although the Centralist party has been silenced for a time, the Provincial system cannot be considered safe until "reat changes have been effected. This

system, as at first framed, was wise and politic; and despite the drawbacks arising from subsequent legislation, it has served to promote the groat work of colonisation to an extent exceeding that of any other adopted in the Colo nies. Still we cannot disguise the fact that the “New Provinces Act” has worked dire mischief. The small Provinces, created under this Act, arc all verging on bankruptcy, and, tor the most part, their legislative assemblies have become the arena for party bickering and personal combat. Evidence is yearly being piled up of the necessity for a return to the original division of the Colony—the small Provinces, to be prosperous, must be united to the parent stem. It appears utterly impossible that nine Provincial Governments can work satisfactorily, or with benefit to the Colony. Each of these little communities has its Lilliputian parliament, with legislative and administrative powers, and all the costly appendages necessary to the working of a separate and distinct Government. Thus the revenue which should be applied to public works is absorbed in the payment of salaries. It is certain] that great Constitutional changes arc required. What are the changes necessary 1 Simply the restoration of the Constitution to its original condition, viz., five; Provinces, with legislative and administrative functions. The General Assembly was not, when the Constitution was framed, intended to be other than a federal congress, with defined and limited powers. It lias gradually arrogated to itself supreme authority, which, for the preservation of the Provincial system, should be determinedly checked. This can never be done until the re-union of the Provinces has been accomplished, and the New Provinces Act expunged from the statute book. As long as the small Provinces exist, the Provincial system will be under estimated, and sink lower and lower in public opinion. What can be the effect on the popular mind from the vain pretensions of the New Provinces Acts’ mimic Parliaments ? The systematic blundering, the narrow-minded and boisterous idiosyncrasies of the members of these Councils, supply ample evidence of the folly of creating a settlement with a small area of territory and a limited population, into a Province. It institutes a costly and cumbersome governmental machinery, without having men competent to work it. Hence a Council, which should be a deliberative and intelligent body, becomes the centre of meaningless disputation, and the arena for degrading scenes, personal vituperation and abuse. One of these scenes has recently been displayed on the floor of the Provincial Council of Marlborough. From the local paper we learn that the first session of the Provincial Council, after a general election, commenced on the 21st ult. The Council was opened with the usual pomp and ceremonies. The Speaker having been chosen, the question of the election of a Superintendent was brought forward. Prom what we can glean from the history of this delightful Little Peddlington, there are two corps of Lilliputian politicians—the Pictonites and the Blenheimitcs-—who are perpetually at war, and whenever a post of honor or of pay is to be obtained, each clan has got a chieftain ready for the post. In this instance Mr Eves, ex-Superintendent, was the chosen of the Blenheimitcs, and Mr Seymour was favored with the patronage of the Pictonites. Mr Ward, the leader of the Picton party, opened the ball, when the question of the election of the Superintendent was brought on. He, after a few preliminary remarks, said, “ It had been stated that Mr Eyes had “ friends; he should like to sec them “ if he had any, and in order to let “ them show themselves, would move “ that Mr Eyes be proposed as Superintendent, which would show if he “ had any. No honest man could vote “ for him that knew him, which had “ been shown again and again. (Oh!) “ He would prove these facts.” Mr Eyes indignantly rose to a “ point of “ order.” He said the Council had no right to question his acts as a member of the General Assembly. Here a scene arose which would have disgraced the proceedings of a primitive Town Board, or a Kentucky vestry meeting. The discussion became one of personal vituperation and free-lance invective, in which most of the members took part. Mr Ward, after much noise and confusion, gained another hearing, and, with demonstrative gesticulation, said “ He repeated that we should disgrace “ ourselves, and could he get their “ opinions, he was sure a great majo- “ rity of the public would be with him. “ Ho (Mr Eyes) had let the works in “ the Taylor Pass without public tender, “ and this occurring, just before an elec- “ tion, partook of the nature of bribery “ —it was merely political dodgery.” Mr. Eyes then rose again to second his own nomination, in order, as lie said, to enable him “to reply to the very “ absurd remarks of Mr Ward, It “ was not for him to show to any honest

“ man wlmt Mr Ward was, because lie “ was looked upon as a wind-bag, and “ there was nothing honest about him. “ His own character would bear as “ strict an investigation, and if placed “ side by side, would show far purer “ than Ivlr Ward’s.” This unseemly debate was continued until an adjournment for a day was obtained. The strife was renewed at the next meeting, and lasted until another adjournment was granted. The result of tins storm in a tea-cup is given by the Marlhorovyh Express. In a leading article reviewing the discussion, it points out that parties were evenly balanced, and resolutions were prepared calling upon his Excellency to dissolve the Council; but on the last day, before this business could be discussed, Mr Eves suddenly dissolved the Council. It says ; —Mr Eves thought fit, after “ again consulting his friends, to pro- “ rogue the Council. While he was “ speaking, Captain Haillie rose and “ wished to speak, but was then too “ late. The Seymour party say that “ one of the others had decided tor “ them, making eleven, which is since “ denied by that person, and that fail- “ ing him they had the Speaker on “ their side, and therefore, as in a few “ minutes more Mr Seymour would “ have been elected, the prorogation “ was made to prevent it, thus placing “ Mr Eyes’s morality at a very low “ pitch indeed.” Can it be matter for wonder that such scenes as these should bring the Provincial system into disrepute 1 Such proceedings would drag the most perfect Governmental organisation into a fathomless sea of discredit, and give the opponents of the system some ground for seeking the destruction of Provincialism. Disguise it as wo can, twist or turn it as we may, the fact is plain : the small Provinces are failures, and every well-wisher of the Colony should agitate for re-union-—a return to the original Constitution, Until this is accomplished, the government of New Zealand will never become stable and satisfactory. ; '