The Evening Star TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2228, 28 June 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 1870.

Perhaps the 5 jinncipal discussion of the Session will be tlie Separation msolutions introduced by Mr Reynolds. The question is nothing new to us in Otago. It has been discussed again and again, and nothing has ever been advanced against it excepting some fanciful theories of the future greatness and influence of New Zealand depending upon the two islands being united as one nation, and the duty of the South Island to assist in the protection of out* Northern colonists against Maori incursions. Hitherto Otago has had little sympathy from other Provinces, • and its !eliding men have not been persistent in ' pressing the question. It is somewhat strange that the enthusiasm engendered by the sense of wrong done to the iSouth, that promised some years ago to lead to a more equitable relation between the two islands, was allowed j to die out. Although the question was again raised in Canterbury and Nelson, the'warmth of feeling with which it was once entertained, in Otago never revived,, and our fervor Anally expended itself in the presentation of an illuminated petition to Her Majesty in favor of Separation, which as a matter of course was consigned to the Limbo of Vanity at Home. There can be no doubt that in the minds of many politicians the difficulties in the way of political severance of the two, islands have been multiplied by the Consolidation of Loans Act, which has .gathered together Provincial indebtedness into one common national debt. Another .feeling - has gradually -been gaining ground, which, is strengthened by the increased, and increasing facilities for Provincial intercommunication, that as far as possible legislation should be general and not special, and that the duties of Provincial Councils should be administrative merely. But while these changes of feeling have been gradually taking place in- the minds of the people here, the necessity for fixed and determinate relations with our Northern neighbors remains unchanged. The South''has not ceased to be looked upon as fair game by the North Island, and the teiHns on which it is reported Mr Reynolds’s proposals will meet with support, evince the same grasping spirit the Northern colonists have always shewn. We are informed that the project is likely to be favorably entertained on condition that the land fund .shall become common property. That is, fhat the’ landless Provinces shall be permitted to appropriate a portion of the land revenue of those that have unsohMaiid; 'A more shameless proposal never entered the mind of a legislator. The South has, hprnq two-thirds oi the cost of the war for a series of years—pays hwo-thirds of the interest'of a debt contracted for the ’ sole, bepqfijb,, pfj the j^orth—pays twd-tiiirds of the cost of Mail and. Federal services—has its industry paralysed, its development retarded, and its people heavily burdened with,,taxation for the sake of the Notth, and then when, it . asks to he relieved from further liability because the North is able to take care of itself/ the reply is, “Yes, if-jfbu will “ give us a further share of your “ revenue.”; Jt. is true no such reply has been publicly uttered by any of our Northern; statesmen that yre are aware '•of, but there must be some foundation : for the assertion that such would be a condition of Northern support, or it wojild not have found its way ipto telegrams received. It may be put forth as a' feeler ; to. -tindi how far Southern forbearance, can, be relied ; on, and, if so,, the reply ought to be i prompt- and decisivei:- ‘L We have ‘.'iftlffcady given mofrfe than the North “ had ’& right to 1 expect—we demand “ henceforth that it shall bear its own “ expenses.” The throwing out of such an idea is, however, significant. It points to the necessity for pressing the question forward. It is evident that' the Government, contemplate, opening . up the North Island, by forming roads into the interior; butthere is no hint thrown out that the cost of them shall be localised, this is a point, however,’ on which the Otago .representatives should be united, and on which they should seek to unite-the whole of the members,,of Middle Island Constituencies. , There cannot be a more just-demand, and under sent, circumstances it cannot be resisted on any ground of selfishness or want, of sympathy with the Northern Colonists. There is ho war of any moment’in pro <n-ess. One object proposed in the construction of roads is to give employment to the Maoris themselves—the money laid out will be for the sole benefit of the squatters and, settlers in the Northern Island. Tile South has defended them, and brought the war to a favorable conclusion ; and it is monstrous to ask in addition to this that it should devote its revenue to the development M Northern wealth. . It is not as if the South Island were to derive benefit from, such, a course, for,

truthfully speaking, the development of Northern agriculture is to close a market for lutely it would be taking Southern money to raisehtp competitors against the contributors. , On every ground, therefore, Separation in some form is requisite. No matter what shape it takes, it is time that the North should .bear its own burdens. Were the interests of. the two Islands common, the revenue should be common too ] but since Northern expenses are special, they should be borne by those who reap the special benefit.