The Evening Star TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2372, 8 November 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1870.

No wonder that the North Island men contrive to outwit those ol the Middle Island in legislation, for they work while we sleep. In Auckland, especially, the people are politically active ; and experience has shewn us that whatever differences of opinion may exist amongst them on other matters, they agree and work together whenever anything is to lie gained for their Province. Their care is not merely to elect representatives holding certain opinions, but to choose able men, who can give a reason for the course they take. There is much greater necessity for watchfulness and unity of purpose in Otago than there ; but unfortunately, through some cause or other, it cannot be attained. This is partly owing to the character of our constituencies, and through no organised effort being made to secure unity of opinion in those elected. It is not necessaxy that they should be at one on every point. They may hold divided opinions on many—on evexy one, in fact, excepting those main ones in which the prosperity of the Province and justice to it depend. It is evident, from what has already taken place, that the North Island intends to reap the chief advantage of the public works projected ; and nothing can prevent it excepting a Middle Island phalanx, determined to resist the pretensions on which the Hrrn'a share W alwarc Wn to it; and to insist that henceforth the expenditure in each island shall be in proportion to the revenues collected. It is not a merely political move to insist upon this. It is not even asking so much as the Middle Island has a fair right to expect. For the last ten years or longer, the Noi'th Island has been mainly defended at the cost of the South. The sheep runs and stock stations would have been wildernesses had it not been for Southern wealth. The owner's purchased them for the value of an old song ; and day by day some enterprising “ settler ” in tbc North is contriving to buy acres of fertile soil from drunken Maoris, who, like other savages, will sell anything they possess for present and immediate indulgence. And when a Crown grant is obtained, the Government is bound to pi'otect the new owner in his possessions, no matter how acquired, nor in how dangerous a locality. This is the crying evil. It is one that has subsisted from the very settlement of the Colony. It has been productive of the worst consequences to the Noi’th itself, inasmuch as it has indirectly, if not directly, led to much of the disorder and warfare that have cost so much ; and it has led to the injustice of appropriating South Island revenues for the improvement and security ot the North, under the plea that the Colony is one and indivisible. Now we warm our readers beforehand, that there are schemes hatching in the North, which nothing but intelligent and united opposition on our parts can defeat. Nor need we imagine that these schemes are entertained at present by the Government. It is enough that they are mooted and talked about, and that it depends upon ourselves whether they will be carried into execution or not. The present Government may have them forced upon them, notwithstanding they have shewn themselves more considerate towards the Middle Island than any that have preceded them. Supersede them, and to a certainty those plans will bo brought forward. It is not merely the localisation of expenditure that the Middle Island has to insist upon. That should be made a sine qua non with every one wdro is elected. No matter whether we return our old representatives or invito one condition of supporting a candidate should be that he must insist on the North Island bearing its own burdens. But there are dangers to be guarded against that few seem to dream about, There cannot be a question that an attempt will be made to make common

stock of our Land Revenue. The plea on which this will be clone will be the sham of holding our land as security for the cost of public works. The effect will be paralysing improvement in Provinces that have unsold land, and spending the proceeds on 1 rovinces in which the hind has been already sold. Otago and Cantcrhuiv arc specially pointed at. Thus not only will the North make us pay two-thirds of their war expenses ; but, in addition, that land fund, which has hitherto been available for internal improvements will be filched from us. There is also another pretty little scheme in embryo which has been more than hinted at—Wellington is to be a Colonial City : that is, being the Seat of Government, all its public buildings, its parks, its gardens, its museum, and so forth, arc to bo paid for by the Colony. It is time that wo roused ourselves to these facts. To elect men indifferent to them, or incapable or unity of action in opposing them, is to consent to them. Hitherto we have been so supine as to let matters take their chance. Is it not possible to agree upon a plan of action that shall unite the various constituencies in a common opinion 1