The Evening Star MONDAY DECEMBER 5.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2395, 5 December 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star MONDAY DECEMBER 5.

Mr Millar's motion in favor of Separation is appointed for consideration to-day. We do not know how it will be received by the Government. According to their profession of attachment for the principles of local selfgovernment, they ought to support it. But it is useless to disguise from ourselves that the relative position of the two islands is much altered of late years, and that the Separation which might have been possible when Mr Millar’s Separation resolutions in 1867 were passed, has since been rendered almost impossible. It will be recollected that then a resolution was passed by the Provincial Council to petition the Queen to sanction the political severance of the two islands, and to make them separate Colonies. It is quite possible that had that petition been well supporter! by influential men in Otago, and by the other Provinces of the Middle Island, it would have been treated with more consideration than it received. It did reach Her Majesty, but was coldly acknowledged, and a deaf ear turned to its prayer. Like many other good things emanating from a few earnest men, it was not looked upon as expressing the common desire of the people of the Middle Island. Politicians of the Major .Richardson type condemned it: many of our own merchants condemned it; and not a few of our own members in the House of Representatives opposed a similar proposition when mooted in that House. Since then the Consolidation of Loans Act passed, and Provincial loans were converted into Government Stock. By that Act lenders to the Provinces had Colonial security given them—that is, the united security of the two islands —and in return for this some advantage accrued to each Province in reduction of the rate of interest. There was therefore some benefit from the measure, but it was coupled with one or two drawbacks that must be mot by suitable means. The slightest consideration will shew that to petition the Queen now for political Separation of the two islands, would be as idle as to pray the waves not to rise and fill. The reply from the Home Government would be, that engagements had been entered into on the security of the Colony as a whole, and that the consent of all holders of New Zealand Stock would be necessary before the Horae Government would entertain, even for a moment, a division of territory that would weaken the security on which the loan was taken up. The argument would be so far unanswerable. It would be useless to urge that the Middle Island was unfairly treated by the North ; and were the arguments of Messrs Thomson, Mosely, and many others of Mr Reid’s “ tail ” put forward, that the politicians of the North were more astute and united than those of the South, and therefore swindled them, the Secretary of State for the Colonies might reasonably send a mocking reply, bidding the electors in future to choose men with brains and honesty. If the argument were further pressed, petitioners would be cut curtly, and told they had the remedy in their own hands, and must apply it. Up to this time, then, our liabilities must inevitably be considered joint. It is equally for the advantage of Otago as for the

North Island to uphold our credit. There must not be oven the shadow of suspicion that there is any desire to free ourselves from existing obligations. It was very right on the part of the Council to point to the liberality shewn by the South to the North—a liberality that amounted to lavish injustice ; but it is too late to remedy that. Whatever has been done must be abided by. Our thoughts should now be directed to the future. What can be done to prevent recurrence of the evil ? The question is the moro opportune and pressing, because it is evident there is a chance of Maori troubles. Much as has been done by the present Government for the pacification of the North, occasions of quarrel will crop up. Immense difficulty has been experienced in securing to Wellington that splendid estate, the Manawatu Block, although it was fairly purchased of the Natives. Still more difficulty will bo experienced in dealing with the confiscated lands, Wc wish to see the Middle Island freed from all these liabilities in future ; and this may be douo if only the people are true to themselves, and determine to send representatives who will insist upon the localisation of expenditure. In this the other Middle Island Provinces would almost certainly join. To us it seems exceedingly reasonable that the Middle Island should govern its own affairs, dispense its own revenue, and prosecute its own public works. But how was this reasonable proposal met in Canterbury ? If such an arrangement would be beneficial to Otago, it would bo equally the interest of Canterbury, Nelson, West-

laud, and Marlborough. But when the resolution of the Provincial Council of Otago was read to the Provincial Council of Canterbury, it was received with derision. Instead of looking upon the proposal as intended for mutual benefit, it was condemned as a move for the aggrandisement of Otago. The Canterbury men have most assuredly less reason than Otago to attach themselves to the General Government. Notwithstanding their support of Mr Stafford and Ids Executive, that Province was mercilessly cut up by him, and its influence weakened. But they bore it all meekly. The example set by Otago of successful resistance to Centralisation had no charms for them. Fawning like whipt spaniels, they invited another stroke—and now refuse to join Otago lest the seat of government should be removed from Christchurch. Otago, by itself, can do nothing in the matter. It is well we know how far our neighbors sympathise with ns, for it enables ns to concentrate effort upon that which is possible, instead of wasting it upon the ideal. In all future appropriations of loans, ope condition must therefore be considered indispensable ; the Province receiving the benefit must be made liable for principal and interest ; and if any Province has not security available, it must do without the money. It is very plain that in such a case the outlay would not be justifiable. It would be an unjust attempt to give value to that which was in itself valueless, by saddling a prosperous Province with the debts of a beggar. What we advocate is Financial Separation— North Island liability for North Island loans, and Middle Island liability for loans expended there. This kind of Separation is in the power of the Middle Island to effect, and to that our future effort muse be directed.