The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1875.

Evening Star, Issue 3948, 20 October 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1875.

1 HE labors of the session and of Parliament will be brought to a close to-mor-row, and before many months the country will be USI-wT d to elect new members or re-ekct tho old. If the character of the retiring Parliament depended solely upon the work of the closing session, it would stand forth prominently in the history of New Zealand as having been remarkable for bold and successful legislation. On the whole the members have fulfilled faithfully their duties to their constituents. When elected they were expected to inaugurate and support a bold and original policy. Tiled of unsuccessfully travelling in the beaten track of treating a Native race with injustice until tiny rose in rebellion, and then punishing them with fire and sword to reduce them to submission, tho last Parliament placed a Ministry in power whose policy was that of peace and industry. Very chary weie lion, members in according their support. The sword had many adherents. They pointed to what it had done throughout the world’s history : how it had made and unmade nations, asserted the claims of justice, enforced law, and overawed rebellions. They said, “Peace could point to no victories ; that to advocate it ui the face of a discontented race was to invite rebellion ; that it was tho subterfuge of cowards and mercenary money-grubbers, who did not like the cost of war ; and that to adopt it as a policy was mean, dastar.lly, and degrading.” As parliaments are made up of men, whose passions am excited by means similar to those which operate upon their fellows outside, it is saying much for them that they proved tiieir courage by refusing to be goaded into rash and erratic policy by such taunts. They could fairly say, “ Wo have tried the sword and we have conquered acres, but the men were lied. We must now defend our rentless property, although to do so will cost us more than it is worth. Peace is an untried power—let ns try it. It is time to take up the sword when it proves a failure.” The policy placed before the country at the last election was llioretbre “ war and ruin, or peace and prosperity.” 'Die country chose the latter, and sent members to support and develop the movement. On the whole, they have been faithful to their trust. Among them are weak, ignorant, and foolish men. It is not necessary to search far from the Olutha or trorn Bruce to find samples ol them ; but the majority have loyally conceded support to those wdio originated and marked onto

the policy of peace. It might v have suited the personal interests of the Ministry of to-day to have re- a peated the tactics adopted at the close \ of the last Parliament and to have ‘ asked the country's opinion regarding * the abolition of Provincialism. it ‘ would have relieved them from a grave responsibility anc flattered the constituencies. On many gi’oimds it is very ‘ much betto-r that this has not been | done. The question has been two ses- | sions before the country, and therefore i the electors have had twelve months in which to make up their minds on the subject. As a mass, they neither petitioned nor moved in the matter, but while a noisy Opposition has been using all means, fair and foul—even to # ' p trying to damage the personal reputation of Ministers —to preserve institutions, that in all except two instances have proved hindrances rather than helps to progress, the country looked on just as spectators used to do at a prize-light. The first few rounds told how the battle would go, and their backers on both sides left them to themselves. The main question decided, and abolition determined upon, the way is cleared for the next election. Many who sat in the expiring Parliament may not be again returned, but it is hardly likely that any very serious change will take place. Wc have among us enthusiasts who fancy that what is done will be reversed. They live in a Province in which it is imagined Provincialism has been proved the best form of government. We admit, with gladness, that its working under intelligent supervision is evinced in its most favorable aspect in Otago and Canterbury ; but we think it quite capable of proof that the success must be attributed more to the accident of having had able Superintendents than to any inherent excellence in Provincial Governments ns they were. Wo may even go further and say that, although much has been done, and some of it well done, reasons could be given that would convince the majority of impartial men that much more might have been done, and some of it better done, with equal means under one good representative Government. Wo know Mr Macanduew thinks not; but he is charitable and forgets, in his Provincialistic erthusiasm, what he has had to contend against. We do not, for we have had to bear a full share of the labor of supporting him in his administration, and shall have to bear the resentment of those who coincide with his views; but our conviction is that, while through his self-sacrificing efforts for the good of the Province, its affairs have been conducted so as to conduce to its prosperity, in less able hands Provincialism in Otago would have proved as great a failure as in Auckland or Wellington.