The Evening Star THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 4276, 9 November 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1876.

The Convention has met, and Mr Maoandrew's programme is before the country. We do not purpose analysing it, for to do so would be but a useless waste of time. It repeats all the statement* which Mr MacahSREW has made so often, that he appears to think them and the inferences he draws from them true, although many of his statements, perhaps literally correct, lead to an entirely opposite conclusion to that which he draws. from them. It matters little, however, whether they are true or false, for they relate only to the past, and the Convention has to deal with the future. Mr Macandbew seems to think it necessary to justify his action in inviting a Convention by stating that he considers himself Superintendent of Otago until the time expires for which he was elected. Few will coincide in that view; but if he holds it, he must also hold

that the Provincial Council ia not defunct. Why, then, did he not summon his Council instead of gathering together a new class of so-called representatives, some of whom are present in direct opp:sitiou to the wishes of the Councils or Committees of which they are members ? For instance, the Mayor of Dunedin gave the casting vote in his own bthalf, so also did the Mayor, of St. Kilda; the Mayor of Lawrence comes in direct opposition to his Council; Mr Robin, Cha-rraan of the Dunedin School Committee, ia direct opposition to the committee. Our object in drawing attention to this circumstance, is to show that so far from this Convention expressing the deliberate convictions of the people of Otago, it 13 a meeting of men who hold strong individual opinions on subjects that they would have done well to investigate thoroughly before mustering on what cannot but be regarded as a step bordering on insubordination. That wo are not drawing an unfair inference is plain from the fact that Mr Macanprew plainly says he will not submit to the law as it stands, bub will remain Superintendent although that office is abolished throughout New Zealand. The professed object of the Convention is to cure imaginary evils—for it is not a proved fact that any evil whatever will result from the Abolition of Provincialism. When, therefore, we have Mr Be Lao-tour, Mr Stout, and Mr Macandrew vaporing about evils to come, they are really battling with ghosts of their own raising, and thus wi'l their arguments be esteemed should their complaii-ts over reach the Imperial Government. On this point, too, wo may have a word or two to say; for by appealing to the Home Government we abandon the position we have hitherto proudly held in hew Zealand, that the Colony has the right to manure its own affairs, irrespective of t>e British Government. As tho evils predicted are ideal, the remedy proposed is rash. The Convention is asked to take steps to constitute Otago a separate Colony. Very imaginary figures are blazoned before our eyes to show that the revenue of Otago is sufficient to justify such a step, and still more imaginary results are painted to inflame our cupidity and to lead us to suppose that wo are so independent of the reßt of New Zealand that they are to stand Btill and see Otago absorb all the trade and wealth, and that its inhabitants, shut up in a sort ef happy valley, are to prosper whether tho rest of the Colony sinks or swims. This is very much like gold-miners, who see fortune iu a new rush, about the riches of wLich they have heard, but to the difficulties of which they close their eyes. When Victoria or Queensland are cited as examples of the value of Separation, it should be among other things, that the evils remedied were known a;id felt -they wer<3 not m;-rely imaginary : ike those the Convention ia called upon to exorcise. Moreover, it w<is equally to the advantage of New South Wales to be rid of those colonies as it was to them to be independent. There is no parallelism in the cases. If it is to the advantage of the rest of New Zealand to be united with Otago, it is of-vital importance t > Otago to be united with New Zealand. Mr Macandrew has amazing facility for dragging in instances to aid his fertile brain. He has discovered now that Auckland is equally interested in Separation with Otago. Is it possible that human ingenuity can go further in absurdity ? Auckland is a standing proof of the inefficiency of Provincialism. Its condition has been that of bankruptcy for more than a decade, and that took place under Provincial administration. It is not possible to select a more complete refutation of Mr Macandrew's theories than is presented by the condition of I Auckland. Had separation taken place ' ten years ago> when Mr Macandrew was lukewarm, on the subject, it might have saved Otago tens of thousands that have been wasted. We regard those tens of thousands as an investment which our trade with Auckland should recoup, and which it no doubt will if the Colony remains intact. To separate nOw is the height of folly. It opens the/ way to restriction of trade, duties.levelled specially at Otago, intense local jealousies, and a blow at those commercial advantages that thu3 far we-have possessed, and which so many rivals are eagerly waiting to deprive ug of. We should like the members of the Convention especially to remember that while the evils complained of are imaginary, the evil they would inflict as a remedy would be real and abiding. It is not owing to Provincialism that Otago has prospered during tho last five years. Provincialism was powerless for good when Mr Macandrrw allied himself with the General Government, and . its aid brought prosperity. It may suit him .to kick the ladder down, on which he climbed to -influence; but the people who reaped the benefit should not forget the power that gave it. So long as his course of action/tended to benefit Otago, we supported him to the best of our ability. That he should have run off the rails is much to be regretted; for'while unity is strength and prosperity, isolation is ruin.