The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1889 A Dominion

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 64, 16 November 1889, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1889 A Dominion

The anxiety displayed by New South Wales to have New Zealand joiu iv the movement in favor of the establishment of a Dominion to include the whole of the Australian colonies, may be accepted as a convincing proof that New Zealand is no longer looked upon as a " poor relation," but is instead of such importance as to make her alliance worthy of being sought after, and her friendship cultivated. This fact gives New Zealand a certain advantage because should her Government decide to. consider the proposals of Sir Henry Parkes with the ulterior view- of adopting them, terms of modification may be dictated by, instead of to, New Zealand as would be the case were she the weaker colony. We will not at this juncture consider the bearing Freetrade v. Protection, Consolidation of Loans, and other matters of detail may have, but will merely touch upon the question of whether the several colonies will secure the services of good representative men in a Dominion Parliament. Experience is our only guide, and in this, as in other matters, we may be permitted to take the past political history of our own Colony to assist us in forecasting what may happen. In the days of the Superintendents the Provincial Councils were looked upon us excellent schools in which to educate men to fulfil public duties and fit them for a higher position as members of the General Assembly or Legisla* tive Council, and this faith was amply justified in the fact that the General Assembly of New Zealand was, at that time, esteemed in Great Britain, and the colonies, as the model Parliament of the world. It was thought, by the wiseacres of the day, that if Provincial Councils were abolished, among other unrealised ideas, the electors would then have a still greater number of educated -and.experienced gentlemen to choose from as their representatives, and that, therefore, the moral and intellectual status of members would be still fur ther raised. Need we say how little these ideas have been realised. In place of selecting the best ineu wh • have offered themselves, the electors have, in too many instances, supported the wor e candidate in order 10 insure the defeat of the better one, while men confidently compete for Parliamentary honors who, in the days of Proviucialistn, would have trembled at their own audacity had they dared such an enterprise, yet these are the men an enlightened people now seem to prefer. With such memories to warn us we feel justified in dreading that the more we centralise the worse we may be represented. Although we reluctantly admit our General Assembly is lowered in tone, yet the Assemblies of the Bister colonies are ev.eu worse, although that can be no satisfaction to us. The only conclusion we can arrive at is that if our present system of representation were abolished and a Dominion Parliament set up instead, by the consequent diminution of the numbers of capable and fit gentlemen who would be prepared to undergo the expense and humiliations of contested elections against unworthy opponents, the successful candidates would probably be of such character as would make the Dominion rarliainent the grief or laughing stock of the whole civilised world. We in New Zealand have " Home Rule" now in the best and fullest meaning of the term, and let us stick to it until we aro offered- something better, and we know the thing tendered is what it purports to be. As a rule all " fads " emanating from doctrinaires, iike Sir Henry Parkes, are to be looked upon with extreme suspicion, and we trust before New Zealand is committed in any way the fullest enquiry will be made as to the possible results, whether for good or evil.