The Globe. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1875.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 433, 2 November 1875, Page 2

The Globe. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1875.

Although we have already remarked upon the speeches delivered at the Clutha banquet, it may not be out of place, before taking leave of the subject, to refer to the'.Dunedin gathering which preceded it. We believe we speak the mind of friend and foe alike, when we say that the speeches delivered on that occasion also have been read with feelings of deep disappointment all over the colony, i eople naturally looked forward with some anxiety to the expected exposition of the future policy of the Opposition, But no declaration whatever of united action was vouchsafed. Mr Macandrew, indeed, dropped a hint in favour of separation, but it was but a hint, and his views on the subject are evidently not in accord with those of some of his fellow Superintendents, for Sir George Grey was at some pains to impress it upon his listeners that one of the objects of the meeting was to give the lie to those who said that the supporters of provincial institutions were against making New Zealand a united colony. The truth appears to be that the Opposition have no policy to announce. They have nothing in common except their desire to oppose Abolition. The moment they attempt to frame a programme, they cease to think in unison. They, therefore, wisely determined, for their own sakes, to confine their utterances to vague generalities, and to the enunciation of self-evident truths. But they might have spared themselves the trouble and expense of going all the way to Dunedin to tell the colony what no oue disbelieves. No one will deny that provincialism has been of great service to the colony ; that it has aided in developing its resources in days gone bye, when the means of communication between its various ports was confined to a few sailing craft, or : to a slow steamer or two. But circumstances have altered since them. Now we have railways and telegraphs and powerful steamers. Our means of communication are so rapid, that it is easier now to administer the affairs of the entire colony from one centre than it once was to administer the affairs of a province from its local capital. Nor need we refer here at length to the many arguments which we have from time to time used to show that Provincialism has ceased to be anything but an empty form. The colony has made up its mind on one point, and that is that a change of some sort is required. There may have been a difference of opinion about the propriety of consulting the constituencies, but there is none whatever regarding the main question. The colonyhas resolvedthat Provincialism as it at present exists, cannot longer be permitted to continue, —and, unless the Opposition are prepared to offer something better than the measures which have just passed into law, they had far better abandon their stumping tour, and remain quietly at home. It was pleasant enough no doubt for the guests assembled at the Dunedin banquet to listen to the eloquent utterances of Sir George Grey regarding the great resources of New Zealand, and they were no doubt highly amused with those expressions of mutual admiration, and self-laudation in which the speakers so largely indulged. They were told that they were gathered there that night “ to make history “ to listen to arguments which were to “ induce them to determine in what “ way they would shape the future “ history of New Zealand and so on in an interminable flow of high pitched periods. f But when we look for those arguments which were to have such an important bearing upon the future history of the colony, we search in vain. Mr Macandrew indeed tells us that “ Under the peculiar circumstances of “ the case, and in the very nature of “ things, New Zealand can never be- “ come a great and united colony “ unless it is based upon provincial sen- “ timent.” But he takes care not to enter largely upon an exposition of this so-called self-evident proposition. On the other hand, any number of peculiar circumstances have been adduced to show that the time has arrived for abolishing the provinces. History has been appealed to, to show that community of interest is essential to the progress of a nation, and it has been shown again and again, that Provincialism tends to create petty local jealousies, and local interests, eminently injurious to those of the colony at large. On one point we agree with Mr Macandrew, when he says that one of the great problems which the colony will be called upon to solve, is how to gain the mastery over its finances. This no doubt is the question of the day. But we, and we believe the majority of the people of the colony, do

not agree with Mr Macandrew in the' manner of its solution. Ho looks to the provinces to keep the colonial expenditure in check. We, on the other hand, regard the provinces as the fruitful source of all our financial extravagance. It is a matter of history that the demands of the provinces have been at the bottom of a large amount of our over-expenditure. Oue Colonial Treasurer after another has stood up in his place in the House and denounced them as the chief cause of his difficultiesand it has been for those very reasons, that the colony has ablast determined to sweep away the, provinces altogether.