THE Grey River Argus. TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1869.

Grey River Argus, Volume VII, Issue 464, 5 January 1869, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1869.

The demonstrations made in the General Assembly last session against Provincialism were, something more than a portion of the tactics of party warfare. What the advocates for Provincial institutions refused to admit or pretended they could not see has become no longer dubious to the narrowest understanding. The voices raised in the Assembly for the abolition of Provincial Governments and the establishment of a popular system of real local self-government, were but the echoes of the public feeling — a feeling which is spreading and growing in intensity every day. It is quite true, as it amused the Opposition to say, that the Government was not able last session to carry any of its political Bills, especially those that were measures providing against the time ; when the structure of Provincialism would tumble down. But the fruits of ' the victory which the Country party won are being seen now in almost every part of New Zealand, and will be seen in the results of the next general election ; whenever that may come oft". From one end of the Colony to the other the people are crying out for the abolish- | ment of Provincial Governments aud j the substitution of some simpler and ]

cheaper form, that will also give more local power to the inhabitants, And we do not hesitate to say that should the iiew "Westland Act be found to work satisfactorily there will be scores of petitions nest session praying for the extension of similar privileges to other districts, Auckland, Wellington, Marlborough, Southland, Otago, Canterbury, and Nelson, are all likely to be cut lip into Counties or other districts endowed with powers of local self-government. The people of Aucklaud are almost unanimous against the continuance of the Provincial system in that Province, and this feeling is strongest amongst the mining population, Jn the Province of Wellington, its most important country districts petitioned last year to be separated from the parent Province, aud will assuredly obtain their wishes next session, the more probably because the Provincial Government of Welliugton is nearly hopelessly bankrupt. Marlborough is even now a Province only oil sufferance, and is dependent upon the charity of the Government for the maintenance of its necessary establishments. In Southland, the Provincial Council themselves have i*ecently passed a Bill abolishing the Executive Council and making the Superintendent something more than an ornamental Head. The Superintendent and a permanent Treasurer are to do all the departmental work. This is an arrangement closely approaching that in Westland, and we should not be surprised to see the Southland Council go further in this direction and reduce the number of its members. Tiniaru, one of the richest districts in the Province of Canterbury ia certain to separate. So strongly opposed are the inhabitants of this district to Provincialism that they have refused to elect a member for the Provincial Council, Even within the Provincial Chambers the warning voice has been raised, and we should not be surprised to hear that the people of Christchurcb, like those of Dunedin, have declared for the abolition of Provincial Governments. The most surprising and important symptom is she almost genera* oUGcry~in Otago, the very hotbed,-anti-lately, of Provincialism. The complaints of the country districts are not new, for they have been heard ever since they could make themselves heard. But it is strange that the inhabitants of the city of Dunedin who have returned to the Assembly such men as Yogel and Reynolds, and have derived the lion's share of Provincial expenditure, should openly in public meeting declare for the abolishment of Provincial institutions. Not only has this been the case, but the whole press of the Province, with one or two solitary exceptions, is unanimous in calling out for a better system of government. The city of Nelson has just returned a member to the House of Representatives pledged to vote against the Provincial party, and the sympathies of Mr Curtis are in the same direction. The other day, at Westport, the Chairman of the Progress Committee there brought the subject of separation from Nelson and the formation of a County before the Committee, ■which was well received. The local paper is talcing the matter up, and its columns teem with letters on the subject, nearly all in favor of following the example of Westlaud. Should our neighbors only prosecute their movement vigorously, there is little, if any, doubt of their obtaining their wishes next session. The success of this aud many other movements in favor of local government will depend considerably on the manner in which the new Westland Act is worked. Should a few months' experience pi*ove the soundness of the principles upon, which the Act is based, aud the capacity of the people to administer their own affairs, we may expect to see the example largely followed. Let us hope that in spite of all difficulties Westland will come well and honorably out of the trial.