PROJECTED PROVINCIAL CHANGES.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1154, 10 April 1872, Page 2

PROJECTED PROVINCIAL CHANGES.

The Auckland correspondent of" .the,. Otago Daily Times, referring to the probability jot' changes being made in Provincial institutions, has the following remarks :-r- ......-., „,-.■-,--. ■■'-<•-^~' The announcement of a projectedr change in the Constitution has drawn' public attention to these points, and made thenrmore than -usually topics' of "corivgiP" sation. It .seeing ) pretty. ; well understood among politicians that' the present Govern- , ment will, not, attempt to < abolish < provincial institutions. Arguing on the;"supposition that their leading idea is ( to keep in office,' it would be suicidal on their parts to take over the departments now provided for by the Province, . but for the support of which taxation of > some kind must be levied next year., Taking over the Provincial revenue is easy, and [agree- • able enough, but taking with it !( the Provincial departments; would swell still more seriously the regular deficit of L 300,000 which the expenditure of the General Government already shows. The- conclusion iff, that these changes will be found to give further powers of taxation to Provincial Governments, so that upon them may be thrown the odium which would otherwise fall to the General Go vernmeut. But many think that the Government will propose, instead of any definite changes, to call a special convention to consider the Constitution. The reasons for this belief are the incompetency of a mixed body, such as the General Assembly, to debate With impartiality questions of such grave general interest, and the. party feelings and, tactics which would impede the free action of individual members. . ■•'■• . , „ , ,;■ „ ', I have given you the views one hears expressed by. various parties in Auckland.It is the existence of such views, and > the belief that great changes are imminent,, which 1 have stopped action on the resolution of the Council, requesting the Superintendent to arrange for concerted' measures with the. other Provinces. The strongest friends of Provincialism feel that to support it as it 'is will be impossible. Either it must be abolished, or its powers made,, in its own sphere, entirely independent. -!•,:•■■ .