HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 151, 4 December 1863, Page 6 (Supplement)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

REMOVAL OF SEAT OF GOVERNMENT. Mr. Domett moved the following resolutions : 1. " That it has become necessary that the seat of Government of the Colony of

New Zealand should be transferred to some suitable locality in Cook’s Straits. 2. “ That in order to promote the accomplishment of this object, it is desirable that the selection of the particular site in Cook’s Stniits should be left to the arbitrament of au impartial tribunal.

3. “ That with this view a Bill should be introduced to give effect to the above resolutions.”

—He had no desire to raise any argument on the general question, which had been so often discussed by the House. He wouM merely state why he had proposed the resolutions at this time. The rapid increase of the Southern Island in wealth and population had given them such a preponderance of power, that their feelings on this subject demanded attention, otherwise there would be no possibility of preventing them from using every exertion to secure separation, than which he considered no greater evil could fall on the Colony. [Hear, hear.] The most cursory reader of history must be familiar with those evils and misfortunes which have resulted from separate interests among the different parts of a state. As an example from ancient history he would refer to the States of Greece, which notwithstanding the great privileges and advantages enjoyed by them, were ultimately subverted and ruined by being split into several states. Another illustration from modern history was supplied by the Italian States, the internal disseution and want of union of these states liad brought upon them a continued series of misfortunes. The German empire was another example, having never assumed that position of influence amongst the countries of Europe to which it was entitled, owing to its being cut up into a number of petty states. The worst evil that could possibly befall the Colony would be separation. He had always been a strong supporter of the New Provinces Act, because he considered that by bringing the different Provinces into the position of counties, it would tend to promote the union of the Colony. He did not regard a merely federal union as calculated to confer real greatness on a country —[Hear, hear] : —mere external tacking together of states, termed a federation could noteffect theobject ofestablishinga great and united country. He need scarcely cite America as an illustration of this point. The time had arrived in the history of this country when it was necessary to settle the question of the centralization of the seat of government, and several members had determined to attempt the settlement of this matter. It had been generally agreed that centralization was needed, but when it came to the question of where the seat of government should be, Auckland had always been able to carry it; but the Southern settlements would in a short time, become so strong as to be in a positiofi to have their own way, whether right or wrong. He would ask leave to withdraw the third resolution, and it had been suggested that the object could be best attained by an address to Her Majesty.

Dir. Colenso said lie rose early in the debate to speak to the motion, from his believing that the provinces, being immediately interested, could not possibly act impartially in this matter, and, therefore, the small provinces, Avhich were not immediately nor greatly interested, should do so. The one thing which he deplored above all others, as being the greatest possible evil which could happen to the colony, was separation. He wished to see the seat of Government so centrally situated as to keep the colony one and undivided, [Hear, hear]. The hon. member for the city of Nelson (Mr. Domett) had stated in his notice of motion on the order paper, “ That it has become necessary that the seat of Government of the Colony of New Zealand should be transferred to some suitable locality in Cook's Straits,” hut he had not shown it to be “ necessary.” Why was it “ become necessary,” He still hoped some hon. member, who intended to support the motion, would be able to show this. At the same time, he hoped no hon. member would any longer attempt to show the necessity of the removal of the seat of Government from the mere fact of its being geographically central; for that argument (such as it was) had been completely set aside last year, when in session at Wellington. On that occasion he had gone over tlie maps in his library, to re-furbish up bis memory, and had found that seven-tenths, or even eight-tenths of the chief towns of the nations of the earth, were not geographically central. [Hear, hear]. He therefore looked on the necessity of the seat of Government being geographically central, as a mere fiction. He had listened with attention and delight to what the hon. member for the city of Nelson had said about the states of ancient Greece, of Italy, and of

the Germanic Confederation ; but he drew the very opposite inference from the real historical facts. From the session of last year to the present time he had often thought on this subject—the removal of the seat of Government to Cook’s Straits, —knowing it would again be brought before the house, — and the only conclusion he could arrive at was this, that such a step would both cause and hasten separation. [Hear]. In his so speaking, he hoped no hon. member would charge him with partiality for Auckland ; for it so happened, he had neither friends, nor relations, nor interests, in Auckland. What they really wanted for the Seat of Government was, not a centre geographically, but a real, preponderating influential, centre —a centre of gravity, if he might so speak, for the colony. [Hear, hear]. And this, he believed, they already had in Auckland. At all events, it could not be denied, that at present there were but two great foci, Otago and Auckland —one of which must be the seat of government. [Hear]. Of course, other foci might hereafter be found. Upwards of 25 years ago, when he first found, in his wanderings through the Northern Island, two bones of the moa, a femur and a tibia, he recollected what Cuvier had written on the cassowary, and he came also to the conclusion that the moa must be wingless. That great French zoologist had said no power in nature could give wings to such a hea-vy-bodied bird, as to enable it to fly. Here, however, the contrary was the case—the immense wings, or rather the pinions, would prove vastly too heavy to be of any service to so light a body. [Hear and laughter]. And what would be the sure, the inevitable result, of this motion being carried out, they would yet find it to be very much more costly. For, supposing the seat of Government removed to Cook’s Straits, could any hon. member really believe that the rich and large Province of Otago would long be content with any such arrangement —especially if she continue to go a-head as she has done for the last two years,—and could Auckland be supposed to be long content, rapidly growing as she is, if the seat of Government were removed from her to Cook’s Straits—to Wellington? [Hear], No. Let once the seat of Government be removed to Cook’s Straits and then the two great and rapidly-increas-ing provinces of the colonv, being dissatisfied, would be sure to seek separation, He thought it should not be entirely forgotten that the first seat of Government was at Russell, in the Bay of Islands, and when it was removed thence, the coast of New Zealand was well-known, ami the site on the Thames, was deliberately chosen ; and when 1m looked at that site, and considered its great advantages—with its noble harbor, or harbors, in the Frith, on the East coast, and its harbour of Mauukau, on the West, commanding both oceans, —so that if it ever should be blockaded by a hostile fleet on the one side, it was open on the other, —he could not but conclude that the site for the seat of government Avas judiciously chosen, and there was not ts equal in the whole colony. [Hear.] Seeing, then, that no real necessity had been shewn, and ever, as a plain, practical Englishman, hating change, unless such change was beneficial, he should vole against the motion, and hoped the House would not affirm it. The hon. member for Cheviot had said the present seat of government was at “ the northern extremity of the islands,” [and this assertion he had also heard on former occasions from other hon. members], but surely they were not speaking seriously ? Such was contrary to fact. There was nearly one-third (longitudinally) of the Northern Island, lying north of Auckland—[hear] —out of which one, if not two, provinces might hereafter be made—a large tract of country abounding in excellent harbours. There was the Bay of Islands, only waiting for population ; aun there was Mongonui, rapidly developing. And he could also state, from what he personally knew of the geology of the North, that, if gold existed in the northern part of Auckland Province, he believed it did so in the neighbourhood of the North Cape. There was a word, or phrase, which he had sometimes heard used ; a word which he did not like, nevertheless, he could not help thinking that Auckland might, in this case, very properly use it; —it was “ vested rights.” Certainly, Auckland had no slight, no common claim to make use of this word. Some hon, members might recollect something published in the Gazette of the Colony some 20 years ago—an old Imperial proclamation —to the effect that Her Majesty the Queen had selected, or approved of, the town of Auckland being the capital of the colony. [Hear, hear.] That was au histrical ofact. That early raised the price of lands &e., at Auckland ; that caused money to be invest-

ed to a large extent, relying on its integrity The motion of the hon member for the city of Nelson also spoke of the in Cook’s Straits for a seat of government being left to an “ impartial tribunalbut he should like to know where such an impartial tribunal, fit and able to decide on such a question as this, was to be found? He did not believe auy such existed. Certainly not in this Colony, nor in the Australian Colonies, nor in the southern hemisphere. [Hear.] He had indeed heard, out of doors, that the Governors of three of the Australian Colonies were to be applied to to fix the spot; but he felt certain that they could not do it rightly and impartially. They knew nothing, really and practically, of the question. And then, while one Goveonor, through friends at Nelson, might favour Nelson, another, through friends at Wellington, might favour Wellington, another Picton, and so on. Nothing would be gained by such a scheme, but much dissatisfaction. [Hear.] No dgubt, they all remembered Canada, and her (at least) two rival cities for the seat of government; —in that case it was left to her Majesty the Queen of England, who selected Ottawa, but of, course, failed to please. Should this motion be now unfortunately carried, he knew of no other impartial tribunal to which to refer it but the Grown —the Queen of England. After all, he could not help thinking, that hon. members, in bringing this subject forward every session—(“ spasmodically,” he might say, to borrow a phrase)—did so without much consideration; for the facts were these, which could not be denied—that steam (increasing rapidly every day on all our coasts) or the electric telegraph, (for which a heavy amount of money was now about to be voted) would bring the seat of government whereever it may be, into close and immediate connexion with all the provinces and outlying districts of the colony; and, therefore, there could not be any necessity for removing the seat of government from Auckland, its present site, already chosen by the Queen, and made known by Imperial proclamation. [Hear.] In short, it was his opinion, nay his firm belief, that if the House affirmed this motion, and the seat of government should be removed to Cook’s Straits, it would inevitably prove to be the insertion of the thin end of the wedge, which would certainly cause separation. [Hear, hear.] [Mr. Domett’s resolutions were ultimately carried in a thin house, many members who would have voted against them being absent.]