THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE MINISTERIAL POLICY.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 393, 12 July 1866, Page 1

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE MINISTERIAL POLICY.

(From the Hawke’s Bay Times, 21st June.) The recent modifications in the construction of the Ministry, occasioned by the incorporation into it of the new Postmaster-General, Mr Paterson, and Colonial Treasurer, Mr Jollie, together with the fact of the near approach of the session, lends a great degree of interest to the consideration of the probable nature of the policy likely to be proposed for the adoption of the House by the Colonial Secretary, Mr Stafford. Apart from the Finance Question, which it must be admitted is of the first importance, there are others scarcely second to it upon which as much difference of opinion will be found to exist, and which will in consequence give rise to grave discussion. ' That we propose now to consider is tbe Constitution Amendment, or the modification of the existing relations between the General and Provincial Governments—a question that must be considered during the session, and one that promises more than usual work and anxiety for Ministers and representatives. Since we last referred to this matter, a great change has come over its aspect. Then the Separatfionists proper had, or professed to have, some hope of seeing their favorite scheme of disruption accomplished; now they have no such hope, and for all practical purposes we may consider that party as nonexistent. But yet there are several distinct policies before the Colony, and, strange as it may seem, these have each their representative in the Ministry, which we fear will, in consequence of this, find a difficulty in agreeing to any that shall satisfy the whole; while, on the other hand, if they should so agree, there will be the strongest possible guarantee that such policy will he accepted by the House and the Colony. We have first Sir Stafford himself, who comes before us as the champioa of the Centralist Policy, who, by his New Provinces Act, aimed and struck the first and, as it has proved, fatal blow to the Provincial system. His antecedents at least would not lead us to expect that he will be a party to the policy that reverses this; and by annihilating the smaller Provinces, give an increase of power and influence to a few larger ones, which is the policy of fhe Post-master-General, as enunciated before his constituents on the hustings at Otago. This antagonism we might think enough for the Ministry ; but it is not all. In the person of Mr Jollie, another discordant element is introduced. The policy he has propounded is the entire destruction of the present Provincial system, and the division of the Colony into a number ,of small geographical parts, to bear the character of counties, or something similar, with a machinery for the purpose of self-government on putely local matters, reserving in the hands of a strong Central Government all the Government proper of the Colony. We cannot suppose that these gentlemen have joined with Mr Stafford in constitutipg the Ministry without understanding and approving of his intentions regarding this important question ; neither are we at liberty to assume that they, dr either of them, are-

prepared to renounce opinions publicly expressed, and aid in carrying out of principles the opposite of those with which they have Identified themselves. The position is a very extraordinary one, to say the least, and what the nature of the proposed constitutional change will be it is hard to conjecture. ' . f