The Hawke's Bay Times, MONDAY, 6th AUGUST, 1866. THE SEPARATION DEBATE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 400, 6 August 1866, Page 2

The Hawke's Bay Times,

MONDAY, 6th AUGUST, 1866. THE SEPARATION DEBATE.

Published every Monday and Thursday. “NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI.”

Precisely in accordance with our anticipations as expressed in previous is-ues v of this journal, the great debate on the question of the disintegration of. the Colony, has terminated in the unmistakable decision of

the House of Representatives in favor of union. It was the first debate of importance that has occured during the session, and it hasj on the whole, tended to impart a feeling of confidence in the stability of the Stafford Ministry which has not hitherto existed. It has served to show that the Ministry is united upon a question of vital importance to, the Colony, and to elicit the first indication of a definite policy on the part of the Premier, and was to that extent a source of gratification to his friends. There was no wavering in the Ministerial ranks, even Col. Haultain whom the separation party, not unreasonably, calculated on voting with them, did not decompeers, but voted, we fear not much to the satisfaction of his constituency, against the resolutions of Mr. Whitaker. The Auckland people and press will perhaps feel very wroth at the result of the debate, and will doubtless indulge in loud expressions of vexation, at what they will consider a fresh instance of injustice to Auckland on the part of southern members, hut seriously they have no ground for complaint, as had they only been capable of regarding the matter in a spirit free from the influences of passion and prejudice, they could not have anticipated a result different from that which has been obtained. We plainly foresaw that a collision was inevitable between the extreme Southern and the Northern parties. The speech of Mr. Dick, and the amendment proposed by him, at the very commencement of the debate, fully proved the correctnes of that view. What is good for Auckland, Mr. Dick argues, is good for Otago, and may be goad for any or the whole of the other Provinces. Regardedinthis light Mr. Whitaker’s resolutions assume the aspect of a scheme to confer plenary powers of legislation upon the'Pro vincial Governments, while it reduces those of the General Government to a mere name, and this, too without its necessary accompaniment of a re-adjustment of the geographical boundaries of the Provinces. But Mr. Dick’s amendment’ was more likely to be favorably received by the house than tbe original resolutions of Mr. Whitaker, as indeed it was, although like them it was rejected by a large majority.. The Auckland members tell us that we have not yet heard the last of the separation movement, and further still, that we shall not hear the last of it until it shall have accomplished the end for which it has been organised, and they tell us plainly of their intention to bring it forward again and again session after session unto .the end. Well, be it so. The time is not far distant when some great constitutional changes are inevitable. For that time we must look, and be prepared to meet it, let us hope in the wisest possible manner it can be met, trusting that it will prove to bring about a closer union, as it gives fair promise of doing, rather than result in the disintegration of the Colony.