The Hawke's Bay Times. THURSDAY, 20th DECEMBER, 1866. PROVINCIAL INDEPENDENCE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 448, 20 December 1866, Page 2

The Hawke's Bay Times.

THURSDAY, 20th DECEMBER, 1866. PROVINCIAL INDEPENDENCE.

PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY AND THURSDAY, “NULLIUS ADDICTUS JUEABE IN VEBBA MAGISTEI.”

Disappointed by the non-success of the Separation movement, and giving it up in despair, the extreme Southern party, headed by Mr Julius Vogel, are attempting the organisation of a new and kindred movement—one, too, that we venture to predict, will fare no better than that, though, by plausible arguments, its supporters may for a time succeed in gaining a body of adherents in the south of the Colony. The policy, as we have said, originated with Mr Julius Vogel, and, it seems, is approved of by many members of the Otago Provincial Council, who, in its support, bring forward the same arguments used by the old Separationists in support of the new policy of Provincial Independence, which will be best understood by referring to a series of resolutions which Mr Vogel moved in the Otago Provincial Council on the 28th ult.:—

That the course of events in the North Island during the last few years has had a tendency to injuriously affect the interest of the provinces of both islands; and this Council is of opinion that those events point to the necessity of endeavoring to secure the co-operation of the provinces generally towards giving effect to the folowing objects:— That the South Island should no longer interfere in native affairs.

That an equitable arrangement should be made with tho North Island provinces to undertake the cost and the responsibility of preserving law and order within their limits.

That there should be an appointment and adjustment of all existing liabilities; and that tho South Island should be released from further contribution towards native purposes. That tho present partnership account between the provinces and the colony should be dissolved, and the provinces be assured of a settled instead of an uncertain revenue. That the territorial revenue should be secured to the provinces. That the present oppressive tariff should be lightened.

The above we have called a policy of Provincial Independence, and its avowed object is to extend and strengthen the existing Provincial system ; but it is calculated to do muchmore than this if it should be adopted. It would, to all intents and purposes, be an extension of the old Separation policy, and, instead of two colonies, we should have as many as there are provinces. We can scarcely wonder that the southern parts of the Colony grumble at the burdens they have to bear through the disturbances we have suffered at the hands of the rebellious natives ; but if they would look at the question'from a more disinterested point of view, they would be glad that they have escaped the substantial evils the North has suffered, and that the whole of their share of the evils of the rebellion is comprised in the additional taxation rendered necessary; for we believe that now few indeed will be found to pretend that the war has been anything else than an evil to the North. Time was when much talk was made about fat contracts and war expenditure; but we will give our Southern neighbours credit for sense enough to see that these, such as they were, were and could be no set-off against desolated homesteads, and loss of human life. Will any be found to talk to widows and orphans deprived of their natural support, of the advantage of the war expenditure, or to the settler whose best years have passed during the struggle with the horde of rebels, and whose property has dwindled or been scattered to the winds, of the advantages it has conferred upon the North ? We think not. It is plain that we have all this to suffer, and our share of the cost to bear as well.

But apart from this, we see principles in the proposals of Mr Vogel entirely inconsistent with any other idea than that of Provincial separation—an idea that has only to

be mooted in order to be scouted. We allude particularly to that which refers to each province the cost and responsibility of preserving law and order within its own limits : to compare great things with small, it is as if a proposal should be brought before the Imperial Parliament that each county into which Great Britain is divided should maintain its own standing army, and be responsible for the suppresssion of all disturbances, riots, or rebellions that may arise within its own limits. We think that to state the case is quite enough to ensure its condemnation. There is another point which is also an insuperable difficulty, and that is the carrying out of the financial arrangements necessary to the scheme. Otago thinks to obtain for itself and the other southern provinces the whole of their territorial revenue, and also a certain sum from the general revenue of the Colony, while being released from all responsibility on native matters, as well as from all contributions to their support. We need not indicate what the working of such a scheme would be. It is quite sufficient that it is simply impracticable from the fact of the impossibility of the North ever being brought to agree thereto. It is as if in closing a partnership account one party should take all the liabilities of the concern, and the other the principal portion of the assets —an arrangement manifestly unfair, however advantageous it may be to the lucky partner who escaped from his liabilities, Native affairs are Colonial affairs, and the South is just as liable for their due administration as the North, and also for its share of the cost.