PROVINCIAL INDEPENDENCE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 454, 27 December 1866, Page 2

PROVINCIAL INDEPENDENCE.

(From tbe Ilawko’a Bay Times, 20th December.) Disappointed by the non-success of the Separation movement, and giving it up in despair, the extreme Southern party, headed by Mr Julius Yogel, 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 Peoyinciai. 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 Ndrth 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 inter-* fere in native affairs. ' y That an equitable arrangement should be made with the 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 5 and that the ;South Island should be released from further contribution towards native purposes. That the 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 aa extension of the old Separation policy, and, instead of two colonies, wo should have as many as there are provinces. We can scarcely wonder that the southern parts of tho 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 he 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 he 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 tins, 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 he mooted in order to he 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 he 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 rebellious 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 he. 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.

SUPPLY OP DRINK TO THE NATIVES, (Prom the Hawke's Bay Times, 21th December.) The practice of supplying alcoholic liquors to the natives seems to he now carried on without any fear of the enforcement of a penalty ; and we are sorry to see that the vice of drunkenness has become almost universal amongst them. Tho scene on Saturday evening on the beach, during the shipment of the prisoners, was something very shocking, combining the worst effects of drink, such as swearing, &c. There seemed to be but few of the Maori spectators who were not the worse for liquor; and we are sorry to add that this was by no means an exceptional state of matters, —drunken Maories being to be met with every day. We observe that an enforcement of the ordinance against supplying intoxicating drink to natives has recently occurred in a neighboring province, and we believe it would be well for those in Hawke’s Bay who have the interest of the Maoris so much at heart, to stay the progress of the fearful vice amongst them by bringing the said ordinance to bear on offenders. We have always regarded the law for protecting the native race from the liquor seller, and the evils of intoxication, as one of the wisest in the Statute Book, and with sorrow we have noted the manner in which its violation is permitted. Apart from the rapid extinction of the race that alcohol is effecting, there is the moral effect of the practice on the native mind, and this of the worst possible character. The native knows of the existence of the law, and of the impunity that follows its constant and systematic violation ; and, instead of that regard for law that should be implanted in his mind, he acquires a contempt for all law, and sees no reason why any other should be regarded more than this. He has been taught already that extensive combinations and powerful interests may successfully dety, and eventually overpower the law, and arrives at the conclusion that to obey or rebel is a mere matter of choice, and of no serious consequence ; but a conviction or two of those who supplies him with intoxicating liquors would tend to set him right.