SEPARATIST POLICY

Hokitika Guardian, 30 January 1924, Page 3

SEPARATIST POLICY

PRGKI) BY THE MAYOR OF CURISTCHI RCII. [HV Tia.K'lllAl’lI —l-l-.K i-RKsS ASSOCIATION. I CTII’iSTCHFIMTI, Jauuarv 29. It was suggested by the Mayor Mr .). A. Flc-lior). during a discussion at a meeting o| the City Council hist i:ig 1 1 1, 11 1 :t the time had arrived when the South Island should make an ellurt to throw oil' the political domination of tile North, and receive greater freedom to develop its own atlaii-s. In amplification ol that suggestion. Hu- Mayor stated to-day that he was more than ever convinced that some constitutional i h.-inge was required, in the interests ot lue South Island. “With the growth of the population is the North Island,” lie -aid. "It ifpiilc evident that the South Maud in future will be a very siiborbiuate lactor ill tin- general ad min-1 rat ion mi tbc a Hairs of the Dominion. We are bound to -tiller by tla- preponderance in the New Zealand Pni'ilitltieiit ol the North Island iix-inbers. and while we so lied down and lettered by N-uili Island doiuinalion. v.c m the South 1 land will n.-vei bate Hie right >“ diclop (Mil own iv(-in' c.. tor Hi--of our o\\" • oinmnnii - tic- no" quite citdeiit, from ' , !,l i that the rent 1 1 t "■ 1 1 ! "' used a-a. I - ’ll' ''‘ lb '•"!'! be' u d">" illation. I.i I■ I[ Ha : I'O” ol tin- Nor' b lb.. . •• o ■ ‘lt' l lowed to develop our own natural resource* and advantages for the benefit of our own people. Here, in ..Canterbury for example, we have an abundant supply of potential water power, mid \w r<* not al!o\v<*»! to it. simply Localise it would conflict with the general policy of the Government, ft simply means that we are penalised '>> reason of our situation and lack ot voting strength in the New Zealand Parliament. I am firmly convinced that a return to the lonm-r provincial form of Governmenl, or some other modification of the constitution, g'vthe South Island greater freedom, is''required if the South Island is to have ally chance of developing adequatelv in tut lire.