The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 614, 25 September 1858, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times.

Saturday, September 25. We cannot agree with those who look upon the Waste Lands Act of 1858. as indicating an intention of upsetting the due control of the provinces over the revenue arising from, and the management of, the Waste Lands within their boundaries. While asserting the intention of New Zealand to keep faith with the Imperial Government by fulfilling the spirit of the contract entered into when the guarantee for the £500,000 loan was granted, the General

Assembly has guarded the just rights of the province, and placed theni on fuch a basis as to make them secure whflo public faith is left in the 2 Wfe served rights of interference on "tl le part 'f the Governor can manifestly only be excised when there is good, ground for fear ing that our credit is at stake; and it must be remembered that his Excellency's Go vernment is one responsible for its acts to the representatives of the people; The revenue which till now was only guaranteed to us by resolution of the House of Representatives is now confirmed to us by act The delegation of the Governor's powers' by the Waste Lands Act is full and complete. We cannot see that 'the thin end of the wedge' so much spoken of has been introduced. The provinces are safe if the'pe is, as we have no doubt there is, good faith in the colony,- if there is not, no act would make us more safe. This was the opinion of the majority of the General Assembly. In passing this act the General Assembly was, as it appears to us, guided by a sense of honor. Liberally as the Imperial Parliament has treated New Zealand, it, would ill become us to try how far we can! go on putting off the just demands of the'; Home Government for security according! to contract. We have no doubt of the in- \ tention of the Home Government in disallowing the act of 1856", and we confess ourselves nnableto understand how that intention can be deemed favorable to unchequed provincial control. The despatch accompanying the disallowance of the act of 1856, and the Loan Act of the Imperial Parliament, appear to us conclusive on this subject.

The more scrupulous the faith kept with the Imperial Government the better is our guarantee for good faith being- kept towards the provinces. The proposal of reserving; provincial law s for her. Majesty's assent involves a change in the Constitution Act, for it is manifest that, as it now stands, such a. reservation would be impossible. Supposing an alteration made in the Constitution Act, there is little doubt but that the arrrival in England of the the first Provincial Act affecting the Waste Lands for her Majesty's assent-, would be followed by a remonstrance on the part of the Imperial Government; possibly by remarks in Parliament damaging to our credit.

Many of our friends are crying out before they are hurt. No injury is done us ; we cannot think that any is intended. The provinces are in as good a position now to defend themselves from unjust aggression as they were before the Act was passed ; and we shall not be the less backward to assert our rights under the adjustment of 1856, because we are now satisfied to see the contract with the Imperial Parliament fully carried out both in letter and spirit.