SUPERINTENDENT'S MANIFESTO TO THE PEOPLE OF OTAGO

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 351, 26 November 1875, Page 3

SUPERINTENDENT'S MANIFESTO TO THE PEOPLE OF OTAGO

[Condensed.] It cannot, T presume, he denied that, considering the extent ol its territory, the short period of its existence, and the .comparatively'small handful of its popula tion, the progress of Otago hitherto has been perfectly marvellous, all the more so looking at the fact that it has contributed upwards of two millions ol money to the Colonial chest, in respect of which there has not been one small sixpence of value received. Just lar.cy to yourselves what this sum might have accomplished had it been expended in developing the resources of the. Province.

Nothing can more forcibly illustrate the progress of Otago, with a quarter of a century ago was an unpeopled wilderness, than the -fact that of the thirty-two colonies of Great Britain no less than twentyeight are inferior to this Province in. respect of the amount of its public revenue and the extent of its commerce.

How far our past progress is to be attributed to the action of the local Legislature is a question upon which opinions may differ; therejean, I apprehend, be no difference of opinion, however, as to the fact that this progress has been in no degree attributable to the action of the Colonial Parliament; and yet it is '. now proposed topart with the one, and to place the administration of affairs entirely in the hand of the other.

I repeat that the Abolition Bill, i f carried into operation, must be disastrous to the interests of this Province in various ways. I shall only allude to one or two facts, which will serve amply to bear out this opinion. _ We will take first and foremost the territorial revenue, which, although dejure Colonial revenue, has been hitherto de facto the revenue of the Province, and approprfated by the .Provincial Council towards roads and~ bridges, the erection of schools, subsidising local ltoad Boards, &c.

Reverting to the abstraction from the Pioyince.of its Land Revenue, I look upon it, that unjust and injurious as this, will be, the blotting out of the Provincial Council as exercising a watchful eye upon the administration of the .Waste Lands will be more detrimental still, and will probably.result in the public estate falling into the hands of the few instead of ihe many, arid in the indiscriminate renewwal of the pastoral leases without reference to the requirements of settlement, or to their real value.

There is nothing that I deprecate more than setting class against class. I have always regarded the pastoral interest, as one of the greatest and most important in the Province, and can see no necessary antagonism between it and any other. 1 regret, therefore, to think that the Abolition of the provincial "Legislature is in a great measure supported by this interest, in the hope that it is likely to get a renewal of leases on better terms under Colonial than under Provincial administration.

In the course of the next few years, nearly the whole of the pastoral leases throughout the Province expire. Should the administration continue in the hands of the Province, the pastoral tenants will be greatly multiplied in number, and, instead of runholders, will become thriving and wealthy sheep farmers, living on their estates and employing a large amount of labor ; a consummation which will add greatly to the public revenue, and will tend to elevate the position of Hie Province both politically and socially. The Colonial expenditure has from the outset been assuming larger and larger dimensions, more suitable to an old and populous country than to the requirements of a young, and thinly peopled colony-

It may be said, why not apply the pruning-knife and cut down the unproductive expenditure ? And no doubt this would seem to be the natural solution of the difficulty. Long experience, however, has convinced me that this cannot or will not be done, and that the only practical remedy is to cut down the tree and plant afresh—rand this leads to the real point to which in my humble opinion, the attention of every elector should be directed at the forthcoming election. I should vote for.no candidate, however personally acceptable, I could thoroughly rely upon his strenuously advocating and supporting such measures as shall substantially secure—

1. That each Island Bhall-have power to provide for the maintenance of its own peace, order, and good- government, and foij the management of its own local affairs, irrespectively and independently of the olher. ' >.

2. That the power and'functions of the General Assembly shall be defined, and shall be limited to questions purely federal.

3. That the Provincial Legislature or Legislatures of each Island' shall have supreme constituent powers in respect of all subjects not so denned as aforesaid. • My own opinion leans strongly towards at least two Provinces in each Island; ;I do not think that for years to come anything less will be satisfactory; either :on the ground of economy or efficiency.

The Provincial Council of Otago has done much in the way of extending power" of local administration. It has already upon.the. Statute Book an Ordinance whereby, if the people desires it, Country Boards may be constituted at any time, with lull power,to administer all local matters; an Ordinance which confers far greater powers, and makes much more liberal provision in the way of substantial endowments, than did the local Government Bill, introduced into the General Assembly as part of the Abolition Bill.

That your Provincial Council is faultless and may not be improved, it is not for me to allege. Let it be what it -may it is an embodiment of the popular will; a'transcript-of yourselves •; and if it acts' .indiscreetly,., the 'remedy., is in your own

hands. All I would say further is, that if you sweep" it away, you will commit an act which you yourselves will yet bitteiiy regret j an act which posterity . will mourn over and deplore. What would Kngland, Ireland, and Scotland give now 10 have i\hat we are asked to throw away their local parliaments to deal with local affairs ?

One word more in conclusion. I have eikle-ivored very imperfectly to point out that Oia,:o, which has .been the milch cow of the Colony, has nothing to gain, but everything to lose should the Abolition Bill be carried into operation—that the Colonial Parliament has from first to last been the wet blanket upon progress—that the resources of the Province are every day disappearing more and more in the maelstrom of Colonial financethat the bane of the Colony has been the' gradual growth of a grasping and improvident Centralism, repugnant to the genius of fre<> institutions, and totally unsuited ; to the peculiar circumstances of New Zealand. You might as well attempt to build a pyramid, commencing at the apex, as to build up a great nation in New Zealand by means of one Central Government at-Wellington.