The Marlborough Press. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1860.

Marlborough Press, Volume I, Issue 6, 10 February 1860, Page 2

The Marlborough Press. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1860.

From the commencement of our career as journalists, we have been sailing in smooth water; no vexed qeestions have as yet forced themselves on our notice; no subjects of great import to the districts we

particularly represent have yet appeared in our political horizon to tax our brains in the endeavour to give the promised fair play to all parties. But in the interest we necessarily take in all matters connected with the working of the several provinces of New Zealand, and in any measures looming in the future that may affect our own, our attention has been directed to a speech delivered at Christchurch by a man of mark, who was the first Prime Minister of New Zealand under Constitutional Government, and the successful initiator of important measures affecting this colony. Mr. Sewell, to whom we allude, has just been chosen to represent Christchurch in the General Assembly, and we are convinced that his views will go beyond the hustings of Christchurch, and perhaps take some practical shape in the Assembly.

In his speech to the electors of Christchurch, he recapitulated his services, including the management of their land fund, which he called their "lifeblood;” the inter-colonial steamers; the half-million loan, &c., &c. He "disapproved of the New Provinces Act. He considered it to have been the imperative duty of the Government, and that it would be tbe duty of any Government, to devise a suitable plan of municipal institutions for those outlying districts which were rapidly developing themselves, independently of the present provincial centres. But the New Provinces Act did not appear to have been adapted to meet the exigencies of the case. He objected to it as devolving upon the Executive Government powers which essentially belonged to the Legislature, namely, of determining the political organization of the colony. It was, besides, against all principle and reason to allow each small knot of persons, of their own will, in compliance with ■certain formal conditions, to create themselves into a separate state, each with its own legislature and its own statute book, so that the statute book of New Zealand would quickly become more cumbersome than that of Great Britain. The measure itself appeared ill considered. Practical difficulties had arisen in reference to the Province of Marlborough, which showed that it had not been properly digested.” The same objections may be made against a municipal body, and their ordinances, and by-laws, and regulations. It is not necessary that members of a Provincial Council should cumber the statute bork with overmuch legislation. With the many examples of too much legislation and too little government before them, it is to be hoped that the gentlemen chosen to represent the various interests of the different districts of this province will eschew that evil of modern times—statute making.

Mr. Sewell has termed the land fund the "lifeblood” of the people. Then, surely, has this province been too tardy in stopping the continual flow of the source of vitality, which was fast ebbing away under the repeated blood-lettings of the now sister province. If " knots of persons ” resident on the spot do not know what is good for themselves, how should that very much smaller knot, some hundred miles away, have a better conception of the case ? How can Mr. Sewell complain of the people of any district desiring to manage their own affairs—especially their " life blood” —and immediately after declare that "the land fund was a local revenue; it came from the land, and ought to return to it; it had been aptly likened to manure, which ought to be restored to the land it was taken from ?”

Without at present considering Mr. Sewell’s opinion, that the division of the colony into separate political organisations belonged to the Legislature, and not to the Executive, we cannot but uphold that the New Provinces Act has borne good fruit, and more than sufficient to neutralise any imperfections in the measure itself, in the only instance in which it has, as yet, been practically in force, namely, Hawke’s Bay. That province having obtained the possession and disposal of its own revenue, is not only in a more prosperous condition as a settlement, but it has already more than doubled its population, carried out most extensive works for facilitating communication with its various districts and the

colony, and has still a considerable balance in its Treasury for any contingency. With Hawke’s Bay before us as an example for the future, our own experience of the past, and knowledge of our resources and the purposes to which they can be applied, we can see no “ practical difficulties ” that can result in anything but advantage to this province; and think that the decisive step taken by its inhabitants will cause the Governments of all the provinces in New Zealand to do at least justice to what they may consider " outlying districts.”

Contrary to expectation, the writs for the election of members for the first Provincial Council of this province did mot arrive by the Airedale, on her last trip to Nelson. Considerable disappointment has been felt in consequence, particularly as his Excellency the Governor had returned to Auckland nearly a fortnight before the departure of the steamer. As we arc not aware of any cause for delay in forwarding the writs, they may most certainly be looked for by the next mail from Auckland.