PROVINCIALISM VERSUS CONSOLIDATION IN NEW ZEALAND.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 273, 18 November 1874, Page 4

PROVINCIALISM VERSUS CONSOLIDATION IN NEW ZEALAND.

(Australasian, November 7.) The recent steps taken hy Mr Yogel, and by the General Assembly of New Zealand npoa his invitation, towards tho abolition of the Provincial Government a, have had the effect of recalling Sir George Grey from his retirement to an aotive part in the discussion the subject haa occasioned. In a long petition, addressed to the Governor of the colony, and also intended to be submitted to the Imperial Government, Sir George Grey warmly contests tbe policy and ihe canstitutioual right of the proposed changes. On tbe constitutional point he argues thst, as the Provincial Governments derive their existence from the same act as that which established the General Government ofthe colony, the General Legislature bas pot the power to dispossess the smaller Government- of their authority, aod tbat no advice given to the Governor "by one or more of these estates will justify bim in attempting, direotly or indirectly, to deprive any other estate or estates of existence, or of the powers or privileges which tbe Constitution Act assures to them." As to the policy of tbe contemplated change, he argues that tbe provincial or federal system has been very successful in overcoming difficulties and securing contentment. He also considers tbat the present system opens worthy objects of ambition to all inhabitants of the islands, as under it any parent may hope to see his child rai_ed by his fellow-colonists to high, useful offices. On these and other grounds he hopes tbat the Imperial Government and Parliament will not be led by the Premier to alter the Constitution Act so ss to enable the Central Legislature to sweep away the Provincial Governments. The petitipn-r-which may be almost called a manifesto^-of Sir George Grey: raises many questions that will no doubt receive full consideration before, any change is undertaken —considerations tbat can only be well appreciated on the basis of full and exact local knowledge. But it is evident to all that,in coming forward in this way *° oppose the present movement, Sir George Grey is setting himself against one of the most strongly-marked characteristics of the national politics of the present day. He refers to the movements in * federal direction going on in different parts of the world, and sees? it, exemplified by the Sclavonic race, tbe population of the United States, Germany; Italy, and Canada. He hopes to ;! see it extend to the British Empire, so as to unite hereafter the.whole English-speaking race in one great federatioa. Bot in talking io this way it is evident that Sir George Grey is con fusing two things J so distinct as the federation of independent states, and tbe consolidation of separate slates into one nation. So far as any general tendency is to be collected from the examples he cites, it is to use federation merely as a transition stage on the way to a moch closer union. We see tbis in Germany, where the loose federal form has been exchanged for the ; solic. Unity of an empire. In the United States,, every change thst. ihas taken place in the relations of the Governments of the separate states to the General Government has been to strengthen the latter at the costof the former. The federal Dominion bf Canada has only been completed doting, the last year or so and already there is a movement for the more intimate fusion of the small colonies on tbo seaboard — Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward's Island;, and Newfoundland— into a single .province, to be called by tbe name of Acadi_, after tbo old French provibce. If, as Sir Geqrpe Grey contends,; jtheie is. a wide-spread tendency to bind small states together ib& federal unions, there is an equally obvious tendency to weld federation into the more homogeneous structure of nationality. No one can well doubt that a time mnst come when: the need to make tbis change will be felt io New Zealand. Even tho success of the provincial administration, to which Sir George Grey points as a reason for their continuance, teode to make their maintenance unnecessary. Iv forming the roads, railways, and telegraphs . pf the diflferen t provinces, in facilitating settlement, and getting a large continuous population spread over tho whole face oi the country, tbe minor Governments are labouring towards attaining a state of things when they will become quite unnecessary, and when tbe lines dividing tbe provinces will be quite unmeaning, The mere successfriUy and effectively they fulfil their functions, tbe more do they hasten the inevitable time when • they must be swept away as no longer '. required. The only practical question is, has that time now arrived ? Tbis is ono that will require careful, deliberate consideration before tbe existing order of things --S disturbed. A part of the subject to be considered will be the alterations of.the system of local government that tho change will make necessary. ' The remarks of Sir George Grey as to the openings now afforded to honourable ambition! by the provincial administrations, are in some respects just. The faot that such advantages are presented by the. existing system is doubtless something in its favor. But unless ft system of government had something far more substantia] to plead for it continuance, it could hardly be maintained that it onght to be preserved on account of Lue.opeainga it offers to men •

of activity and ambition. With respect to thia it cao only be hoped thut when the Provincial Governments are abolished, the political ability of the country will combine to assist the General Government to discharge the additional duties that will then devolve upon it, and tbat.it will find ample scope for its energies in doing so.