THE NELSON EXAMINER. Nelson, June 4, 1842.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 13, 4 June 1842, Page 50

THE NELSON EXAMINER. Nelson, June 4, 1842.

Le* joumiux deviennent plus ne'cetsaires a que les homines tout plus dgaux, et 1' individualume plus a craradrc. Cc serait diminuer leur importance que de croire qu' Ua ne servent qu' a garantir lm liberti : ill maintiennent Ik civilitatiom Dm Tocoubvills. De Ik Democratic en Amerique, tome 4, p. 220. Journal* become more necessary at men become more rqnal, and individualism more to be feared. It would be to underrate their importance to suppose that they serve only to secure liberty i they maintain civilization. Db Tocao»yjLti. Of Democracy in America, vol. 4, p. 320. We should be at once astonished ancTOis-4 to find that the Colonial Gazette (the staunch advocate of colonial interests) had allowed itself, from whatever cause, to be influenced by party considerations. Neither the Colonial Gazette nor the Spectator can be supposed to use the word ** imperial " with an appreciatory gout ; nor can we well imagine either the one or the other the sincere advocate of any syst^r oft colonial government "on a scale commensurate with imperial requirements." How grand it sounds, does not it? But, however, the fact is that an article appears in the Colonial Gazette of the 22d of December last, headed " Colonial Government and Taxation," which commences plausibly enough, thus : — " Should it be true that extensive measures of emigration are contemplated, it would be very desirable at the same time to revise the system of colonial government, both in order to obtain the greatest possible benefit from a given amount of emigration, and to save this country from those demands for pecuniary aid which colonies sometimes think it a part of their filial relations to prefer." Nothing can be better than such a beginning. A scheme for the reform of colonial government, and how ?— " A good Governor and an efficient staff or public officer*^ should be given to each colony, and their services should be well paid : local services should be paid from local resources ; but it is already a standing grievance in taPisy loniesthat they are taxed without their own concurrence. It would not, however, get rid of the difficulty to band over the whole power of taxation, with local representation, to the colonies. It must be a principle in the consideration of the subject, that the unoccupied

lands of our colonial territory belong to the empire. Such being, the case, of course they are not to be given away to any body of applicants without due return for the benefit of their original owner, the empire; and that return must consist of the utmost possible advantage which can be obtained from the grantees. Settlements, therefore, founded on those lands, should be conducted in such -manner as not only to be no burden to the parent Btate, but to furnish their quota of aid towards the strength and welfare of the empire at large. In order to that, they must be governed on a scale commensurate with imperial requirements. But, if the power of taxation were altogether surrrenderedto the settlers, they would forget the larger interests ia their own pettier objects, and would laugh at exhortations to tax themselves for imperial interests — such, for instance) « their own administration in a manner suitaole to the empire to which they belong, and the affording due facilities on their part to colonization from the mother country. Public virtue has not advanced far enough for that observance of duty. , Some security, therefore, must be given to the Central Government that the dependencies whosejxistence is permitt^P%^Jl fulfil their duty in tms respect." Pleasant, all this. Who can have bitten the editor of the Colonial Gazette ? Surely not the new Secretary of State for the Colonies. It is impossible, we think, that this could have been put in a much cleverer way by the most ingenious and enthusiastic admirer of a central despotism, or of Paley pigeonism. If we are to dance to *Uja? tune of " imperial requirements," at least let the empire that requires p;iy the piper. We are no advocates for colonial spunging : we have great faith in the resources of the colonies, which we believe would, properly applied, enable them to pay all necessary expenses of their own Government ; but we confess that our " public virtue has not advanced far enough for that observance of duty " which would induce us not "to laugh at exhortations to self-taxation for imperial interests." The writer then proceeds to point out how conveniently money might be raised for government purposes iby the sale of lands. This is suggested by the " ease with which the Wakefield system draws money from unoccupied lands." Some objections to this mode of raising money for such purposes, stated in Mr. Wakefield's evidence given before the South Australian Committee, are replied to with some reason ; hut what is the animus ?-nr " The plan of using a part of the purchase^ money, however, is so convenient, simple, and ready a way of securing a certain amount of taxation for government purposes, that it is worth while to see if the objections could not be so far obviated as to admit of at least a temporary use of the expedient." Always remembering the ' clause about " imperial requirements," we questiojttf this way, so convenient, so simple, sounds quite so pleasant in colonial ears as it would do in those of the members of the H/>me Government, to whom it would be reallf quite a Fortunatus's wislung-cap, as thus — " It might not be difficult to obtain very considerable sums, if the tax-payers felt £U£ that the Government would be responsible IS them for its proper outlay in or for the colony. To that end, the imposition of such a fax should | be accompanied by the assurance, that the old system of considering the colonies as mere pa-tronage-preserves would be altogether abandoned, and that the principle of ' responsible government' would be adhered to. Indeed, with the growing estimation of colonies as one great means of relieving our evils at home, especially if they are promoted to the rank of being a directly-taxed community, it would be impossible to conduct the government or levy the tax upon any other principle than that of responsibility to the tax-payers, in whatsoever shape it may be rendered or howsoever denominated." How kind, how considerate : the " patron.^ age-preserves " system is to be altogether abundoned ; we are to be " promoted " to the rank of a community directly taxed, for the purpose of supporting our own Government upon a scale" and at an expense wholly unnecessary for our own wantsf and which shall set at defiance all idea of economical government ; all for the sake of what?—" imperial requirements."

Then comes the plan — the. mode in which the colonies are to be tempted into acquiescing in a scheme which shall oblige them to contribute indirectly to a large amount to the support of the home establishments, and which shall destroy all chance of their ever obtaining the benefits of cheap government, by leading them gradually into that taate for, and habit of a prodigal expendi-

ture which " imperial requirements " must necessarily induce.

v " At such a period " — that is when/ from the extension of colonial settlements, tft& plan of raising money by sale of lands, either un.ler the name of purchase-money or a prepaid land-tax, would be inadequate and otherwise objectionable —

" Though it would be as important as ever to retain the power of imperial taxation in the Central Government, taxation by the present means of Government-appointed bodies called Councils, or by the present coercion of Representative Assemblies, would be tenfold jMft-e odious and precarious. It may then be a^aestion whether it would not be advisable to sjorH vert our colonies in regard to government what they are already becoming in social respects, an extension of the empire, not mere appendages to it — an integral part of the whole. A Central Representation for the Colonies will then no longer bear postponement. • • • " Members returned by the colonies might constitute a separate body of ' colonial 'members,' who should sit and vote in the House of Commons whenever colonial subjects were discussed, but at no other times. Though thus limited to the sphere of colonial legislation, the body would acquire considerable importance from their compactness. Under this arrangement, all taxation of colonies for imperial purposes might be retained, with even added power, in the Imperial Legislature ; and the colonies would be deprived of the ground of complaint that they had no voice in their own taxation. Taxation for merely local purposes might then safely be left to local Parliament!. But such a body as that contemplated in the 'Combined Parliament' would . pQ£Bess>JbjgsljfEq useful powers jon other than financial matters : they would constitute a valuable appeal court in legislative affairs from the local Parliaments, such as does not at present exist; and they would furnish the best means of originating great measures which Government hesitates to take up, and to which the present amateur colonial members of the houses of Parliament can lend no weight of authority."

There are objections to the detail of such a plan sufficient to damn it at once ; in fact it is simply impracticable. Imagine Che representatives of the colonies of this per-* tion of the southern hemisphere on their four months' passage to England, to represent wants which would have altered their character, or have ceased to exist, before we should have received notice of the legislative determinations respecting them. WHo is to pay travelling expenses ? - - T-he* colonies, of course. , But bah ! all objections of this sort are out of place ; it is the principle that is false — rotten throughout. It smells of the overgrown and unhealthy grossness which cannot find energy enough to keep wholesome the vast bulk. to whicli an ever-gorging greediness is continually adding.

If Great Britain or any other country would reap the full benefit from its colonies, let them he left alone as much as possible. All this extension of an empire, by weakening and keeping weak, or petting and coaxing alternated with threatening, the distant portions of it, cannot possibly strengthen the empire. If the colonies are strong in themselves, and find no inclination-, on the part of the mother country to usef gyves and. chains, which shall bifid ■nithottt^dunking, they will* display no inclination to break off their connection, even though it mighsjg be in their power to do* so. - Properly managed, the connection cannot but be of the- greatest benefit to both parties. B^t, if they are to be Jeep t in perpetual memory of their dependence, if they are always to be made aware that they can neither will nor do, what can they be but for ever a thorn in' the side of the mother country ? They must not be strong enough to defend themselves, for then they would be strong enough to quarrel with her, and then fore there must be mother- country soldiers to protect them. They must not be allowed to legislate for themselves, for, if they did, it might come out in the discussion of some question that their interests and those of th* mother country differed ; therefore she will have their representatives home, just to »©• that the legislative work is. properly done* What is all this but a form, modified to suit the present age, of the. old story of colonies being nothing but sponger, - to be squeezed for the benefit of any and every thing connected with " home " rather tfcan of the place 'itself or its immigrant mbsbitants ? The time ii past in which trodSU-

some children were Bastiled, dungeoned, or lettre de cacheted, but it is only changed, it would seem, into Tony Lumpkining Whiter all. That a great change is about to take .place in the relations between Great Britain and her colonies there can be but little 'doubt ; that the present system of bureaucracy called a Colonial Office canndt last, must be plain to all ; then, in God's name, while it is about let the change be something more than nominal. Colonial Parliament in Westminster would be little better than a Colonial Office in Downing Street; Of all things save us from being irretrievably imperialized after this imperious fashion :—: — " The abused power of the Colonial Office ■can never be truly checked until there be a Colonial Parliament in London ; and while the Colonial Office borrows a weight from the Imperial Government, of which it is necessarily a part, its immense power cannot be easily balanced unless the colonial representation also borrows an imperial weight. By some such means as that indicated, the imperial uses of the colonial lands might be retained in perpetuity, and yet every needful freedom be given to provincial self-government" And, as we have much to be thankful for, let us not forget that there is chiefly this, that as " such an empire as would thus be formed has sever been recorded in the hisi^oxy -of the world," so it is quite impossible that it ever should be recorded save as a strange and, as is wont, not very wise dream of the editor of the Colonial Gazette, or of one of his friends.

We request the attention of our readers to an advertisement in another column, containing a resolution passed at a meeting Of the subscribers to the School-building Fund. Some expressions which fell from one of the gentlemen appointed as a collecting committee created an impression in the minds of those present at the meeting that some promised subscriptions had been withheld in consequence of an article which appeared in the Examiner of the 21st of May. This impression turned out eventually to «c incorrect, as the deficiency in the amount actually in hand, which led to any mention of the subject, was by the gentlemen of the committee themselves ascribed to want of exertion on their own part, and to the accidental absence of some of the subscribers. But, promised subscriptions or not, it is now on record that an article in the Nelson Examiner on the subject of establishing schools has been .so much misapprehended m to have led to an erroneous impression that there is a fund appropriated by the New Zealand Company for the purpose of providing institutions for elementary in- . struction. Undoubtedly the Nelson Examiner is a most influential paper. After -.this, who so bold as to question it ? Can .it not, without anything but words (which, _$a ordinary ears, convey no allusion to the . subject), so charm a guinea that it shall, in f/ipite of all the endeavours of its owner to the contrary, stick closely to a pocket which vis most anxious to get rid of it ? Most influential Examiner ! Can it not, when -referring readers to a pqrtion of its own columns, so bother their eyesight and so obfuscate their ideas that they shall read - one thing when another is plainly printed even in its own best type f Most wonderful Examiner / Can it not, by simply stating that a body of most respectable gentlemen in London have voted a sum of £15,000 for the purpose of establishing a college in Nelson, produce a firm conviction in the minds of other most respectable gentlemen who are most anxious to establish elementary schools for the labouring chutes, that it is their bounder, duty to assist in no such project. Most astonishing Examiner. Oh, die Examiner, the Examiner, what a pity it r is that its power tells only one way. Could "it, think you, conjure two guineas in the - place of one out of a gentleman's pocket for < elementary schools? We fear not, most feeble Examiner. Could it persuade one respectable oody pf gentlemen that the neglect of asot&er equally respectable body is a reason for double exertion and double

contributions on their part for a really desirable institution ?% Alas ! no, most inefficient Examiner.

We feel a most uneditorial anxiety to explain that toe, that the Examiner, have or has the most absolute, the most unmitigated abhorrence of this self-saving, self-seeking illiberality, which has not even the excuse of early prejudice against general education to back it, but which arises solely from selfishness and love of money. Supposing our readers to give us credit for this, we return to the old question mooted in this same most misapprehended article —

Whether or not it would have been an improvement in the scheme for appropriating the fund raised by the sale of lands to have admitted into it some consideration for the educational wants of a totally different class from that intended to be benefited by the institution of a college? It is our own opinion that it would have been a very great improvement. The Company's Agent, by his offer to double any sum that may be subscribed, has, we think, shown what hi* opinion on the subject is. The resolution which appears in the latter part of the advertisement already referred to shows the opinion of a very respectable body of colonists ; and we expect that a public meeting of the settlers will announce the opinion of the inhabitants in general to be, that a portion of the college mpney could not have been better appropriated than to the support of some educational institution for the children of the labouring classes*

It may be objected to any project for altering the application of any fund raised by the sale of lands from that marked out for it in the " terms of purchase,'' that it is plainly stated iv those terms wtiat the application of the various funds should oe, and that purchasers, knowing what was to be the application, have no right to now attempt to alter it. The fact is, however, that they have the very best right, nay, more than a right, it has amounted to a duty. A college would undoubtedly render the settlement attractive ; it is an exceedingly desirable thing that such a college we should have ; but would not £1,000 taken from the college fund of £15,000, and applied to the purposes of elementary education, do more to render the settlement attractive and desirable as a place of residence, than it would if added to the remaining £14,000 ? Undoubtedly. We cannot too strongly express our opinion that it is the duty of the settlers here to put themselves in communication with the New Zealand Company for the express purpose of advising, requesting, or recommending-^ whichever it may be thought right to call it — any mode by which the various funds, or such portions of them as may be already made up, may be applied so as to produce the greatest amount of benefit to the settlement. What objects can the New Zealand Company have in expending this money in the settlement other than those which equally interest the settlers themselves? and surely a conscious discharge of the Company's duty as trustees implies some attention to the wishes and wants of the .cestni que trusts, especially when they have better means of judging on the subject than the trustees themselves.

The plough was, for the first time, put into the ground here on Wednesday the 25th of May. Mr. John Kerr (who, by the bye, is a first-rate ploughman) had the honour to hold the plough and turn the first furrow in the Nelson settlement. This essay was made on the acre purchased to be the site of the Bank. The ground, after the rains, turns up beautifully, and with no greater difficulty than an ordinary clover lay. We expect that many or" the acres in the outskirts of the town will be broken up shortly by the plough, to be used as gardens. Digging, at colonial wages, is rather too expensive.

Several letters have, within the last few days, been received (in Plymouth) from the first settlers in New Plymouth; all of whom speak most favourably of the land of their adoption, and breathe a spirit of contentment such as is not usual from persons so circumstanced as the colonizers of this settlement. In one of the letters sent home it is stated, " All the people that came out in the William Bryan have got twenty yards of ground back to build their houses on, and for gardens." This is certainly a wise measure, and a new feature in tbe commencement of colonies. The effect will be that a spirit of contentment fv'Hl prevail among the labouring classes, and an early test be given as to the fertility of the soil, which will end in an attachment to the colony and a determination to remain. This, we apprehend, is the motive of the superintendent in . the plan he has *AopUd.—Falmoutk Packet..