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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4199, 4 September 1874, Page 2

Tho friends of Provincialism have frequently complained that the Premier did not keep his secret for twelve months, and then come down to Parliament and cany a . measure by something after tho fashion of a cotip cle main. This is not very logical reasoning, but we should'not scrutinise it too closely on that account, because, if Provincialism had to stand or fall by reason of the logic its friends were able To bring forward ih its favor, it would have collapsed long since, before the assault that it has received warning of. We have, however, some title to ’ ask what possible good could have accrued from. the Premier adopting the course alluded to. IE tho institution is to be destroyed, how this destruction shall bo brought Jbout cannot signify to its friends, save and except that they may have the proper wish of giving it a decent funeral. The manner in which the thing is to be done is a matter of very little moment. What we required from tho organs of the Provincial Governments was not a lament that Mr. Vogel did not bring down a Bill this session, or one that he did not keep his secret- till the next, but some reasons for supposing that tho work was being more efficiently and inexpensively peformed than it would be if the General Government wero charged with its conduct. Diatribes, simply relating to time, altogether fail to supply tho deficiency. Nor, we may add, do abuse of tlio Premier, the Californian mail service, or any other point of the Govern merit policy, satisfy that which we contend is a perfectly legitimate requirement. These are but as if we asked for bread, and there should be given to us a stone. Indeed, it is difficult forus to understand what purpose, save for letting off some of tho bile of an ill-con - ditioned mind, tho constant abuse of this popular mail service, and the .unseemly exhilaration that has been displayed at the stranding of tho steamers, the losses of the contractor, and the temporary break-up of the service, can do. ( That a powerful steamer should run thirteen times per annum between all New Zealand ports of consequence, the Islands in the Pacific, and America, would seem a project rather to •• bo encouraged than abused, . but, from a law in nature wo profess that we are totally incapable of accounting for, some of the groat friends of Provincialism are persistent in their abuse of it. Tho Premier was rather more than a match for thorn with his Polynesian and State Forests schemes. The papers he presented to Parliament were much too exhaustive to b.e mastered without a considerable amount of patient industry. It is very much easier, especially to some persons, to sit down and abuse the Government policy than to offer an intelligent opposition to it. How much better it was for the Premier, instead of dealing in “ ways that .are, dark, and tricks that are'vain,” and nursing his project for a twelvemonth, may be-demonstrated by its being supposed that : ho had secretly conspired against Provincialism for a twelvemonth. During that time it is probable tho secret would have leaked out. Opposition journals,,, ready,to believe any remark which, would give, them occasion for a fling at the Government, would have published the story with so many additions and alterations that its best friends would not know - it.T (The public mind would then have boon-disquieted respecting an impending change, the magnitude of which no one could determine. We say tho secret must have leaked out, because,

although it might be easy to _ draft any change that might be required in Acts of Parliament, to elaborate all the details will necessarily be a long and difficult task. The reason tho General Government desires to’lake over the management of Provincial affairs is not only because it has been harassed by members of Provincial Executives, whose finances it has had to right by the strong arm of the law, but because the management of gaols, asylums, and educational establishments, has not been satisfactory. An Education Act will have to ba‘ brought in that will apply to tho entire Colony. Tha prisoners- in the gaols, the unfortunates in the asylums, and tho police will have to be under new rules and regulations. Such great changes cannot be made merely on theoretic principles, or in ac cordance with the rule of thumb. Just as the Government has shown a desire to to make New Zealand more thriving, mors prosperous, and of more importance than any Colony in Australia, so it will bo proportionately anxious that, in this North Island especially, there should be legislation respecting social matters, of the most approved description. Without in the least undervaluing the great wealth and productiveness of the Middle Island, we cannot but see that tho North one is destined to play a prominent part in the future of New Zealand. It will be a home for manufactures, commerce, and industry of many and varied descriptions. The Ministry, in wishing to place it .under an improved system of local and general government, has an eye to this. The reports that reach us of meetings held in country districts, to consider the question of Provincialism,do not enlighten us as to its merits or demerits. The speeches made consist principally of a few stock assertions either that the time has or has not come. The warmest feeling evoked has been, as we might have expected, in Auckland. The people there have not quite forgiven Wellington for becoming the seat of Government, and now it seems to them that there is a proposition from the disliked City to filch away from them the remnant of royalty in the shape of Provincial Government that they have retained. In time, it may replied, they will acquire a substance instead of a shadow by the change. New York did not become any less the Empire City of the United States by the seat of Government being fixed at Washington. Auckland, has, wa are assured, a most important future before it, as the Liver-' pool of New Zealand ; and the concern of the people should rather be directed to the attainment of a commercial than a bureaucratic supremacy. In' Wellington another feeling might reasonably be expected to predominate. There is no question that, whether beneficial to . the Colony or not, tho abolition of Provincialism in the Island adds to the importance of this City, and without detracting from that of any other place. Taranaki, will, it is tho belief of the people, prosper more if the, change takes place than it would should tho present status be maintained. So will Hawke’s Bay. That the prosperity of the Province of Auckland is dependant upon the maintenance of Provincial Government is not to be believed. And, whilst we recognise tho right members representing constituencies of tho Middle Island have to hold opinions and vote upon the subject, we scarcely see that they are justified in strongly opposing tha change whilst they were unaware what thefeelingof the people most interested in tho matter really was. It was, pre-eminently, a local subject that was on the tapis, and local subjects should be disposed of, as far as possible, by local men. Indeed, on this rests the very foundation of Provincialism—the ■ great plea in its favOr. Middle Island members may profess that they discern in the proposed measure a design on their land fund; but, in doing this, they merely re-echo a cry that has been raised in the North—one that was merely a personal one, and that it was to this intent, that, if the change bo brought about there will he less money for Me, personally, to administer. Really there is some secret shout this power of the purse that is only to be discerned by the initiated. Officials do, as a rule, object to lose the power' of opening the public pursestrings. Apparently, Middle Island members were as much afraid of this as their brother members from the North. At any rate, they were chivalrous enough to make it appear that they were. The esprit de corps of Superintendents and members of Provincial Executives was pleasing to witness. But then, proverbially, there is esprit de corps amongst other chases than those which are held in repute in society.