New Zealand Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 1875.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4373, 26 March 1875, Page 2

New Zealand Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 1875.

Sik Geoege Grey has been elected Superintendent of Auckland, and has by this time, entered upon a new career of public service. If leas honorable a position than that which he formerly occupied in the colony, that of Superintendent of Auckland is in some respects not less important. The European, population of tint province is now-larger than the entire population of tlie colony when Sir George first took the reins of Government, and its products and manufactures .arc incomparably greater. Times have certainly changed since then, and the new Superintendent has changed with them. He is apparently in advance of public sentiment; at that period, and for long afterwards, he was generally supposed to be behind the age. He believed in “ nomineeism ” and “ per- “ sonal governmentnow, these are an abomination to him. And so also of other. matters on which Sir George Grey had, or was supposed to have had, very strong and decided opinions. He is now, thanks to calm reflection during his long seclusion, a firm believer in Democratic rule ; a governing caste is an offence to him ; and an aristocracy of rank and wealth something to be suppressed by legislation. These are among Sir George Grey’s political eccentricities ; and as they were cheered to the echo, we may assume they are in accord with the views of the good people of Auckland. And here, let us say, there is a marvellous change also, for of all communities in New Zealand, that of Auckland was once the most conspicuous for its tuft-hunting proclivities. But having seen the error of their ways, the Aucklanders are now bent upon showing the force of their new opinions by applauding the most extravagant utterances of their new Superintend ant. There are some points in Sir George’s speech to the electors of Auckland that deserve notice. For instance, the stand he took on the abolition resolutions is perfectly intelligible. It is, moreover, the view we have consistently advocated. No one can presume to argue that the existing fiscal system is fair. Ii; is not by any means fair or equitable in its operation ; but it is, nevertheless, the offspring of that provincial system which the Superintendent of Auckland stands forward to champion. We invite him to consider the question fully and dispassionately, and if he does he will see, we think, that the only hope for an equalisation of taxation throughout the colony lies in abolishing provincial institutions. Otherwise, the public estate will continue to be squandered by Provincial Governments as long as any of it remains to be sold, and the unfortunate settlers will be compelled to submit to direct taxation for the ordinary purposes of Government, as well as to pay interest on loan. We agree with Sir George in saying that the credit of the colony is involved in this point. It is one which cannot any longer bo overlooked. It has hitherto been stayed off from session to session, by one Government after another, their sole argument being summed up in the words : “Not in our time; there “is no present need to disturb the “ Compact of 1856 v” Meanwhile, the public estate became smaller and smaller, and the public debt larger and larger, until affairs have now come to this pass, that one half of the colony reproaches the other half with bankruptcy, the difference between South and North being that one lives by selling the Crown lands, while the other has got no Crown lands to sell. In neither case does the general and provincial revenue, apart from the land fund, suffice for the ordinary purposes- of provincial and local government. Sir George Grey declares that such a state of thingei cannot be tolerated. We agree with him ; but we differ from him entirely in the remedy he proposes, namely, that the Northlsland provinces should have a land fund oreated for them, so that they may keep pace in extravagailce with Canterbury .and Otago. Instead of abating, this would be intensifying the evil. Let Provincial Government be abolished wholly, and there will be some hope for the country.