THE GOVERNMENT MEASURES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4494, 14 August 1875, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE GOVERNMENT MEASURES.

PUBLIC OPINION.

The Bruce Herald of Tuesday last has the following:—During the lastweek public meetings havebeenheld in variouspartsof theproviuce for the purpose of affording the people an opportunity of expressing an opinion on tho passing of the Abolition of Provinces Act during the present session of Parliament. Wherever these meetings have been held it has been decided that the Ministerial measure for the abolition of the present form of government is a good one, that the time has arrived for a change, and that delay in the passing of the measure now before the House of Representative’ will not result in any good to the country. It is very possible that tho inhabitants of Tokomairiro will soon be invited to attend a public meeting for the discussion of this question, and from an extract from a letter that we publish elsewhere, it will be seen that the member for Bruce, Mr. W. A. Murray, is of opinion that tho passing of the Abolition Act should be delayed until the meeting of the new Parliament that will be elected next year, and that a majority of his constituents will endorse his views on the subject. We do not doubt for a moment that the representative of the district in opposing the Abolition Bill is acting upon an honest conviction that ho is doing his best to promote the interests of his own particular constituency and the colony as a whole, but we must take leave to say that in our opinion ho is mistaken in his ideas. There are, of course, in this as in all other districts, bitter opponents of the proposed change in the form of government, but it must bo evidpnt to all who have taken any trouble to ascertain what the public feeling really is, that the supporters of provincialism, and even those who believe that a change is required, but advocate delay, form a very small minority of the electors. Mr. Murray confesses that ho has not gone carefully through tho Government proposals, so we do not think it necessary to follow him through tho objections lie raises to the measure as it stands. Mr. Murray wants delay in order that the people who are to bo affected by tho proposed change may be consulted with reference to it, and at the same time expresses it as his opinion that tho settlers are more likely to arrive at a sound and prudent conclusion on tho subject in the quiet of their “ ain fireside” than anywhere else. Wo quite agree with him in his last idea, but at the same time must call attention to tho fact that since tho proposal for the abolition of provinces was first brought forward, a year has elapsed, and surely this has been ample time for a quiet consideration of the matter. When Sir Julius Vogel first brought his scheme fertile abolition of tire provinces under the notice of the Parliament and tho country, the only fooling of alarm in tho South was that the compact of 185(> would not bo respected, and that there would be au attempt to deprive us of the benefit of our land fund. It was promised that tho laud funds of the provinces .should ho localised, and we scarcely think it will ho contended that in tho Act now before tho House of Representatives this promise has not been carried i out. It must also bo admitted hy all who are not prejudiced in favor of provini cialism that tho Government measure provides for increased and not diminished powers of

local government ; and if Mr. Murray and those who with him have determined to oppose the Bill, can see in what way the people of this province or the colony are likely to be deprived of liberties which they now enjoy, wo should bo glad of a little information as to the direction in which the danger lies. We must confess that we are unable to see it. The member for Bruce thinks that as the Government has determined to push these measures, it will be advisable to convene meetings, to enable the public to express their wishes. We should be glad to see such a meeting held in Milton, for we have not the slightest hesitation in saying that the inhabitants of the district will pronounce in favor of immediate abolition. Mv. Murray anticipates an opposite expression of opinion from the electors, and since he seems to ask for it to strengthen his hands, we may probably see him voting with the Government when he finds that by so doing ho will please a large majority of those who returned him to Parliament as their representative. A telegram from Auckland yesterday said : There was a largo meeting at Newmarket last night, called by Government supporters, who moved a resolution similar to that at Parnell. An amendment was carried almost unanimously, to the effect the meeting viewed with alarm the proposition to abolish the provinces without an appealto the country by means of a general election, and protested against the proposed Abolition of Provinces Bill being passed by an Assembly whose term of office is expiring, and which does not represent the provinces fairly.” A correspondent from the Wakatipu district, Otago, telegraphs to us that the feeling as regards the proposed abolition changes is decidedly in favor of an appeal to the country in the first instance. The laud laws_ require assimilation with equitable administrative functions.