New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11.
Moderate men, of every shade of opinion, will rejoice at >the prospect of a settlement of the political strife, which threatened to put a stop to all useful legislation during the present session. ■ Another night spent in fruitless wrangling would have so embittered the already strong feelings on either side, as to have rendered a compromise impossible; but, fortunately for the country, we think, wiser counsels prevailed, and a proposal has been made with a view to end the conflict, which proposal the Government have taken time to consider. For this purpose,. Sir Donald McLean moved last evening that the Chairman do report progress, and ask leave to sit again ■ on Tuesday. His remarks will be found in, our report of yesterday’s Parliamentary proceedings, and we need not therefore repeat them in this place. We shall simply express a hope that this adjournment, and the conference which will take place before the House reassembles, may result in some common understanding by which the business of the session will be proceeded with, and the “ burning question” jof provincial abolition be settled upon its merits for the good of the country. The proposal, which emanated from the Opposition, is to this effect: that the Abolition of Provinces Bill be proceeded with, and fairly considered in committee ; that the amendments proposed be decided on their merits, the Opposition assisting the Government to make the Bill as complete and efficient as possible; that on passing through committee, as amended, no further opposition bo given to its progress through the House. On the other hand, the Opposition stipulate that a clause bo inserted, providing that the Act shall not take effect until an address be presented to the Governor by both Houses next session, requesting his Excellency to bring it into operation by proclamation in the New Zealand Gazette. As we have said, this is in substance, the basis of the negotiation now pending between the two great parties into which the House is divided. It may bo, and indeed it probably will be, slightly modified; but with the general principle underlying it wo think all reasonable men must agree. Practically, it opens a way to a fusion of parties without compromise of principle. The Government would get
tlieir Bill, and the Opposition would have that for which they contend, namely, the ratification of the measure by the electors in the new Parliament. Of course, men of extreme opinions on either side may oppose any compromise ; and “ war to “ the knife ”, may be their watchword. But let us put these questions to extreme partisans : On whom would they use the knife 1 What victim would they immolate on the altar of Party 1 The country would be the sole victim. New Zealand, already torn up by faction and misgovernment, would be the only sufferer. Should the spiritof faction prevail at this time, the country might justly complain that the supreme Legislature, instead of healing her wounds, added incalculably to her miseries. And it should always be borne in mind that the history of political development is the record of a series of compromises. Great constitutional reforms are seldom completed in a day ; and therefore we say that it is a mark of political sagacity to pause in a contest such as that upon which the New Zealand Parliament has entered, and consider whether an honorable issue may not be possible by mutual concessions. To that length we understand the Government go. They meet the Opposition half way, and we trust the future negotiations may be conducted in the same spirit. Having said so. much on the general question, we shall now say a few words on the, proposition itself. We think it would be advisable to give greater finality to the measure, and that instead of the Act coming into operation on address of both Houses, it should come into operation, say thirty days after the meeting of the next Parliament, unless either House . adopts an address to the Governor praying the contrary. This would substantially give the Opposition all they now ask for; but it would limit the time within which an address might be presented. Now, as a matter of practical administration, this point appears to us to be important; because unless some definite date be decided upon, there would be an element of uncertainty in the matter prejudicial to good administration. And thirty days are ample for the purpose. If the country returns an anti-abolition House, it would lose lio time in adopting an address praying the Governor not to bring the Act into operation; whereas if the majority be all the other way, and we believe it will be, the limitation of time would bar any attempt, by a factious minority, to baulk the reasonable expectation of the country. And the Government, during the recess, would be enabled to perfect their plans for taking over the provincial departments. We submit these points for the consideration of members on both sides. They are not put forward with the view of embarrassing political leaders, but rather to help them to a wise solution of the difficulty. Another poin t should not be o verlooked in this connection. It would bo necessary to prevent the re-assembling of Provincial Councils until the final action of the General Assembly be known. If the Abolition Bill were brought into operation there would be an end of the matter; if the reverse, ■ the Councils would resume their functions which had been temporarily suspended. Meanwhile, it would be necessary to empower the General Goverment to make advances from the Treasury to the Executives qf the several provinces, to continue the provincial services on the existing scale, after the expiration of the various Appropriation Ordinances. As a mere matter of detail this is necessary, and we take it to be an essential element in the proposed compromise. This could be accomplished by a clause in the annual Appropriation Act, or in the Abolition of Provinces Bill, but it would be better encumber the latter measure with a temporary appropriation clause. And as a matter of administration and control, Provincial Treasurers should be required to pay into a separate account, to the credit .of the Colonial Treasury, all monies received by them as revenue between the expiry of the Appropriation Ordinances of their respective provinces, and the date when the Abolition of Provinces Bill comes into operation. In this way the transition stage would be got over without confusion of any kind. The Superintendents and Provincial Executives would conduct the affairs of their, provinces as usual, the country would be consulted on the proposed change, and there would be an end of provincial legislation, unless the electorate declared that it was in favor of its' continuance. And if the country be of that mind, it should not be stopped by" any action taken by an expiring Parliament. The people are the ultimate source of power, and it is onlyreasonable and fair that they should have their will respected in the aggregate. We have gone into this question at length on the assumption that a compromise" will be effected. We have not argued as if it were a triumph on either side ; but we have accepted the position as one deserving of most serious consideration, and as presenting an opportunity for accomplishing a great constitutional change without bitterness or confusion. To contine the struggle as it has begun would lead to very regretable results. It would, in the first place, lower the status of the General Assembly of New Zealand, heretofore so high ; —it would bring it into contempt at home, and lead to. a feeling of want of confidence in the stability of our institutions abroad, which might have a very damaging effect upon our public credit. To bo sure, this is a purely domestic question, and may be said to concern no one but ourselves ; but New Zealand owes too much money for its Legislature to hope to escape rigid scrutiny, at once of its policy and mode of procedure. Without imputing blame to either side, therefore, we appeal to the patriotism of all when we ask them to rise to the occasion, and by the exorcise of a spirit of moderation and forbearance, earn for themselves the gratitude of the country and the praise of posterity.
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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4517, 11 September 1875, Page 2
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1,395New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11. New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4517, 11 September 1875, Page 2
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