New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4572, 15 November 1875, Page 2

New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15.

The tone of leading provincial newspapers points clearly to this fact, that the question which will be decided at the general election will be Separation, not Provincialism versus Centralism. We gather this as much from the correspondence which has appeared in the papers as from leading articles, or speeches of local politicians. There is, so to speak, a hardening of opinion in this direction in the larger communities at the two extremities of the Colony, and it becomes the duty* of all who desire a united and symmetrical administration to accept the position and prepare to meet it. Ignoring it will not dispose of it. To make little of it, on the other hand, would simply have the effect of strengthening those who hope to compass their object by means of insular separation. It must be faced openly and manfully; and those who hold that one Legislature and one Executive Government are sufficient for the needs of the Colony, should be prepared to demonstrate the correctness of their opinion without delay. Mere sentiment will go a short way in such an argument as against local prejudices. The Separatists are not without sentiment, as witness Sir J. L. C. Richardson’s speech, in which he declared that ho was a citizen of Otago, and that as such he was under greater obligations to that province than to the Colony of New Zealand, of which the district of Otago is an integral part. Apart from the impropriety, if not the indecency, of such language from the Speaker of the Legislative Council—himself the titled annuitant of a nominee chamber—there is at the root of it an intense local feeling which, based in selfishness, will surely evoke sympathy and support. That such has actually happened one has only to observe the sudden change of tono of the Dunedin newspapers. The Guardian , while officially opposing the Opposition leaders, deemed it expedient to give expression to their opinions by' securing contributions from provincialist pons, and publishing them in its “open column.” The Evening Star, to suit the popular taste, likewise declared its readiness to publish contributions in its “open column,” advocating the views of the Opposition ; but that which the morning journal secured in a business way was not volunteered to the Star. And by degrees the feeling has hardened, as we have said, into a strong opinion in favour of insular separation. The “four provinces theory” is simply a device forgetting rid of thelocal jealousies of Otago and Canterbury in the Middle Island, and of Wellington and Auckland in the North Island.

Of all the newspapers in Otago, the most thoroughly representative and influential is the Witness, the weekly issue of the Daily Times. It is the oldest paper in Otago, and has a very large country circulation. In a recent issue of that paper (November 6), there is a very significant leading article; —an article, by the way, addressed to the country constituencies. It sets out with this statement: “ Satisfac- ‘ ‘ tory evidence is coming in from almost “ every district in the country to the “ effect that Otago, almost to a man, “ desires a consolidation of the provinces, “ and not centralism. Upon the gold- “ fields, more especially it has come to be “ understood that it was hardly likely “ that justice would be done to the out- “ lying districts by a Wellington adminis- “ tration rather than by a Dunedin one.” The Witness then goes on to explain, (and we think with much truth), the cause of the antipathy of the goldfields toDunedin. The belief on the goldfields was that their interests were sacrificed to a Dunedin clique ; and the Witness assumes that “ the movement in favor “ of Centralism from the outlying dis- “ tricts has been to a certain extent a “ mere piece of petty spitefulncss an “ attempt to have a fling at their old “Dunedin enemies.” We are not prepared to say that this is wide of the mark. The opposition to the provincial system certainly was strongest in the outlying districts, which complained that provincial centres had an undue amount of public money spent within them ; but in those provinces which possessed goldfields this feeling was strongest of all. Pothouse politicians have always had an enormous amount of influence on goldfields, and their clamour is very often exaggerated and unreasonable. Nevertheless, it is a fact that so general and wide-spread was the opinion against provincialism, that the Abolition of Provinces Act, meetings to the contrary notwithstanding, was passed with the approval of the country. Having said thus much, however, let us follow the Otago Witness in its analysis of public opinion in the outlying districts of Otago. After granting the partial justice of the anti-Dunedin feeling in the country districts, it proceeds to consider the effect upon the public mind of the success of the Abolition movement. “ When it comes to the main issue,” it remarks, “ and the political leaders of “ the various localities see all power and “ real influence drifting permanently out “ of their possession and resting with “ the people of the Northern Island, “ they will begin to change their mind. “At least, if they do not, they will “ possess more endurance, a more 1111- “ selfish interest in the welfare of tho “ North, than has yet been noted in the “ character of our fellow settlers. It is “ absurd to suppose that Tapanui or “ Riverton really think that they will “ get justice done to them by Mr. “ Richajidson or Major Atkinson, which “ is denied them by Mr. Reid or Mr. ‘ ‘ Lumsden. There is no sense at all in “ such a supposition, and we will not “ affix it upon our settlers.” This is the crucial point. If tho Witness be a true interpreter of the political views of Otago men, then indeed has the question not been finally settled, because the majority of Auckland members, and a considerable minority from Canterbury are notoriously of the same opinion, so far as the administration of local affairs is concerned. That our readers may comprehend the Otago platform, we subjoin tho concluding portion of the leader from tho Witness, merely promising that should

financial disturbance be apprehended, Otago will likely be found standing upon it to a man. The Witness says :

A consolidation of tlio provinces with a North Island and a South Island Legislature lias so many features about it, that all must admit that we cannot wonder at the unanimity with which it is hailed. The pomp and parade of nine local Parliaments will not offend the economic eye of the settler. The wrangling of ins and outs, if not abolished, is at any rate removed a little way off. At the same time, sucli pomp and outward circumstance as remains will be more appropriate as attaching to the ruling power of a great, magnificent, and fertile island like this. Consolidation, or, ns it is terribly misnamed, separation, will do away with the dominant notion that a Dunedin clique, made to dance and nod by a few clover wire-pullers, is dissipating the means of the country tor their own selfish ends. The duties of lagislation and financial control will bo sufficiently enlarged to do away with a good deal of that narrowness winch has with much justice been ascribed to provincial management. A certain dignity will attach to a form of Government entrusted with the disposal of a very large revenue, while at the same time a personal control will bo maintained, and the representatives may lawfully enough be supposed to understand a little about the circumstances of the work entrusted to their care. The enthusiasm which of old was almost enough to make our people ready to fight for their idea has only lain dormant for these many years, and is now breaking out again. The very serious peril entailed by breaking up the whole Constitution of the country with the view of entrusting all power to a clique of politicians in Wellington, not hy any means too well beloved, has come to bo understood. To use an Americanism, not a candidate will be chosen upon the purely Central ticket—while sick of provincialism, the constituencies will gladly hail the half-way house of consolidation. The policy of delay for which wo have all along so strenuously contended Is now triumphant, and time has been given to those concerned to make out clearly what it is they really do want. By the time the elections come on we shall be surprised if there is any doubt left in the mind of any one man about the wishes of Otago, at least. With one unanimous voice they will declare that they will not entrust the land fund, still less the administration of the land, to an Assembly of which one important Chamber consists of a nominee class bitterly opposed to ho na fide settlement. As a policy, separation is not only desirable it is also most clearly feasible, and we hope that it will be loudly proclaimed ere long by some of those among our statesmen who are well able to carry it out. A triumph of no temporary duration awaits that party who will undertake to translate the wishes of the people into definite language. Wo have been so long now discussing mere destructiveness under the guise of abolition, that everyone will hail with satisfaction a policy which proposes to build up instead of pulling down, and that policy is the separation of the two islands—the formation of two provinces instead of one. W© said at the outset that this movement should neither be ignored nor made light of. Need we do more in conclusion than invite those who agree with us that a united colony must bo maintained at all hazards, to read and consider the foregoing extract. It is pregnant with meaning. The Constitution has been broken into ; the old order of things has been unsettled ; the task of reconstruction is before us. To whom shall we entrust this task, and what shape will the Constitution take from their hands 1 These are questions which the constituencies should well and dispassionately consider. The times on which we have fallen are momentous ;—they are fated to make or mar New Zealand. Let us then, setting aside all selfish and partisan feelings, as a people select those to represent us who have approved themselves worthy of confidence by their prudence, moderation, and judgment in the past ; and let us require from them a pledge that, while providing for the freest exercise of local self-government, and the fullest political control by the people, they will preserve the unity of tho colony, and the centralisation of the legislative powers in one representative body at tho Seat of Government.