New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, AUGUST 15.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4804, 15 August 1876, Page 2

New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, AUGUST 15.

If the separation resolutions had been introduced by Mr. Whitaker instead of by Sir George Grey, the dobate would have assumed a very different complexion. When the leader of the Opposition got up and recommended to tho House a constitutional change of tho very gravest character, without giving either an explanation of the proposed policy, or any reasons for adopting it, there were few who believed that the supporters of the resolutions were in earnost. Mr. Rees' speech, confirmed the opinion very generally expressed, that separation was a mere fiction, and that all Sir George Grey and his friends wanted was a stick to beat the Government with. Sir Julius Vooel, in replying to Sir G. Grey, labored under tho serious disadvantage of having nothing to answer, and the same may be said of Messrs. Button and Bryoe. Both these gentlemen made very good speeches, but they woro not evoked by

any arguments used on the other side, j When Mr. Whitaker rose the whote aspect of affairs changed. He bad.not a'good case, but he made the mostof it; and a debate has ensued which so far as it has yet gone is calculated to give a deathblow to the separation theory. Mr. Bowen disposed at once of Mr. Whitaker's fanciful analogies, of his reference to the early history of New Zealand, of the geographical argument, and oi the pretence of local government held out by the separationists. Mr. Reader Wood, in his most theatrical manner, replied to this argument that there was nothing in it. Mr. Whitaker was not well supported. While on the Government side Messrs. Baliance, Stafford, and Stevens exhausted the whole question of separation in weighty and able speeches, the leading men on the Opposition side scarcely dealt with it at all. Mr. Stout endeavored to show that Ministers were violating the compact of 1856, and endeavored by quoting previous speeches to fasten a charge of inconsistency upon them; whereas it is notorious that the attitude taken by the Government on Mr. Whitaker's land resolutions was mainly instrumental in preventing the land fund from being made ordinary revenue. Mr. Macandrew simply glorified Otago, and explained to the House how ready he would be to sacrifice all other interests in the colony to those of that province. From Mr. Donald Reid we might have expected all that was to be said for separation which had been left unsaid by Mr. Whitaker. But it was evident that Mr. Reid's heart was not in the resolutions before the House. He. made,, as he generally does, an able and sensible speech ; but it was not an argument for separation, but an argument in favor of the defunct provinces. He talked provincialism, and all that he said was argued out and answered last session. _ How long the debate may drag on it is impossible to guess, but it is evident that from the first the inability of their leader to expound their policy took all heart out of the Opposition. The Otago members are beginning, it is said, to find out what everyone else knew before, that all Sir George Grey wants is to turn out the Government ; and there were not wanting indications during the debate that the Southern men are not inclined merely to play his game. The more closely the Government policy is examined, the more it appears a fair attempt to. provide for local administration ; and the best men in the Southern camp will probably, if they cannot get their own way, endeavor to make the best of what they can get. The Counties Bill is a very well drawn measure, and will certainly secure local administration and the distribution of the surplus land revenue without an appeal to the House of Representatives. This is a very important consideration. Nothing tends to degrade a legislative body so° much as an annual scramble for the distribution of funds devoted to local public works. If the annual voting of the surplus land revenue in the different provincial districts for certain specific work is to be left to the General Assembly, or even if it i 3 left to that body to apportion the revenue among the different road boards, we' shall gain nothing by abolition. But by apportioning the land revenue once for all, according to a fixed rule, among the different counties, both Parliament and local councils will gain in dignity and usefulness. Part of the Opposition tactics has been, of course, to disparage the Government proposals ; but when separation has been finally disposed of, and the immediate future is steadily faced by the Legislature, we are inclined to think that the Counties Bill will be very generally supported. It is a great pity that the proposed committees on the boundaries have not been at work for the last fortnight. The sooner they get to work after the present debate is disposed of the better. We hope that after the second reading of the Bill the Government will agree to reasonable amendments in the measure. If they do, we have no doubt that they -will be able to provide such local organisation as will meet the requirements of the country for some time to come.

The colony is getting impatient to see real work progressing. There are a number of important Bilk before the House ; and the people are not blind to the meaning of the obstructions put in the way of their consideration. Any more debating of. abstract resolutions will raise a storm of discontent within and without the walls of the Assembly. If the Opposition still think that the Government ought to be turned out, and that they aro in a position to take their place, let them at once bring forward a vote of want of confidence, and take a vote without further discussion. If they are not prepared to do this, they have no right to stand in the way of public business any longer. Not only the Southern members of the Opposition, but, unless we are much mistaken, some of those of the North too are sick of the vain and devious ways into which it is attempted to lead them. . ■

The greater portion of the province of Auckland sympathises with the policy approved by the rest of this island. From Rodney northward, from Newcastle southward, it would be hard to find a pro?incialist; and the borough for which Sir George Grey, has chosen to sit would be very sorry to return to provincialism. To the people of the city of Auckland and its neighborhood we appeal not to allow the seat of Government grievance to overshadow their real interests. Provision is made for all the districts and boroughs of the province of Auckland, by the policy submitted to the House this session, such as they have not yet been offered under any previous system. Besides the maintenance of all the departments necessary for the public service, the boroughs and road boards will have guaranteed to them a certain income to spend on local public works. Under the provincial system, uncertain grants and still more uncertain advances were all that the districts of the North could look for. Now that they are offered local administration of all lands of every kind, and a certain income till those lands brine; in sufficient revenue to meet their wants, we do not think they will be so far misled by bad advice as to girojip at a mere shadow. Dunedin and Christchn>rch thrive, and will thrive, withput'being ma&e seats of government. So will Auckland ; and tho sooner its people.. realise the emptiness of the clamor some of them are now making, the better for the colony and the batter for themselves.; . ! '