The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 1878.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5293, 13 March 1878, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 1878.

Me, Macandeew is reported to have said, at a banquet recently given in Dunedin in honor of the Ministry, that he was not without hope that public opinion might compel Parliament to restore to the peoplepruvincialinstitutions, but in aform more adapted to the circumstances of the colony. We are at a loss to understand the logic of the above remark, though we have little doubt as to what Mr. Macandeew desires. Public opinion compelling Parliament to legislate in a certain direction appears to us an anomaly. Most people have lived under the fond delusion that a Parliamentlike ours, based upon such a wide franchise as a household qualification, was fairly representative of public opinion, and that its members were elected solely with the object of carrying out the views of the constituencies. Mr. Macandeew appears to be of a different opinion. Parliament, in his eyes, is something distinct from the people, and is mainly to be influenced by the Press and public meetings. Provincialism is such a large question that it can only be decided at the polling-booth. At a general election the voice of the people has already pronounced against provincialism, and it is only by the same moans that it can bo revived in New Zealand. We had hopes that Mr. Macandeew had bowed to fate] and would endeavor to adapt himself to the new order of things. As a Minister o! the Crown it is his duty to administer the laws as he finds them, and as the Ministry is presumably the representative of the majority in Parliament, it is certainly bad taste on Mr. Macandeew’s part to bring outside pressure to bear upon members of the Assembly. The Government have promised a new Representation Bill, which will' give every man in the country an equal voice in the election of those who; are to be entrusted with the legislation off the colony. It, has also been authorita-: lively stated that immediately after the : passage of the proposed Bill a general election will take place. That will bo the proper time for an expression of public opinion. But the truth is, Mr.; Macandeew has no idea that, there is any such a thing.as public opinion, put-; side the province of Otago. However, if; the Press’truly reflects the views of thq people of Otago,, that, province is not in favor of provincialism. The ‘Dunedin Star, a journal >with .the largest ciroulaj tion in the colony, had always been, a consistent’, advocate. Tor abolition,and now.that it has .been,, carried into effect, the ofar shows ' no’ signs of lj a' l deaird to revert to provincialism. Manjr of the up-country papers in Otago have freely expressed their opinions that the county, system lias been a success, , and contrast it favorably With 1 provincialism] A few staunch provinoialists are now and again ir l6ud in tlieir iamentsAver afallen cause ; but their bewailing is really the only risible sign of an opinion on the

subject. The great body of theJpeople are;.content with the existing.system of government, and are impressed with the belief that the Counties Act embodies a comprehensive system of local government. All over the country there; is ample evidence of this, despite the efforts of a few agitators to render the people dissatisfied with existing institutions. .The, Premier, a few days ago, > told the people of Dunedin that the liberties of the people of New Zealand were swept; away by ’ the Abolition Act.' ’ It ’is incomprehensible that sensible menshould listen to such nonsense; but taken in conjunction with whaA Mr. Macandrew said afterwards about reverting to provincialism, it appears to be very dangerous nonsense. A large majority in Parliament decided against provincialism; and whilst that Parliament,i&stm.insistence, the Premier accuses it of 'trampling on the liberties of the ' people, ’ and another Minister calls upon the public to compel Parliament to restore to the people their lost rights; i Members of the Government should weigh well what they say when addressing public meetings. The Ministerial policy is generally shadowed forth in such utterances.’/ Are we to understand that one of the principles of the Government policy ’ is’ the revival of provincialism 1 If such is the case, it will alter the position of parties in the House considerably. The provincial element in the Ministry has been strengthened by the acquisition of Mr. Robert Stout, a proviricialist of the most pronounced type.: Some respect for the feelings of a colleague should have prevented Sir George Grey and Mr. Macandrew from' speaking as they did at Dunedin. Mr. Ballance, both in the House of Representatives and the Press, has ably supported abolition. He will hardly agree with his colleagues that his action tended to rob ; colonists of their liberties. We have not always agreed with Mr. Ballance; but-we have every faith that he will remain consistent on the question of provincialism. It must be borne in mind, however, that he is only an unit in a Ministry the majority of whose members were bitterly opposed to abolition, and who have not to this day shown a disposition to abide by the altered order of things. Some time ago we expressed an opinion that Sir George Grey and Mr. Macandrew had not abandoned the two cardinal principles of their creed—provincialism and separation. Their recent action strengthens that opinion, and induces us to believe that they will endea-, vor, by fair means or foul, to bring about provincialism and the disruption the colony. In reference to this, it must be borne in mind that Mr. MaoandrbwV great hobby has always been two great provinces in New Zealand—one for the' North Island and another for the South Island ; and also that Sir George Grey actually moved a a series of resolutions in the House with the above object. However, a “tyrannical” majority in Parliament declared in favor of the unity of tlie colony, and Sir George Grey and Mr. MauAndrew had to bide' their time. They e vidently believe that their time has come, and we anxiously await the further development, of the Ministerial policy.