POLITICAL OPINION IN THE SOUTH.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 181, 12 July 1884, Page 2

POLITICAL OPINION IN THE SOUTH.

SIR JULIUS VOGEL’S LEADERSHIP. Christchurch, Thursday. I have noticed a tone in the leaders of the Times lately which looks very much as though they intended to boldly advocate separation at any rate there is a decided leaning that way. This morning for instance, it says ’ — “ The contrast afforded by the reception given to Sir Julius Vogel in the south and north divisions of the colony is very significant. It throws light on the severance of interests, and the radical hostility which now, as ev-4’,

separa'es North from South. All the fine talk about colonial unity and brothers good will not close the gulf that divides Auckland and Wellington from Canterbury and Otago. We believe that no political leader in the present crisis can, with safety to himself, stand between North and South, so as to satisfy both parties. Ho must, like the Irishmans ideal judge, lean a little to one side. Sir J. Vogel has now come to essay the task which has proved too much for Atkinson, Grey, and Montgomery. No sooner is it evident that the different sections of the South are willing to coalesce under Sir Julius’s banner, than at once murmurs of dissent ate raised on the other side of Cook s Straits. We hear talk of a combination between Grey and Atkinson to protect Northern interests and keep Sir Julias out. We are afraid such a union is quite out of the question. We can imagine many strange political coalitions, but our head swims when we try to conjure up a vision of Grey and Atkinson, the lion and the laiab, lying down in peace together. Which would act the part of the lamb, and how long would the lion take before eating him? Foi our* selves, we should like nothing better than the union of Knight and Major. If anvthing could possibly open the eyes of Southerners to their true interests, and induce Canterbury and Otago to pull together, it would be an alliance of the North under Grey and Atkinson. Of course the aim and object of such an alliance would be to plunder the South of another million, so that the North Island should possess two non-paying trunk railways instead of one. The Auckland Herald has just shown its desire for rigid economy and its appreciation of the colony’s financial posit’on by declaring for the preposterous scheme of a double trunk line to cost two millions and ahalf, and to be paid for by Canterbury and Otago. As we have pointed out before, the one platform cry throughout the Nsrth Island is this trunk railway and its route, single or double. Thia is the sole question ab mt which the patriotic Northern mind is agitating ih.ilf. Two years ago the Auckland “ Herald ” denounced our West Coast Railway as “ the most scandalous and ruinous job ever talked about in the House of Representatives.” The other day the same newspaper thought of our railway that the only mistake the Government ever had made was inducing it.—N.Z. Herald.