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Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 42, 3 April 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

MAJOR -RICHARDSON v. SEPARATION

The following letter on the above subject, from the Daily Times of the 20th instant, will be read with interest : —

Majoe Eichaedson" and the Separation Question. (To the Hilt tar of the Daily Times,)

Sir, — The electors ot Otago are now in possession of Major Richnrdson's opinion of the most cardinal question in the politics of the Middle Island. It' not explicit on other topic?, he has sufficiently declared his avowed hostility to the Separation of this Island from the Northern one. His reasons for this opposition are of the most childish character. lie thinks that as there was no prosperity for England and Scotland and Tieland while disunited, so by dissociating the isles of New Zealand, nothing bat confusion, animosity, and disasters would ensue. Now, Sir, in this respect, between these islands and the British there is absolutely no parallel. The British Isles united under a common head and Imperial Parliament, doubtless enjoy mure peace and prosperity than if there was a sovereign legislature sitting in Dublin and Edinburgh, as well as in London. When, however, we want an independent government for this island, we still desire to be subjects of Queen Victoria, and are as anxious to prove on all occasions our loyalty to the British Throne, as our friends in the Northern Island. We are as loyal as they. But we naturally object to be ruled, at a distance of 900 miles, by a Governor and his Ministers who cannot sympathise with our views and wishes on many important questions affecting the best interests of the onward progress of our island. In fact, we might as well be ruled by the Government ot Tasmania as of that at Auckland. Commercially considered, we are more dependent on Victoria than on the North Island. That the people of the North will naturally feel indignant at our remonstrances for selfgovernment, and, if we get it, that it will call forth a host of angry passions, no one can d( übt. But what, in. (he name ol common s«Tise, has that to do with obstructing the progress ot these isles. In place oi obstruction, we fancy it will only forward, by rivalry, the advancement of both. We only ask that we shall have the disposal of our own revenue for the c eveLpraent of our own resources. "We ask, indeed, a separate government ; but it is only it constitutional one under the administration of a representative of the Queen. We, in short, think we have as good a right to this as the North Island or Tasmania, or any ol the Australian colonies. The Middle I- land is larger far than Tasmania. Its resources are greater. Its revenue must be greater ulso. Now, would Tasmania submit, to be governed by Melbourne or Sydney ? In fact, the area of the Middle Island is greater thun that of "Victoria. The prosperity of Victoria dates from her separation from New South Wales. Now it is far easier to govern Victoria from Sydney, than it is to govern Otago and Southland from Auckland. The distance from Auckland to Invereargill is, at least, 300 miles more than the distance from Sydney to Melbourne. Besides, the two islands are formed by nature for two flourishing colonies ; their interests are identical in nothing but in loyalty to the Crown. The climate, the soil, and the aborigines render the Northern Island essentially different from this is'and. Here there are few natives — there they arc numerous. Here the natives' title is almost extinct — there three-fourths of the land is owned by them. The Government of the North Island is, and must for some time continue to be so complicated and obstructed with the Native question. Why should this island suffer because their Governor and his advisers find their hands too ful l to attend to our interests ? Why should our money in thousands be drained away for purposes in which really we are not commercially interested. As an integral part of the British Empire we are quite ready to aid in crushing the insurgent natives by men or money ; but we cannot submit to have our interests invariably sacrificed and subordinated to the convenience and whimsical inclinations of a Government at Auckland. The Northern Island requires a separate Government to attend to its wants. To do so must tax the utmost efforts of the most skilful Governor, Executive, and Parliament. Seeing that they cannot attend to our wants, why should they stand in our way when we desire to take charge of our own affairs ? Let them rather agitate, and absorb their four Provincial Governments in one central Government at Auckland, and then they will be better able to deal with the Gordian knot of the Maori question. Let us also absorb the live Provincial Legislatures in one General Government inDnnedin, and we shall be better and more cheaply governed than we now are by the instrumentality of our Vestry Councils. The money we send to Auckland would start a splendid fleet of steamers to ply between London and Dunedin, via Panama. Sydney will join and the rest of the colonies must follow in the wake, even Victoria herself — Separation first — direct steam communication with England must follow. lam in favor of this, says Major Richardson, if ycu will get me the money. I reply, it is the duty of a liberal statesman to devise ways and means to accomplish a great object. The question of Separation should be the pivot on which the election of the Superintendent and Council should revolve. This is the question of questions — this is the ccrner stone of the future wellare of this island. It is the panacea to many of the ills that afJlict this island. If this island is to prosper — if Dunpdin is to be a great city, with wharves, warehouses, dicks, wet and dry, &c, we must bavu a Governor and Parliament for this Island. If this island is to be a satellite of the North — if Dunedin is to he a provincial village, let us continue to be ruled by Auckland men. Mr Harris lias openly avowed himself in favor of Separation ; he has premised to use his best efforts to hand over the insignia of office to a representative of the Queen. He is the champion of progress, and the onward march of not only this Province, but, of the whole of the island. He is also in favor of direct steam communication with 'England. He believes the one will follow the other. Major Kichardson, as a true disciple of the old school, has declared roost explicitly against all this. Harris is consequently the man ot progress. Eichardson the man ot retrogression. The electors must, therefore, see that a change of Government is imperatively necessary. It is a political necessity.

I am, &c,

J. Gt, S. Geahx.