POLITICAL—PROVINCIAL.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 74, 18 November 1864, Page 5

POLITICAL— PROVINCIAL.

The principal items of interest under this heading are in connection with, the general election, at present going on, of members of the Provincial Council; In our last summary we stated that there were two parties, one of which looked to Dr. Menzies, the present Superintendent, as its chief, and the other, which : is of opinion that the Province would be much benefited by placing another ruler in office. "Under the new Provinces Act, the Superintendent is elected by the Provincial Council, not necessarily from, amongstits members, but from the, body of the electors. The interest in the elec« tion of members for the Council has prin. cipally turned on this point. The test of fitness has in almost every instance been the answer to the questions — Who will you vote for as Superintendent ? or — Are you in favor of this man or that man as Superintendent ? It is evident that where this is the case there ia a risk run of i sterling merit being passed over, and a candidate being accepted without .in reality possessing the Asctery, qualifierti.ou for a §ea^ fy\ the QttuajU, ,'sh§ wte $ # \% % In m. ww top

intendent. is, however, one of vital importance to the Province at the present juncture. Por four years we have had at the head of affairs a gentleman who. how-* . ever high his private character, and the consequent respect he commands with all parties, has invariably done 'his best to retain the whole of the power in his own hands, although by law he is bound to act on the advice and consent of his Executive Council. It was the intention of those who passed the Act giving a constitution to New Zealand (and the subject is treated at some length in the instructions which accom.pan.ied {jhe^Act to the Colony), that each Proviace'Jsnould be allowed a certain latitude in adapting that' portion of the Act which more especially refers to the Provincial Governments. It is not stated in so many words, but such was the intention, and it has been allowed in the Colony. In those Provinces where there has been most political life, there has, from the first, been a strong wish that, within its legitimate sphere of action, the ;. Provincial Government should be "constitutional." It has been thought right* and just that the , Superintendent should; be guided by the decision of the majority;' of an Executive chosen from the Provincial' .Council, to whom they are supposed to be responsible. In the -Middle Island, where there is no Native question to embarass the local Governments, the theory has been reduced to practice with markedsuccess.' In every Province the Superintendent acts .with 'the advice and consent of his Executive, with the solitary except tion of Southland. W&, unfortunately; have had as Superintendent a gentleman who regards with supreme indifference ;the wish of the people to be governed as the settlers in the pther;' Provinces i are. So long as his Executive would .act ' exactly as he wished, nothing could .possibly go on smoother; but as soon- as; the least show of independence was c made, Dr. Menzies prepared himself for resistance, and he has successfully maintained his position in the face of the opposition of the entire Council. The time has now come for the people to choose a new Council, which will have to elect another. Superintendent, or to reinstate the present one in his office. Already several of the elections have taken place, and the majority of the successful candidates have been in favor of a new Superintendent. To-day, the principal election, or at all events the one which has caused most excitement, in to take place. The district of InvercargilLis called on to elect four members to represent it in the Provincial. Council. Amongst the candidates are Dr. Menzies, the present Superintendent, • and Mr. Tarlton, the Provincial Treasurer. Dr. Menzies Las a large circle of personal friends .who will probably be able to secure his election. .Of Mr. Tarlton very little good can be said. He has lately occupied himself to some extent in vilifying Mr. Chalmers, another candidate, and by so doing has deprived himself of many votes which would otherwise have, been given to him. His strictures have been confined to the part which Mr. Chalmers played in connection with the railway contracts, but his statements have been so clearly shown to be malicious and contrary to fact, that public sympathy has been strongly excited in favor of Mr. Chalmers, and we have little doubt he will be returned. The financial condition of the Province is very bad, the treasury is empty, the State creditors are not paid, and the public works of the Province, including railways, are at a standstill^ There seems to be no immediate prospect of a change for the better ; but it will be the place of the General Assembly to consider how best the Province can be relieved from the difficulties in which it is involved in common with every other part of New Zealand. There can be no doubt at all as to the primary cause of these difficulties. Out of the Customs revenues the Province receives but three-eighths. The remainder goes towards paying the expenses of the General Government and the Maori war. There seems also to be some likelihood that our territorial revenue may be interfered with, if the exigencies of the State demand it. . The cry for separation has arisen in consequence of this continued drain on the resources of the various Provinces of the Middle Island. It must be admitted that the Middle Island has hitherto cheerfully borne its share of the burden of the war, but it is beginning to be felt that the demands of the North may be carried too far, and that the duty of the people will be to remonstrate strongly against a continuance of the evil. If the war had been vigorously prosecuted, it should by this time have terminated. Meanwhile our up-country settlers do Hot complain. A far larger extent of land will be under cultivation this year than s there was last, and of .the ultimate prosperity of Southland there can be no doubt;. At is gratifying to be able to . state that the immigrants who have arrived during the last two or three months have, with very few exceptions, succeeded in obtaining permanent and remunerative employiment, and are likely to prove a valuable acquisivsion to the Province. >