The Southland Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 1866.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 223, 2 March 1866, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 1866.

The destinies of a nation or colony are often influenced and determined by the line of action adopted at some special emergency the wisdom or folly displayed. The intelligent reader of historical record has but little difficulty in discovering the precise period which formed the turning point in the destiny of a people. He can point with tolerable accuracy to the acts and deeds which at some particular juncture affected — it may be for generations, for weal or woe — the whole course of their subsequent history. "Wise are the men who watch the " signs of the times " — have the wisdom to discover, and the prudence' to improve the critical period of the time — and wisely conduct, and measure a crisis uninfluenced by personal motives or a fear of the clamor of the hour. The future of this colony, at least the present generation, is hanging in the balance ; whetLer the scales shall be turned for good or for evil depends upon the enlightenment and conduct of those now elected to legislate. It behoves every colonist to cast aside the fetters which pre-conceived ODinions may have imposed upon his judgment, and calmly to consider the present critical position of the colony. The coming session of the Q-eneral Assembly will be pregnant with good or evil, it will decide the system upon which the colony is to be governed. And upon that decision rests the peace and tranquility, or the discord and agitation of the future. Complicated and diverse question of the most urgent and momentous nature will engage the attention and test the capacity of our legislators. The great fight will be the Separation debate. On this subject parties are pretty evenly balanced, and it is possibla that the leaden and lethargic inactivity of Southland may kick the beam and shelve the question. Other matters in which all classes of the colonists are immediately interested — war, stamp duties, increased taxation &c. — will require to be dealt with in a spirit of statesmanlike liberality and unbiassed judgment. Provincial narrow-mindedness and cramped local views will be fraught with certain injury. Impolitic action at this crisis may be productive of widely-spreading evil. As a pebble cast into the still waters agitates the surface, and causes converging and ever extending circles to embrace the whole pool, so will an injudicious selection of representatives at this juncture be likely ta produce effects that will be felt through the entire colony, and which years may fail to remedy or efface. Wise and moderate deliberation and well studied measures are indispensable to the present emergency. The impossibility of the two islands being satisfactorily governed under one code of laws is now acknowledged by the major portion of the thinking men of both Islands ; and Separation is the only means by which justice can be done to each. Auckland desires to have the management of its own affairs, and the Middl e Island — the majority of the people — are strong in the dpinion that unless Separation is obtained, progress cannot be expected. The old sentimental notion of " a great and united New Zealand" is an Utopianidea which experience has proved to be impracticable and dangerous — that, however pleasing in theory, it is bitter in practice. Still there are trimmers, placeseekers, zig-zag politicians, so to speak, who blow hot or cold with a dexterity as contemptible as it is dangerous. Many who have declared for Separation have trimmed their sails to meet the smallest breeze that has blown — men who have no guiding principle, no well adjusted compass with which to steer by. It is from the fickle-mindedness of such men that the blunderings which have reduced the colony to its present state of depression and disorganization has come — that procrastinated the war, impoverished the exchequer, and deadened the energies of the people. It is a want of an active public opinion which permits such shallow pretenders to " feather their nests," and continue their self-seekkg and reprehensible conduct. Separation, in some form or other, is almost universelly acknowledged to be a necessity by the people of Southland, and yet with a " don't care " indifference, they leave things to take their chance, and complacently smile at the election 6t all who may come forward, regardless of the effect it may have on the future. If they believe ia Separation it is their bounden. duty to find and support a Separation, candidate. It is not our in*

tention now the election is over, to canvass the merits of the candidates that presented themselves for the suffrage of the Biverton electors. The election is over, and the evil done, the Separation party has been weakened by what is tantamount to two votes — the Biverton people have proved that they do not appreciate the political privileges they have hitherto professed they desired to enjoy. The other districts of Southland are also apathetic. True it is they have asked parties — absentees — to stand, and appear satisfied to allow them to " walk the course," ignorant of their opinions upon even the question of questions — Separation. This Province beyond all others, requires to have able representatives — men who know its requirements and realize the magnitude of its difficulties. Unless public spirit is now displayed, Southland will "become the laughing stock of the colony — her interests will be neglected, and her fate sealed. Auckland and Otago have shown great public spirit' in the matter of the elections. On the question of Separation they are one, and with the aid of Southland, would obtain a success. But the vacillating conduct of Canterbury, aided by the censurable inanition of Southland, makes it not improbable that their efforts will be rendered abortiveIt is not too late yet, to do something to redeem the past — other members have to be elected, and the gentlemen solicited to stand (Me. Heale (excepted) leave us in j ignorance of their intentions, and do not appear to consider it at all necessary even to write a statement of their views, much less condescend to visit and state them openly to the electors. Such a state of things should not continue. A people who are dead to their political re^ responsibilities, when such a momentous question as that of Separation is involved, are unworthy of a representative government. I