AN AUCKLAND OPINION ON SEPARATION.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 240, 11 April 1866, Page 3

AN AUCKLAND OPINION ON SEPARATION.

(From the Few Zealand Herald.)

- "We have, on more than one occasion, called the attention to the highly interestin"- enquiry as to what is the probahle form which the Provincial Institutions of New. Zealend will assume, and what is the destination at which they will ultimately arrive. "Will the Provincial Governments grow stronger and stronger — arrogate to themselves more and more, as time goes on, the functions and powers of supreme legislatures within their own borders, and gradually confine the General Government of the Colony to such matters as are purely federal, and relate only to the conditions under which a number of well nigh independent States are united together? or, on the other hand, will they diminish by degrees in power and importance, and become mere municipalities, whilst all parts of the country become amalgamated under one central Government? This a question which so intimately concerns the progress of the Colony, that it is always worth our while to watch every indication which the course of events may from time to time offer of the manner in which it is likely to be answered, as well as to notice all expressions of opinion by our leading public men upon so important a point. The question may be regarded from two points of view. It may be* looked at from without, a point of view which would take in the relations existing

between the General Government and any particular Province, and would take cognizance of any encroachments made by either upon the accustomed domain of the other, or it may be regarded from a point of view internal to the Province itself, from which notice might be taken of the tendency which exists either to exalt or to degrade the functions of the Provincial Council, to place in its hands the administration of small matters which might, well be done by Local Boards, or to makeit a real legislative body for the Province. Different ministries have entertained different opinions upon this question, and have labored more or less to bring the views which they have held into practical operation. The Stafford and Eichmond Ministry was anti-provincialist in :its views and its measures. Its aim was to facilitate by all means the subdivision of existing Provinces until by diminution of their territory it would become impossible for them to acquire independent power or influence. The policy of that Ministry was avowedly Centralization, 'as opposed to Provincialism. 'On the other hand, such politicians as Mr Fox, Dr Featherston, and Mr Fitzgerald have j always been strong Provincialists. They have upheld the unity and integrity of the Provinces, have opposed the policy of weakening them by subdivision and have endeavored to enhance instead of to diminish the importance of ' Provincial institutions. Dr Featherston has lately taken occasion again to declare his views upon this important question.

His remarks upon the principle of Provincialism constitute to our mind the most important and interesting part of the excellent speech delivered by the Superintendent of Wellington to his constituents. Dr Featherstsn declares himself with marked emphasis to be now what he always has been, an ultra-Pro-vincialist. He opposes all centralization at the expense of the Provinces, and upholds the latter in the exercise of the fullest' powers which the Constitution Act gives them. Dr Featherston moreover congratulates himself, and those who think as he does, on the progress and triumph of their views. He thinks that the tendency of things, as well as the action of the present Ministry, is all in favor of the principle of Provincialism, and in this view" there is doubtless a good deal oi truth. It is very true that Mr Stafford, the present Premier, was also Premier of the Ministry which distinguished itself by its measures against the power and influence of the Provinces. But circumstances have altered since Mr Stafford's former tenure of office, and he has seen the necessity of acting as the exigencies of the case require. And the circumstances of the case have undoubtedly produced in a great measure the effect which Dr Featherston attributed to them. The financial difficulties consequent upon the war, have seriously aneeted the interests of the different Provinces as such, and have aroused them to a distinct and independent action which has made itself felt perforce in the general council of the

Colony. ' The anti-Provincialism of the Stafford and Richmond Ministry was surpassed by that of Mr Weld and his colleagues. The former was at all events calm and far-seeing; the latter was, like everything else that came from the same source hasty, inconsiderate, andcluaasy. Mr Weld lost the important support of Dr Featherston solely by the crude assaults upon the immediate interests of the Provinces, planned by the incompetent financial genius which presiden ever Mr Weld's, exchequer. If the relations between the ' General Government and the Provinces show an increase of vigor and vitality in the latter, we shall find nothing to contradict this in the internal condition of financial affairs. Of course, in such a matter we can speak best of our own Province, and certainly there are not wanting signs of an impending change in the nature of the work done by the Provincial Council. There can be no doubt that this body must by degrees be relieved from attending to the local needs of every district in the Province. The repair of roads, bridges, &c, must come more and more into the hands of local boards, and the chief Assembly of the Province must be relieved from work j which interferes with the discharge of higher political functions. "Fancy motions," of which so much has . been said" lately, and which the Provincial Secretary has no objections to pass, provided it is distinctly understood that they are not to come to anything, would seem

to constitute a kind of work might be done by less important machinery than the Provincial Council, and unless that body is ambitious of the attributes of an elephant or a steam-engine, which are generally supposed to be equally at home in rending oaks arid lifting ton weights, or in picking up pins and making lace, it will do well to encourage by every means the action of local boards and corporations in all parts of the Province. In this way only can Provincial Councils rise to the position which, theoretically is open to them/and it is for the interest of all that our Provincial Assembly should occupy the highest position possible, should command the services of the ablest men, and should become a real power m the.colony.