The Southland Times. WEDNESDAY, APRIL,11, 1866.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 240, 11 April 1866, Page 2

The Southland Times. WEDNESDAY, APRIL ,II, 1866.

Oite of the marked peculiarities of the New Zealand colonist is a listless indifference to the future of the land of his sojourning. With a MAKK-TAPi/EY-like philosophy, he hears the burdens of the present, with scarcely a thought of the increased weight which the morrow may impose. He views with a stolid " don't care " inactivity the thoughts or policy of the leading public men. No country in the world, except this colony, would have permitted, at a critical period like the present, members to be elected who had no political creed, no defined views upon any question, and no pretensions to legislative ability. The forthcoming meeting of the General Assembly has long been looked upon as the session that, was to decide the relationship that the South and North Islands are to occupy. This is the question that should have directed every election. Paramount aboveall subjects thatatthepresenttimecan engage the mind of a colonial statesman, are these which will have to be debated in the House of [Representatives. Hitherto the colonists have been commercially energetic, enterprising, but not politically self-reliant. Politicans and journalists have long argued that unless a public spirit was evoked, a crisis would come. But their warnings were in vain. No political activity has been evinced. • Hitherto the Government of New Zealand has been carried on with reckless extravagance, and without any regard for the future. The Provinces have, been dependent upon the General Government, and the General Government dependent upon the Imperial Exchequer. The time has come when the colony from necessity is compelled to take up a selfdefensive position. This is patent to all who study the proceedings of the British Parliament, and mark the tone and character of the despatches which have been recently received from the Home Government. It is evident that the Imperial authorities ■• will now insist tfiat New Zealand shall learn to become selfreliant. Its patience has been worn out with protracted expenditure Cor Northern war and Northern colonisation 5 and the Middle Island is afflicted with th.c Bftme

complaint • its revenue has been absorbed, its progress impeded, and its future dimmed, to bolster up the North. The Imperial G-overninent virtually says : — " The expensive assistance which we have so long supplied, must now be taken away." The South also has supported the North until she has placed herself in serious financial difficiflties ; yet 'while acknowledging this, and almost unanim ously affirming that the partnership must be dissolved, or a fresh contract made, her actions imply that she is indifferent to the question. What _has been the result of the Separation movement; — a movement which promised to bring prosperity to the South without injury to the North ? It has strengthened the hands of the North. Separation was to have been the question upon which the candidates for legislative honors were to be tested, and yet, with the exception of a few, those that have been elected are antiSeparationists or men without pretension to political attainments. Southland perhaps, stands out in bold relief as one of the strongest supports of the Provincial system, of any of the Southern Provinces. Eour members have now been elected, and how ? Three have been unopposed, and the fourth had not a local antagonist. What are the views of these gentlemen. Mr Hankinsow has told us nothing except that he is opposed to Separation. Mr Wood thinks favorably upon the point, but does not understand it. Mr Dillon Bell thinks a change in the constitution desirable, but states that there are interests other than those of the South to be considered. And Mr M'Neill informs us that he has not formed any opinions, not even on the question of Separation. Southland, therefore, while professing to desire a release from Northern partnership, has done its best to perpetuate the present system of mis-government. Separation may now be considered nipped in the bud, and the change, if change there is, will be dictated by the North, and the lion's share of the present and future of financial difficulties of the colony thrown upon the people of the South. Political inactivity has accomDlished this.