AN AUCKLAND OPINION ON SEPARATION.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 243, 18 April 1866, Page 2 (Supplement)

AN AUCKLAND OPINION ON SEPARATION.

(From the Ne-io Zealand AHcraldA)

We have, on more than one occasion, called the attention to the highly interesting enquiry as to Avhat is the probable form which the Provincial Institutions of New Zealend Avill- assume, and Avhat is the destination at Avhich they AA'ill 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 Avithin their OAvn borders, and gradually confine the General Government of the Colony to such matters as are purely federal, and relate ouly 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, Avhilst all parts of the country become amalgamated under one central Government? This a question which so ultimately concerns the progress of the Colony, that it is always worth our Avhile to Avatch 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 A r iew. It may be looked at from without, a point of view which would take in the relations existing betAveen the -General Government and any particular Province, and Avould 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 Avhich might -well be done by Local Boards, orto make it a real legislative body tor the Province. Different ministries have entertained different opinions upon this question, and have labored more or less to bring the A-iews which they have held into practical op 3ration. . ' The Stafford and Eichmond Ministry was anti-provincialist in its vieAVS and its measures. Its aim was to facilitate by ail means the subdivision of existing Provinces until by diminution of their territor}- it Avould become impossible for them to acquire independent power or influence. The policy ol" that Ministry Avas avoAvedly Centralization, as opposed to Provincialism. On the other hand, such politicians as Mr Fox, Dr Featherston, and Mr Fitzgerald have always' been strong Provincialists. They have upheld the unity and integrity of the Provinces, haA-e opposed the policy of Aveakening them by subdiA'ision 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 deliA r ered by the Superintendent of Wellington to his constituents. Dr Featherstsn declares himself Avith marked emphasis to be uoav Avhat he always "has been, an ultra-Pro-vincialist. He opposes all centralization at the expense of the ProA T inces, 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 v r iew there is doubtless a good deal of 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. TBut circumstances have altered since Mr Stafford's former 'tenure of ofhee, and he has seen the necessity of acting as the exigencies ofthe case require. And the circumstances of the case have undoubtedly produced in a great measure the effect which TDr Featherston attributed to them. The financial difficulties consequent upon the war^have seriously ahected 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 Eichmond 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 aoiirce hastjr, inconsiderate, and clumsy. Mr Weld

ost the important support of Dr Featherston solely by the crude assaults upon the immediate interests of the ProA 7 inces, planned by the incompetent financial genius which presiden over Mr Weld's exchequer.

If the relations between the General Government aud the Provinces slioav an increase of vigor and vitality in the latter, Aye shall find nothing to contradict this-, in the internal condition of financial, affairs. ,Of course, in such a matter Aye can speak best of our own Province, and certainly there are not AA r antiug signs of -an impending change in the nature of, the Avork doric 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 which intei'feres Avith the discharge of higher political functions. " Fancy motions," of Avhich so much has been said lately, and Avhich the Provincial Secretary has no objections to pass, provided it is distinctly understood that they are not to come to anything, Avould seem to constitute a kind of work which 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 and lifting ton Aveights, or in picking up pins and making lace, it will do Avell 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 TProvincial Assembly should occupy the highest ' position possible, should command the services of the ablest men, and should become a real power in the colony.