SEPARATION.

Southland Times, Issue 557, 10 September 1866, Page 2

SEPARATION.

(TO THE EDITOK OF TIIE SOXTTHIATTD TIMES) Sir, — In your issue of the 29th ult.,, I notLe a letter from Mr Marten, on the subject of " Separation," in which he complains, that although he has converged with nu:ii3rous opponents of the scheme, and has adduced many arguments in favor of it, these argumenis ha.c remained unanswered, and that the anti-Separa-tionists (wnom he facetiously divides into three classes) content themselves w.th simple assertions, " and rest their hopes on mere decl.itn.itioii." Apparently, Mr Marten has not readlhe debate wh'ch ensued, on the question of Separ.itiou being r.u'sed in thj General Assembly, or he would have found, uot only his arguments, bub many others very fairly anjs .vert d. Mr Marten's first main argument is , after all Out an assertion, and conta n-» a libel, an unjust and utterly unt'oun led libel upon our fell iw colonists in the Northern Island He s.iys, speaking of ."Separation:—" It would us of a costly war, in which we have no interest — a war directly and indirectly prejudicial to us." Now, Mr Marten must assume tiiat if we withdraw our aid, the war ceases ] If not, we surely have an in eresf in assisting to quell a war which is " directly and indirectly prejudicial to us." Cm he prove that, iv the event of Separation taking place, the Maories would succumb? The libi-1 is contained iv tnese words, " a war whose sole aim is the increase of the laud revenue of the North Island," and again further on in his letter, he accuses the Northerner's poiut blank of encouraging and fostering the war, in order that they may benefit by the increase of trade. Assertions are never so odious as when employed in de fain.tion. Mr Mirten has brought a serious charge against our neighbors in the North Island, and should be prepared ts substantiate it. In his " second miin argument" we kive still "assertion." Saperation " would effectually tormiuate that most miser.ble system yd pt, — rhe "Provincial." .Whjr? How ? L heartily endorse ill he says' on thesubj.cbof Pro-, vincial Government, but, does it follow as'

a logical deduction, that their abolition would ensue upon Separation taking place ? . Mr Marten, I think for his own sake, should not have inserted an extract from the letter to himself written by a gentleman of " hiiih literary standing." That extract cont tine I an an j;u neut to be used against ' Separation." "Union is strength" is a rule without an exception The policy of" Separation" is a narrowminded and a selfish one, and as Mr Marten's friend remarks " seeks only to stive ofFa present distress, without looking to the future." In one of the y outh American Eepublics, the coins bear mottoes, which I strongly recommends as worthy of adoption by our colony. On the one side of the coin is found Economia es riqiieza on the reverse ; La TJ.iion es tnerza TERROEFIIJtJS. Invercargill, 7th September, 1566.