MONTHLY SUMMARY FOR EUROPE.

Southland Times, Issue 633, 18 February 1867, Page 2

MONTHLY SUMMARY FOR EUROPE.

POLITICAL— G-ENERAL. The subject of importance now engaging the attention of colonial^politicians ia the form of Government best suited to the interests of both islands of New Zealand. Whatever difference of opinion exist as to the nature of the change may that is required, there is one point on which all are agreed, that is the necessity for an immediate reconstruction of the constitution of New Zealand. Most of; the leading colonial politicians ha>ve come to confess that the provincial system has been prolific of evil, that it has tended to warp men's minds, make men with fair capacity fdr? legislation mere village politiciaiisj wrangling advocates of local interestsj and destroyers of that broad grasp of intellect that ever characterises the statesman. The privilege of representa? tion possessed by the people is neglected or: lightly valued,- because they have, watched the doings, the provincial jugglery, and political self-seeking that appear to cluster round all who breaths the atmosphere of the General Assembly/ " for even a single session. But fpw repre* - sentatives have ever gone there who, 0i1.. ; , return, were able to give a satisfactory account of their stewardship. The strong-minded delegate of a class or interest makes a tool of the weak-minded but well-intentioned representative, the declaiming stump orator is silenced by a government appointment. The nine provincial cliques are pitted against each other, the representatives of the stronger ones are bought over, while by "logrolling" manipulations the representatives of the smaller ones are frowned or flattered into a pliable frame of mind ; thus year after year the colony is plunged deeper and deeper into a state of perplexity and confusion. That this is a true picture all will acknowledge, still this state of things has been so long permitted to exist, that it has becomecff chronic, and now when the colony ~ has Y^ached the pinnacle of Governmental laundering, and public indifference^ whining lamentations are heard in every quarter, while- no active steps are taken"-' to destroy the evils over which the public * mourn. "We have again been induced to re-' vert to this subject, from a perusal ofth&yrecently received Canterbury^ and Otago . papers. The Separation agitation that a few months since was almost rampant in Otago and strong in Canterbury,^ has faded away. An article in the iLyttleton Times supplies much matter for serious , thought, It. starts. out with stating t^*!' "two vacancies intherepresentation of that Province have arisen." These have'occurred by the retirement bf two gentlemen who have long played conspicuous parts on the political stage of New Zealand. We allude to Mr Eitzgebald and Mr Crosbie Ward. The former has received a permanent appointment, and the latter who not long since appeared _ as the Canterbury apostle of -Separation, has been lulled into silence by roving commissions on Postal business. It would be amusing if it was not destructive to reform to note the amiability with which our contemporary can change ita tone now the Canterbury magnets are well provided for. In the article before us thciruture is painted as dark and ominous, but not a singlo word is uttered in favor- of the only operation by which .the leaden; cloud may be rent, and sunshine made visible — Separation. With- an at-_ tempt at consistency, it mildly intimates that political changes are required, , but to obtain them more than one session will have to pass, and ' intimates that as the wants -of- the North are as great as ever, the South niust be prepared to make further sacrifices. That notwithstanding the Stamp Duties, the increased Tariff, it is probable that the moiety of the customs may not be forthcoming, and that even part- of the Provincial .Land fim\lsjm%y be required for General Government purposes. The writer does not. relish the idea of such a policy being applied to Canterbury or Otago^bnt juggests : that the best way outof the. difficulty- wiil be to abolish the " needy" provinces, and to take the whole administration of their affairs into the hands of.the General Government.". Southland and Auckland are favored by particular mention as among the " needy." . This ' article has peculiar significance. As a straw floating on the surface of the water serves to indicate the "direction of the current, so an article of this description from the Lyttleton TimSs'&i 'the present time serves to foreshadow the description of fetters that are being forged for us in the General Government workshop. What does our contemporary mean by " needy " provinces ? Tf he means that money has been borrowed to construct public works the term wfll apply, equally "to -every ; provincein -New Zealand. If on the' other hand it is intended, we believe it is, only for those provinces that have received -assistance from the General Government direct, we stamp it as an unjustifiable in-

suit to Southland. *Ihis province is in as good a financial position as any other province in New Zealand, with the single exception that for a certain accommodation it handed over the security of the whole of its laiided estate—a security at least five times the value of the amount borrowed'from the General Government. Is it possible that the large provinces of Canterbury and Otago are in league with the General Government, to induce either the foreclosing of the mortgage or the annexation of the involved provinces to their large neighbors ? It would appear that such is the case. Southland has boldly declared that the only change in the system of the Government of the colony that is calculated to prove beneficial to all is t Financial Separation and federal union. The banner . has been raised, and it must be kept afloat. The existence of the Province is in danger. Otago seeks to swallow up Southland by annexation, and, failing to do this, a pressure may be brought to bear in order to extinguish its existence by inducing the General Government to foreclose the mortgage and take the conduct of affairs into its own hands. "Will the people submit to this ? We hope not. Southland condemns the provincial system ; it demands a change in the system of Government ; but we have greatly mistaken the temper of the people if either annexation to Otago or any other Government is permitted without a struggle. Southland desires reform, but a reform no less sweeping than the destruction of provincialism. If this cannot be obtained, we believe to a man Southland will elect to keep its integrity as a Province, and manfully work to extricate it from its temporary difficulties. Financial Separation, two Governments for the two islands, and a Federal Council is Southland's dreed, and annexation of any description will be determinedly opposed. '—* ■