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Southland Times, Issue 676, 29 May 1867, Page 2

As tie time approaches for the meeting of the General Assembly, the interest manifested in the discussion^ of the subject "What form of Government is test adopted fornNew Zealand," is becoming more apparent. The diversity ■of opinion that has hitherto been the distinguishing feature in colonial politics is gradually subsiding; the sentiments of politicians, so to speak, are becoming more consolidated, andeonverge to thethree great questions that will occupy the atttention of the next Asssembly—Separation, Centralism and Provincialism. There was a probability some time -since that the ranks of the Provincial party would be considerably increased, and a severe struggle would be made to keep the system intact. The agitation in Otago tended also in this direction, and to casual observers, hot conversant with the feeling of the public .mind in the colony, there seemed every probability that increased vigor would be manifeste'dby the Provincialists. But a remarkable change hasreeently taken place all oyerthe colony. Both North and South, with the ercep r tion perhaps of Otago, (and even there the feelmg is confined only to an extreme section of the community) haye condemned.the. provincial system. Politicians of standmg and infiuence, who formerly iwere averse to disturbing the existing state of affair?, partly from a sincere belief that Siicn institutions were the best adapted for :the welfare of New Zealand, now clearly jrerceive^ fiom recent events^ that if the projvineial system is continued, both ruin and distant day. Itmay jtljerefbre » be anticipated that at the nexs jmeeting . of the Assembly the General jGoyernment will be "prepared to introduce a-measure that will to a' iconsideriable extent alter the existing relations jbetween itself and the Provinces. But iiere again lies a difficulty. It i§. asserted well-informed circles tnafc- aineasnre will be introduced empowering , the : Supreme Government to assume the direction of the affairs of the , smaller Prb'- 1 yinces, such as Southland, Marlborough, JSTelsbn, Hawkss* Bay and Taranaki, giving in return municipalities, with extensive powers. Although we believe that a large majority of the inhabitants of Southland are desirous of a change in the. exist in-". system, we are equally certain 'that t7_o"

change contemplated, unless it embraces the handing over to the small provinces of the revenue that they at present possess, will be strenuously opposed. It will be opposed by the large provinces on the ground that too much power will be plac3d in the hands of the General Government ; and it will be opposed by the small ones on totall y different, but equally cogent grounds, i. c, thelessening of their importance without receiving a corresponding advantage. This, it is stated, will be the form that Centralism will take. . But we can hardly imagine that Mr StAITOBD, an able and astute politician, fean contemplate seriously introducing such a measure, unless he is prepared to satisfy those small northern provinces that the " native difficulty " will not affect their future position. And how can he undertake to do this? "What identity of interest is Ithera -between Taranaki and Southland — between Nelson and Hawkea' Bay on this question./ Then again if Mv : 'Stajetobi> undertakes to hand over to the municipalities, created in place of the small provinces, a sum equivalent to the customs three eighths together with other ■incidental revenue now received by most of ■thene provinces, where is the surplus revenue tb be derived from to carry on the Su-

preme Government, pay the interest and sinking fund of the large debt of the colony, and at the samctime allow both Canterbury and Otago to exist- — getting deeper and deeper into debt every day. If this is the scheme of Mr Stafeobd, it is an unwise one, and the sooner he abandons lit , the better for his character as a statesman. .The question then to be considered i* — what next best mode of Government is suited to the interests of both islands? and the inevitable conclusion p oints to— Financial Separation. In plain English, the colonists of the Middle I Island are adverse to pay for Maori wars, hover which they have neither control or guidance. And more particularly reverting to our own province, we would say — 'The 'Southland members of the General tAssembly ought not to pledge themselves to any particular course until the various schemes of colonial policy have been laid before them. JJet them remember that the most important subjects are invariably discussed at the close of the session; and we are much mistaken if 'Financial Separation will not be one of them.