The Southland Times. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1867.

Southland Times, Issue 744, 1 November 1867, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1867.

The last session of the General Aaiein^ly was prolific in Acts, Amendment Acts, and Bills of every imaginable description. "We find that not less than ninety-three in number have been paseed and assented to by His Excellency the G-overnor. They embrace nearly every conceivable subject — in Bhort it would appear that the old code of laws had been entirely revised, and the provincial enactments almost all amended. It would be vain to attempt to enumerate the Bills that have been introduced and passed — a perusal of the list reminds one of an old curiosity ■hop where everything could be found from an needle to an anchor. It is as .positive an evidence of the absurdity of provincial legislation as could possibly be supplied. Months have been occupied in amending Provincial Bills, and rectifying provincial errors, that never would have been required, if there was one central Government and one code of laws for the entire colony. The work of the session has been of a description that makes patent the fact that the provincial system ia defective in principle and vicious in practice — that it is costly, cumbersome, and inefficient. Upon the whole, however, the legislative labors of the members of Assembly have resulted in a marked improvement upon the pait. Notwithstanding the provincial bickering and provincial log-rolling, measures of great colonial importance hare been passed, and the foundation laid for constructing one great and powerful Government out of the disjointed and unworkable petty Governments hitherto existing. The session was more than usually long in consequence of the provincial party offering an obstructive opposition to all measures having the slightest tinge of antagonism to their pet system. The most important measure introduced by the Stajtoed Ministry was the Local self- Government Bill. This was a very elaborate and carefully drawn-up document It was not intended to supersede the provincial system suddenly, but its operations would have had a tendency to expose the rottenness of the worn-out provincial system. After a three week's debate, by a log-rolling combination of the provincialists, this valuable measure was shelved for the session. Despite the struggling efforts of the provincialists, however, subsequently the whole tendency of the session veered towards Centralism, and^ there can be but little doubt that a measure similar to the Local Government Bill will be passed next session. The Ministry has steadily advanced onward to the goal of the desiring of the most thoughtful — the union of the colony with equitable and inexpensive local self-government. The Consolidation of Loana Act virtually clips the wings of provincial power, while raising the character and credit of the colony in the home market. Otago and Canterbury have been large borrowers, and every other Province has had to seek assistance in the shape of loans. Thus there would be ten different kinds of New Zealand debentures floating at the same time. As a natural consequence, these loans were difficult to negotiate, and only at a very low figure. Had the system of issuing provincial debentures been permitted to continue much longer, every description of New Zealand paper would have been scouted from the Stock Exchange. By the passing of this bill the provinces are relieved from provincial responsibility. Southland has much cause to be satisfied that it has become law. It lifts a load of trouble and perplexity that otherwise would have to be endured ; it decreases the interest paid, and gives the bondholder a good security for a doubtful one. Its working will tend to abolish the tottering fabric of provincialism, and clear the way for the introduction of the system of local self-government which could not be passed in a definite form during the recent session. The General Government, though not able to carry the Local self- Government Bill, did the next best thing to it. Two districts in the Canterbury Province, Xxtawu au<3 Weatlaud, Bought separation,

and the Government complied with the request aa far as possible without erecting those districts into new provinces. The / County of Westland Act, andtheTimaru . and Gladstone Local Board Act, are the forerunners of a system of Government that must prevail before the colony-- can hope to emerge from its difficulties..,^ In these acts the principle of local selfgovernment if fully recognised, and the machinery provided for working is simple and inexpensive. Six of a Council with a nominated chairman is all that is proposed. This is amply sufficient for all the local Government legislation. "Were all the provinces made into counties similar to that of "Westland, the expenses of governing the whole colony would be decreased by one half, and taxation speedily diminished. Yet the Provincialist party endeavor to make the cry "lower the taxes" their platform card, while striving might and main to retain nine costly mockeries of Parliament, and thereby rendering the reduction of taxation next to impossible. Southland is deeply interested in this question. Does not the salaries of a number of unnecessary officials swallow up the whole of her revenue ? "We have a' revenue in excess of most of the small provinces and yet nothing can be obtained for roads and other necessary publicworks. It is time that the Provincial Government was abolished, and a more simple, inexpensive, and efficient system adopted. That system, we believe, is the one provided for Westland. Every member of the Provincial Council who has a real interest in progress must feel that as far as Southland is concerned, the soonera moveismade towards securing its own abolition the better for the Province, and the more likelihood is there of securing public approbation.