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Southland Times, Issue 909, 2 March 1868, Page 2

The speech made by Mr Fox at Wanganui, published in our last issue, has a significance of great political importance. Mr Eox is a man of mark, a liberal politician, and an excellent debator. His reappearance on the political platform is an event of great moment to the colony. TheProvincialists have long waited for him to come and lead them in the coming war with the Centralists. He has come and

has spoken. lie delivered himself of a speech that was chiefly devoted to a review of his political career during the long period from 1842 to the present time ; it also indicated that it is his intention to again enter the political arena to defend the provincial system, but in a modified form. We cannot say that Mr Fox has been particularly lucid upon any one item to which he made reference, except that of the perpetuation of the provincial system of government. Upon this subject he is plain and out-spoken, ffe professes an admiration for democratic i institutions, and maintains that the New Zealand constitution was framed upon a democratic basis ; though not republic, it was the nearest approach to it that could be obtained, consistent with the cherish- , ing of the loyalty that British subjects should ever maintain. He declares himself to be still an advocate for the continuation of the provincial system, not as it at present exists, but as it was when the constitution was first constructed. Tet Mr Fox is not clear in his exposition of his provincial proclivities. He appears to think that all the colonists should be aware of what was the intention of the pioneer politicians who fought for, and obtained, a responsible Government for New Zealand,' He says: — "However much I may be in favor of Provincialism, and I believe it not impossible to to restore the federal character of the Constitution, still I may be prepared to supplement the Provincial institutions, adding where anything is defective — not i to sweep them away, but to supply what- ( ever is wanting in them to meet the growing necessities of the colony." If we can interpret this expression of opinion aright it means the return to the five original provinces — the annexation of those smaller provinces that have been formed under* the New Provinces' Act to their parent province. The " federal character of the constitution " implies the denuding the G-eneral Government of all control over the colony administratively except in a few matters, such as light-houses, postal arrangements, the customs, and the tariff. This, we believe, was the idea of the framers of the constitution. It was never intended by them that the General Government should absorb the whole power and patronage of the colony. The question for Mr Fox ' to answer is, "did that federal system work with advantage to the colony ?" To our minds, the fact that the General Government have, session after session, been expanding the range of authority with the consent and approval of the people is a sufficient answer — that it proves the provincial system to have failed to accomplish the work its constructors believed it capable of doing. Mr Fox attributes this, not to the costly and cumbersome govermental machinery required for nine provinces, but to the refusal of the Imperial Parliament to restrict the powers of the General Government. He strongly believes in the constitution of 1852, if carried out in its integrity, bufc implies that a systematic effort has been made by recent Governments to centralise all authority, and thereby destroy the democratic spirit of the constitution. A reconstruction of the constitution he appears to believe desirable, but what shape or form the change should assume, is not expressed. If Mr Fox really possessess those liberal, to use his own words, " democratic " instincts, he will be in favor of an elective Legislative Council, and the bringing the system of Government completely to resemble that of America. But how this can be accomplished in a small country like New Zealand, overburdened with debt, appears somewhat difficult to understand. The centralising policy of Mr Stafpobd, so long as it is confined to the executive functions of Government, is sound in principle, but great caution is required in its working lest this principle should be exceeded. The provincial system is too firmly planted to be suddenly swept away, and any changes to be satisfactory must be gradual and well matured. No community in the colony would consent to give up its present right of self-govern-ment until an improved system, lessening the cost of the working expenses of the provinces, could be clearly brought forward and freely discussed. T here must be a complete scheme for an equitable distribution of the public funds, and a certainty that local self-government shall be maintained to the fullest extent. We are far from believing that the policy of the Stapfobd party has not this object in view ; still it is iupossible not to see that the centralising policy may be considered by some as the thin end of the wedge of despotism — thatif bothlegislative and administrative power is centred in one body, the local requirements of some districts may be neglected, while others with lesser claims are lavishly supplied. The question of centralisation is the great question of the day. It is evident that the provincial system, as at present exists, ia rotten, extravagant, and inefficient.

A. reconstruction of the constitution is urgently called for, and must be taken into consideration next session. It is not tinkering, experimentalising legislation that is wanted, but a statesmanlike review of the working of the existing one, exhibiting every one of its defects, and providing remedies for the evils they have created. Under these circumstances the presence of Mr Fox in the Assembly is most desirable. He is a statesman, inferior to none in the colony, and will be invaluable'in holding the balance between ultracentralism and ultra-provincialism. The Provincialists have now no leader, but in Mr Fox they will have an able man, who, we doubt not, while opposing to a certain extent the Staf!fobi) Ministry, will not seek to perpetuate a system that time and experience has proved abortive in its* operation. [_