POLITICAL—GENERAL.

Southland Times, Issue 967, 12 June 1868, Page 2

POLITICAL—GENERAL.

The Parliament is still in recess, but a proclamation has been issued by His Excellency the Governor appointing the next session to commence on the 9th July. Nothing of any marked importance has transpired since our last summary. The question of a reform of the constitution continues to be debated in every province in the colony, but no defined programme of the changes sought to be obtained has been placed before the public. The Centralist policy finds favor in a number of the provinces, but it is not yet sufficiently understood to evoke any marked expression of public opinion. The Provincialists are working hard to retain with trifling modification the existing system, but it has no leader. The hopes that were entertained that Mr Pox would step forward to fill the gap has not yet been realised, and unless he does obtain a seat before the meeting of the Assembly it is not probable that the present Ministry will be disturbed. There are reports of fresh discontent being manifested by some of the Maori tribes, but as yet nothing has arisen to lead to any expectation of an immediate renewal of the war. Still it is sufficiently serious to lead the colonists of the Middle Island to urge their representatives to advocate reforms as will secure to each province or county a fair share of its revenue, and a gradual decrease of its taxation. The time has come when a reconstruction of the constitution is a necessity. To obtain such a chance as will prove satisfactory, the Centralists and the Provincialists must denude themselves of local proclivites, and approach the question with the determination to legislate for the colony and not for the particular district they may represent. There must be shown a desire to effect such reforms as will, while cementing the union of the provinces, secure to each a fair and equitable portion of the revenue. If the question is dealt with on this basis—if each party will agree to consider the question in serious earnestness, the great work of the session will be soon satisfactorily settled, and the antagonism hitherto so conspicuously displayed between the North and the Middle Island members destroyed. His Excellency the Governor has been for some time past visiting the different settlements in the North Island, and it is understood that at the termination of the forthcoming session, it is his determination to pay a visit to those of the South. ♦