The Southland Times. FRIDAY, JULY 3, 1868. SUMMARY FOR EUROPE, VIA PANAMA.

Southland Times, Issue 979, 3 July 1868, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, JULY 3, 1868. SUMMARY FOR E UROPE, VIA PANAMA.

■ ■•; POLITICAL. .-,. • As the time for the meeting of the Q-eaeral Assembly draws near, the question—Colonialism versus Provincialismis becoming better understood. Some \ ; af the leading politicians have taken s the opportunity; of addressing their 1 j constituents, and hare at greater or lesser extent dwelt upon this subject. Reform Associations have been formed, and many able papers read, still it is only very recently that any defined views have been expounded by either one party or the other. Tb.e address of Mr Stappobd was looked forward to with great anxiety. It was generally believed that on the occasion of meeting his constituents at Nelson he would not only have defended the past policy of his G-overninent, but would plainly state what course of future action he intended to pursue. The hon. gentleman, however, did not, it would appear, deem it prudent to adopt this course, but maintained a cautious reticence. Others of the party, however, have supplied in a measure the deficiency, and we can now tolerably well understand what is the aim and object of the Colonialists. The Provincialist leaders have also shown their hands, and to a certain extent the people have been placed in possession of sufficient information to enable them to form an opinion as to which of the two parties present legitimate credentials for public support. The Colonialist policy, as shadowed forth by Major Bicha.bi>son, in no way tends to the destruction of local self-govern-ment, but rather to elaborate and perfect that system. Its aim is to lessen the present extravagant expenditure without violating the principles upon which existing institutions have been founded, to do away with the legislative power of Provincial Councils without disturbing the boundaries of the Provinces, and by the creation of Municipalities and District Boards, more fully to carry out the objects of local self-government Under the present system no outlying district is ever certain that its claim j will be entertained by the Council, When the whole revenue of a province is thrown into one chest, and no definite plan for its distribution recognised it follows as a natural consequence that the districts that are the strongest or best represented will obtain the largest share of the funds to be expended on public works. On the other hand, if the provinces are to be divided into counties and municipalities, endowed with a portion of the land and general revenues raised in the districts, there would be no longer the unseemly scramble to secure the largest share of the expenditure for this or that particular district that now disfigures the proceedings of every Provincial Council in the colony. Tbe denuding the Provincial Council of its legislative powers, instead of being an evil, could not well fail to prove a .positive good. Is it not atransparent absurdity to have nine different codes of laws in a colony scarcely numbering a quarter of a million of people? Yet such is now the case. Each province is session after session altering, and amending one act after another, creating confusion and dissatisfaction. Uniformity in law has ever been the great aim of statesmen of all enlightened countries, and no uniformity can be secured for New Zealand until the legislative, if not the administrative power, is centered in the Colonial Q-overnment. It is certain that if Mr Stapfobd is prepared with a workable scheme of reform— a scheme approximating to that sketched by Major Eichabdson, it will deserve universal support. It would lessen the cost of government, more equitably distribute the public funds, enlarge the bounds of local self-government, and establish uniformity of laws throughout the whole colony ; it would destroy petty provincial bickering and local discontent, and by union: render the colony as powerful as it is now weak. What is meant by Provincialism ? Hitherto the term has been supposed to mean the maintenance of Provincial Institutions as at present existing. This generally accepted idea, however, proves a myth. Mr Fox has spoken, and his utterance may be taken as that of his party : it means the annexation^ bf the smaller provinces to the larger ones. He says : — " Was it too late to limit the ; G-eneral Government and thwart its great appetite for aggrandisement— to reinstate Provincial Institutions from which local self-government must flow ?" What does

Ms mean ? Simply, as far as SouthUuri »/ . joneerned, annexation to btag^plMittg'f ;hfexiriguial provinces on their oil? b»ij^ : ? We believe that the voice of : ; sfce/piid§;j mice "would unanimously declare against? • this. The Otago politicians have npi^o/ [bun ft favor with thepeople of Southland. rhe neglect and injustice this locality Bxperienced previous to separation instill fresh in the memory of the old settleta, and any attempt to force annexation would be-determinedly opposed. "What could Southland gain by such an arrangement? Nothing: it would be all lot* and no profit. ; :We should part with bur provincial offices, and be still required to pay through the nose for being governed frbnl a'; distance ty men in whom we had no'confidence— men whose politicalaetionfl and legislation has lowered the character af the colony and brought Provuicialism into contempt. Even supposing such an event did take place, in order to secure even.a moiety of selfrgovernment, the county and municipal system * would have to be adopted; but with this .difference, we , would . have to look to, ...the Otago Government instead 'of the G-eneiral Q-overnment. Are the ■ Solon* of Duriedin fit legislators for Southland ? "We think not. If any change does; take place it must be in the direction of % closer connexion with the General Go* vernment. The question may be thus ..briefly summed up : Colonialism embraces one strong government, with Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament to legislate for the ; whole colonygiving the fullest , amount of local selfgovernment ; Provincialism ; means the absorption of the smaller provinces into the larger and / stripping - the General Government of every vestige, ot real authority, perpetuating log-rolling in the Assembly, if sucjh a body is permitted to exist, and maintaining the system of extravagance that has; brought the colony to the verge of ruin. : ; :; .i