The Southland Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30,1868.

Southland Times, Issue 1047, 30 October 1868, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1868.

The session of the General Assembly which came to an end on Tuesday, the 20th October, although an important one, cannot be deemed by any means satisfactory. The Stafeoed Ministry hare failed to fulfil the pledges made at a previous session to produce a full and fair policy of Retrenchment and Constitutional Reform, and the position of the Provincial Governments, as regards their relationship to the General Government, remains very mmch in the same state of uncertainty as it did previous to the assembling of Parliament on the 9th July. Thus nearly four months have been occupied in little more than party strife and recrimination. The advent of Mr Eoi as the leader of the Opposition was looked upon by the Provincial party as calculated to bring the reform question to a head, but they experienced signal disappoint' ment. Mr Eox gravely mistook his mission, and greviously blundered in the task entrusted to him. He has succeeded in procastinating the Reform urgently required, and uselessly extended the length of the session, without initiating any defined policy or introducing a single measure of public utility. It is not therefore matter for surprise, notwithstanding the complete organisation of the Provincial party, that the Sxaffobd Ministry should have retained its ground, and even improved its position towards the end of the session. The address presented by the Speaker was tame and uninteresting. It sets forth that the result of the session is " the addition to the Statute Book of eighty-one public acts." In the number of acts passed, the late session has been more prolific than any of its predecessors, but in quality far inferior. In looking over the list of bills passed we can scarcely find one of any public importance, a large majority being simply to slightly amend existing ordinances framed for provincial use. Not one of the important measures expected to become law, such as the consolidation of the Constabulary force, the harmonising of the fragmentary laws now in operation in the various provinces, by the introduction of one code of enactments for the whole of the colony, has been passed. We cannot accept the announcement that, " the addition to the Statute Book of eighty-one public acts" is evidence of wisdom. It is not tinkering with crude and ill constructed provincial ordinances which is required by the t

country, but broad and "wise Colonial legislation. The prorogation speech of His Excellency Sir George BoWEN is essentially of the stereotyped character of viceregal addresses; still there are ; one -or 'two sentences of public import!" 'He speaks hopefully of the Imperial >and colonial forces in the colony, and friendly natives, being effective in shortening the dura- j tion of the native rebellion" The qhief j point of the address, however, is contained in the following paragraph : — j "The numerous petitions from inhabitants of outlying districts 4 of the colony which have been addressed to the General Assembly during the present session, j praying, in one form or other, for in- j creased power in matters of localconcern, indicate the existence of a wide-spread I feeling of dissatisfaction with the working of existing local institutions, and leave no dcubt of th 3 necessity for an improved system of local government as the most effective means of removing discontent and disunion amongst important sections of the population, and of preserving the unity of New Zealand." This is evidence that the Ministry are determined, during the recess, to perfect a policy of retrenchment, reform, and union, i Mr Stafford has heavy work before ' him, and many difficulties to surmount ere the Assembly again meets. The retirement of Mr Hall from active service is much to be regretted, and will be a serious blow to Mr Stafford. Mr Hall has proved himself an able debater, a persevering worker, and a. consistent politician, and his abandonment of office at the present time is a public misfortune. Mr Stafford has pledged himself to meet Parliament with a definite policy for such reforms in the constitution' as will conduce to the unity and general prosperity of the colony. It is. fervently to be hoped he may be. , mSre successful than he. has been%Vyet in destroying the noxious weed of Provincialism, and building up a system purely colonial, while giving equity and justice to all parts and classes of the colony.