The Southland Times. MONDAY, MARCH 8, 1869.

Southland Times, Issue 1120, 8 March 1869, Page 2

The Southland Times. MONDAY, MARCH 8, 1869.

In the midst of political changes/ the true interests of the people are very often lost sight of. While the Council is deeply engaged in the discussion of the subject — whether it is right and proper that a member of the Executive should have charged his expenses to Melbourne, on Government business, or paid them out of his private purse — the most important considerations, involving to a great extent, the future well-being of the Province, are entirely overlooked. There appears to be a kind of idea prevalent that whenever the Council is called together it affords an excellent opportunity for the ventilation of personal grievances. The Government is, of course, the target at which all the shafts — venomous or otherwise — are levelled. It requires no very great amount of brains to perceive that the public interests are about the last thought of. Indeed, perhaps, it would be expecting too much from the united wisdom of the Council, that really serious attention to the wants of the community could be entertained to the ignoring of private piques. Yet really momentuous questions are at the present moment agitating the public mind. Throughout the colony, the Provincial Councils are giving expressions to opinions of great importance. The conduct of the Maori war — the necessity of initiating a system of protection, which would confer general benefit on the colony, the lessening of taxation, the introduction of immigrants, and thb relations of the General and Provincial Governments towards each other, are receiving the attention that their importance demands. Bat unfortunately, it is left for the Province of Southland to prove an exception to the general rule. We did expect that some member of the Council would have brought forward a motion on the subject of the Postal Service — especially as it is understood that the Government are willing to receive suggestions from the Provinces affected by the proposed change before the contract; is finally settled. : We think . it of far more oongecjuenoe to the wejiare off tjb&couwauuifry th&U ttpi <&a£tec ahou4i I

receive the earnest consideration of the Council, rather than the discussion of topics which shoul-i proper! y have heea left to a committee, htow is it possible that we can command the attention df the Greneral Groverntnent to our legitimate wants if we present the spectacle of a " house divided against itself." It is not to be expected that capital will flow into a province, the rulers of which are only remarkable for quarrelling on all kinds of trivial subjects. No matter how great inducements this Province holds out to intending settlers — and we believe for the bona fide settler they are greater than in any other part of New Zealand at pi'esent — they are more than counterbalanced by the weakness exhibited by the G-overnment in conducting its affairs. It is to be hoped that the I recent change will have a beneficial effect. | The gentlemen comprising the Executive are essentially business men, and this fact in itself should be a guarantee that most of the blunders that have hitherto prevailed should in future be avoided. We shall anxiously look forward to the outline of their policy, which will, no i doubt, be given this evening. If they I are honestly prepared to carry out measures for the general good of the Province, they will receive the hearty support of the people.