The SOuthland Times. FRIDAY, JULY 9, 1869. SUMMARY FOR EUROPE & AMERICA

Southland Times, Issue 1190, 9 July 1869, Page 4

The SOuthland Times. FRIDAY, JULY 9, 1869. SUMMARY FOR EUROPE & AMERICA

GENERAL. The debate, which resulted in the vote of want of confidence being carried against the Stafford Ministry, is instructive in its way. It shows clearly the unsatisfactory condition in which the public affairs of the colony has been placed by the system of dual Government. The Opposition was composed of a miscellaneous collection from all parts of the colony, held together by a common hatred of Mr Stafford. Indeed it would be a most interesting study to the philosopher to analyse the motives which led many of the members to vote against the Government. The most contradictory elements appears to have been moulded into one compact mass. Mr M'Leait and his friends went hand-in-hacd with Mr Macandrew and the Otago members, whilst Dr Featherstone might be seen side by side with Auckland and Canterbury members. The debate was remarkable for the absence of any new light being thrown on the Native question, but a general opinion appeared to be prevalent that Mr Stafford should be ejected at air hazards. His fame had spread far and wide, and all sorts of opinions were held about him. To some, he was haughty and unbending; to otherß, he did not advocate self-government with sufficient vigor ; the red-hot Provincialist bitterly hated him for destroying cherished institutions ; whilst his native policy arrayed against him a great many of his former friends — Fulgente trahit constrictos gloria curru, non minus ignotos generosis. But, when all the opposing forces were gathered together, and the Government did resign, leaving the course free, how lamentably the Opposition failed to find successors worthy to perform the functions of Government, became strikingly apparsit. "We do not mean to say that Mr Fox is incompetent to conduct the business of the country, but it is a fact that shortly after the division took place, it became eminently conspicuous that there was no cohesion amongst the Opposition, and many of those who had loudly declaimed against the Government, were the first to offer objections to the appointment of some of its successors. At present, we cannot see what good the change is likely to effect. Money must be obtained to carry on the war even on the most limited scale, and Mr Fox has not proved himself happy on a former occasion in the disbursement of the Three Million Loan. The people of the Middl Island will not be benefitted by the fact of Mr Fox assuming office, unless some different programme is introduced. Indeed, the tendency of the present Government is to practically annul the legislation of the last two years, because if the old provinces are allowed to assume i their former proportions — by absorbing the Bmaller ones — it is manifestly clear that they must have larger powers, and must again obtain the privilege of borrowing money on their own account. This would interfere with the Consolidation of Loans Act, besides increasing the already large debt of the Colony, an idea not likely to become popular. An then again arises the question of the expensive nature of five governments. In whatever light the position of

the Colony is viewed, we believe that the only true remedy for our difficulties lies in the Financial Separation of the two Islands. The Imperial G-overnment cannot get rid of its responsibility in New Zealand affairs, without a loss of prestige that would be more ruinous than a dozen Maori wars. If the question of Separation weretobebrought frequently before it, it would be compelled to assume control of the North Island. As long as we are obliged to furnish the largest share of the funds necessary to carry on the war, disturbances will continue in the North Island. "We do not mean to say that the people of the north are desirous of such a state of things. Far from it. But there would be more prompt action in times of disturbance, arid in times | of peace, a greater deßire would be mani- j fested to remain so. The revenue that should be spent in opening up the Middle Island, and cultivating generally the peaceful art of coloniaation, is now sent to Wellington, for native war purposes. The very fact of the existence of a rebellion, is in itself an impediment to our progress, because it is the means of deterring people from coming out to a country where life and property are insecure. There are thousands of people at home, who do not know the geography of New Zealand, who are unable to distinguish between the North and South Island, and who believe that the warextendsthroughout the colony. Hence the great falling off in immigration. Nor does the Government take any steps to remove this ignorance, by disseminating information about the resources and nature of the colony. Its own existence is harrassed by factious opposition, and most of its time is spent in effecting combinations, in setting one party against another, and in creating desires it is not powerful enough to grant. "When such a state of things is allowed to continue from year to year, growing in magnitude, instsad of decreasing, it is high time that every well-wisher of his adopted country should seriously consider the imperative necessity of taking part in public affairs, and impressing upon the representatives in the G-eneral Assembly the advisability of supporting a measure fraught with such importance to the people of the Middle Island as Separation.