THE PROPOSED UNION OF OTAGO AND CANTERBURY.

Southland Times, Issue 1260, 3 June 1870, Page 2

THE PROPOSED UNION OF OTAGO AND CANTERBURY.

In an article referriag to the motion recently discussed iq the Otago Provincial Council on the above subject, theOamaru Herald says : — The time is opportune for the revival of the agitation for financial separation of the two Islands, and such a separation we believe could be much sooner and easier brought about than the proposed union with Canterbury. Th& objections urged against any severance of the partnership existing between the North and the South Islands, when the question was discussed some eight or nine years ago, have no longer any weight. It was then advanced that 'the South was as equally responsible for the expense of the war as the North, and that inasmuch as the North had no ooldfields and but a limited land fund, financial separation would be simply ruination to it, and a censurable repudiation on the part of the South. The war we may now consider crushed out, and the North has extensive and profitable goldfields of its own. It would not therefore be unfair or ungenerous for the South to now, with *Btera determination, seek the obtainance of those changes in the Constitution which, from a spirit of chivalry, it ceased to urge as long as tha North was struggling with the Native War. No one in the present time will, deny that the South has suffered heavy taxation for years, and consented to great sacrifices in order to support the North, and it 19 almost as universally acknowledged that the legislative requirements of the two Islands are so totally dissimilar that separate governments are indispensable to ensure the equitable and good government of the entire colony. ; This is .a consummation which all must desire, and for which all should work. But if it is to be accomplished., there must be unity of sentiment and action, throughout all the Middle Island settlements. Is the proposed union of Otago and Canterbury calculated to evoke this? We think not. The whole of the Centralist party will oppose it; Nelson, Maryborough, and the County of Westland will look upon it with disfavor, . and consequently the Middle Island representatives must be divided ; and in the event of the question being brought before the Assembly, the members for the latter Provinces ara certain to be found in the ranks of the Centralists and Northern representatives. For this reason we look upon the present movement as premature and unwise. We are told by the advocates of the resolution that Otago, Canterbury, and Southland united, " could command thirty-two members out of seventy -six, or nearly onehalf of the whole representation." Granting such to be correct, can anyone suppose that the whole of these thirtytwo members would act in unison ? You might as well expect to stem the current of a flooded river with chignons or gossamer hats as to hope for this. However events may. turn, it is well that the subject has been brought before the Council, and a resolution favorable to the amalgamation of the provinces was passed. It is evidence that a conviction of the absurdity of keeping up the costly machinery of nine mock parliaments, and nine governmental staffs, is becoming wide spread, even among those who have long refused the belief that one government for -. : each island, with a Federal Council, would be less expensive and more efficient— that the country, by such a change, as would secure this, would be better governed, while the heavy burden of taxation would be considerably lightened. This is a good time for the question of Financial .Separation to be ventilated, and we hope, if the Canterbury Council should discuss the resolution for union, it will extend the basis so as to make it embrace in one federation the whole of the provinces of the Middle Island. It is highly desirable that this question should be brought fairly before the public previous to the general election for members of the General Assembly, which takes place in a few months. Financial Separation with political federation should be the creed of every, lover of progress and prosperity. If the Middle Island is unanimous in its demand.it can be obtained-^isunited. it; will 1» powerless. ' . ■■;■■•. ■,