The Southland Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 1872.

Southland Times, Issue 1544, 1 March 1872, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 1872.

In common with other pections of the colonial press, intimation has been conveyed to us by the Government that after careful consideration they have decided upon summoning the next session of Assembly at Wellington. This, as some of our readers are aware, is a continuation of the prestige secured by "Wellington Borne eight or nine years ago when the agitation took place for removal of the seat of government from Auckland. At i that time the expediency of the change was advocated on the ground that it was ' necessary for'the good government of the ■ colony that a more central site should be ' obtained. Considering the state of intercommunication as it then existed in New Zealand, the demand for a central situation was perfectly reasonable, and one which, if we remember rightly, called forth but very feeble opposition. Centralisation being the object in view, lively competition sprang up between the various settlements suitable in point of location. The choice lay between Nelson, Picton, and Wellington. Claims were made on behalf of each of these places, more especially on behalf of the first and last named, so very persistent that a commission or reference was made to the neighboring colonies for settlement of the point. The lot fell upon Wellington, and dpwn to a very recent date she has continued in undisturbed enjoyment of the preference thus obtained. It is with no desire to impute sordid motives in any quarter that we mention incidentally that besides imperial pickings as they are doled out in this part of the world, the city of Wellington is a gainer to the tune of from £60,000 to £80,000 per annum in respect of the honor conferred upon ifc aa the seat of government. We mention that fact' merely to show that whatever reason may exist for a change of venue, Wellington, presuming her to be actuated by motives of a personal nature, has strong reasons for opposing any proceeding in that direction. Let that be as it may, the thin end of the wedge has been inserted, and despite the announcement conveyed to us by the Government, we feel justified in asserting that as the Empire City of New Zealand, the days of Wellington are numbered. Since Wellington first achieved its distinction, great changes have been wrought in the general aspect of affairs. The country is no longer disturbed by internal warfare. Sudden outbreaks calling for prompt and energetic action have happily become events of the past. The electric wire now operates for all practical purposes throughout the length and breadth of the colony. Messages can be flashed to and from the northern and southern divisions of the island despite the boisterous weather which in early days so frequently impeded navigation. A government located in any part of the Middle Island could now place itself in as rapid communication with the disaffected Native districts as if it were still taking its ease in Wellington. The interprovincial and intercolonial steam services have brought together a fleet of powerful steamers, whose arrivals and departures between one port and another are performed with a regularity unknown some years since. Indeed the entire system of communication has undergone a complete change since the primitive days when Wellington J was elected the seat of government by virtue of its central relationship to both sections of the country. If these facts be admitted — and those best acquainted with the circumstances of tae case cannot deny their truth — then the claims of Wellington to continue the seat of government are disposed of. As a city, it neither represents a fair proportion of the urban wealth of the colony, nor yet is it endowed with a fair share of its commercial importance. As a province it is either deficient in material resource, or else it lacks the enterprise necessary for its development. We have no interest in disparaging Wellington, but we maintain that as a New Zealand settlement, it is only a place of very secondary importance. It follows then that, sitting in Wellington, the parliament of the people cannot be made to feel the full measure of its responsibilities. Meeting in some of the more important cities, and surrounded by interests of greater magnitude than those to which Wellington has yet attained, the contact would operate as a powerful antidote to much of that useless legislation which seems to be without either point or direct application to the existing state of affairs. The proposal for a change . assumed practical shape on the 25th Oct. last, when a resolution was adopted in the Assembly affirming the desirability of the forthcoming session being held in Dnnedin. In the Legislative Council the proposition was ignored by a majority of thirteen or fourteen votes. Despite that fact the Assembly on the 6th November carried the following motion by twenty-nine to sixteen — " That an address be presented to the Governor, advising His Excellency that any expenditure that may be necessary to give effect to the resolution will be made good by the Assembly." On that motion a lengthened debate ensued. The expenses attending the change were variously estimated at £1,000 and £20,000. The last-named sum was insisted upon by the Wellington representatives and their friends, the proposal being denounced as ultra vires of the retrenchment policy. The argument was more plausible than sound, and before the debate closed enough had transpired to show its mere " make-shift " character. The Government opposed the resolution on a different ground, and as indicative of the actual state of the affair as a coming event, we append the following i

extract from the speech made by the Premier, Mr Fox : — " I believe it would be a very great inconvenience to hold the next session in Dunedin. I tremble at the very idea of the inconvenience to which the Government would be subjected in having to make preparations in such a short time — six months, or a little more — to remove the whole or large sections of their departments, to make duplicates of their records, and to undertake the business of legislation in a place removed from the seat of government. I might say that if the period had been longer — if the Government had until January twelve-months to make the necessary arrangement in— it would very materially modify my views on the subject." The latter portion of the remarks throws light on the announcement just received. Not a word is said about the reason that has induced Government to decide upon rejecting the vote of the Assembly. "We are therefore left to infer that on inquiry the Government found that the recess was too short for carrying out the changes contemplated. In that case there is little doubt but that the effort will be renewed at next session. The proposal is, as was naively put by one of the Canterbury members, an effort to make the Colonial Parliament, for a time at least, peripatetic. The idea is a novel one, at the same time it is far from being a displeasing one. One great drawback to the welfare of New Zealand, and the consolidation of its legislation, is to be found in the extent to which each bit of a territorial settlement is bound up in itself. But for the extent to wbich this exclusiveness has been maintained, there can be little doubt but that provincialism in its worst phases would have long since disappeared. We venture to say that the visits lately paid to us by those in authority, have benefited the prospects of the place incalculably. The district is now attaining someching like the proper footing that belongs to it in the estimation of the governing powers. But for that intercourse, we were in a fair way or dropping down to a dependency of Otago, in the most abject sense of the word. If a session of parliament were held in the province, parliament would have a chance of knowing something about the interests it is called upon to legislate for, as well as the real state of geographical relations as these actually exist. The same applies with equal force to Canterbury, Nelson, &c. In process of time, the advantage gained by personal observation would work a wholesome change in the character of our administration. Instead of a clamorous district carrying its point to the prejudice of the colony as a whole, the legislature would from its own personal knowledge be enabled to guard against perpetrating injustice of this kiod. A deal of the public wealth is squandered in this way, which would not be the case if the administration could bring the smallest personal knowledge of the real facts of the case to aid in their deliberations. . On the other hand, the benefit would be reciprocal. Constituencies, like more than one that could be named in Otago, who are content to return any waif and stray that comes in their way, would have a chance of seeing the extent to which this indifference militates against them. Such men as the Mervyns, the Bbadshaws, and the Browns, would be discarded, and the general calibre of the Assembly improved. In a word, the advantages of the change would in time largely preponderate over any temporary ' inconvenience occasioned by the transition.