The Southland Times. TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 1872.
Tke present political condition of the Colony ought certainly to furnish an instructive Btudy to some future historian of representative institutions. The Legislature has now been nearly a month in session, and the only definite result which can yet be arrived at from a review of its proceedings is that the members, from the Premier downwards, absolutely do not know what to do. It is not too much to say that the history of the session has, up to this time, been discreditable alike to the Government and to the Opposition, if, indeed, the undisciplined mob of non-ministerialist members deserves the name. The Governor's speech announced no policy, and left the Ministry at liberty to trim their sails according to the prevailing wind, as soon as its direction should be discovered. Non-ministerialists, wise in their generation, it may be, hare up to the present time refrained from providing their opponents with a policy to adopt ; and have not apparently found themselves sufficiently united to initiate one of their own. It is a significant fact that the charges of extravagance and recklessness, so freely indulged in by many representatives, and by a section of the Press, before the meeting of the Assembly, have not yet been repeated in the Legislature itself. One or two returns, apparently pointing in this direction, have been moved for by individual members, bat nothing has yet arisen fa the shape of a general discussion of the subject. It seems as if this issue had been purposely avoided, by a tacit understanding that the time for its consideration had not yet arrived. It is impossible to resist the conclusion that parties in the Legislature are in a complete state of disintegration. The real question is, of course, the same as ever, between the " ins" and the " outs." The policy initiated the session before last, of borrowing largely for public works and immigration, has been unmistakeably endorsed by the country. The money required, up to the present time, has been easily raised. Under these circumstances the conclusion appears to have been forced upon those politicians originally opposed to it, and who may still be doubt-
J ful of its success, that no party can be formed with the declared object of reversing the course on which the Colony has entered. It may lead to great prosperity, as many hope that it will. Or it may plunge us into ruin, as others declare that it must. But those who adopt the latter doleful view clearly have not the courage of their opinions. The determined effort to roll back the whole scheme, which it was predicted some time ■ ago wonld be made this session, has not been made, and there seems no probability that it will be made. Those who object to the scheme may have come to the con--1 elusion that as they are not strong enough to reverse it, the next best thing they can do for the country is to obtain some share in its administration. The control of a large expenditure has its charms even for those who are loudest in denouncing the financial recklessness 1 which has rendered such a control possible, and, as things have now gone so far, even, it may be, unavoidable. This ia not difficult to understand. "When this stage has been reached, the real question at issue is apt to become less how the money should be spent, than to whom the agreeable duty of spending it should be entrusted. The present Ministry have held the reins of power long enough to create enemies, and too long to be able to disarm opponents by holding out vague expectations. Under these circumstances we are not surprised to find the curse of New Zealand politics, the Provincial system, scotched, but not killed, by the legislation of the last three yeara, raising its ugly head once more. A meeting of Superintendents and other Provincial officials who happen to have seats in the Legislature, has been held, and the issue is to be raised whether the Colonial Government or the Provincial Executives are to have the control of the scheme. It is not easy to guess what amount of support the promoters of this movement may receive from the Assembly as at present constituted. But if there is one thing more certain than another to all who know the temper of the people of the Colony, it ie that such a change will never meet their approbation. The public works and immigration scheme, to which the country is now committed, has been universally regarded as a bold experiment, involving, it may be, the future of the Colony, for weal or for woe, for many years to come. To ensure success it is absolutely necessary that it be managed as a national scheme, with a view to the interests of the Colony as a whole. The criticisms hitherto made upon its administration have chiefly turned upon the local and fragmentary manner in which it has as yet alone been found possible to carry it out. To hand over the management to the Provinces would be to ensure the financial ruin of the Colony. This assertion needs no argument to support it. Every one is aware of the fact. The only quarter from which a proposal bo monstrous could possibly emanate is that coterie of paid officials, connected with the Provincial Governments, who unfortunately possess the privilege of seats in the Assembly. These men, almost without exception, are professional politicians, who live by their trade. It is easy to see why they should wish for such a change. Public opinion bas made no such demand. Argument in support of it there is none. It has been said indeed that the scheme cannot be fairly administered from one centre, and that possibly is true. But if so, the question does not lie between the various Provinces, but between the two Islands. If this issue, raised in Mr Reynolbs's promised motion, were fairly brought before the country, we believe there would be but one answer. Financial and administrative separation, long ridiculed and declared impracticable by the politicians, has long been the desire of the people. The proposal, if brought forward by an intelligent and determined party ia the Assembly, however numerically small in the first instance, would command an amount of sympathy from the public which would probably surprise even its most enthusiastic supporters, and the measure itself would soon pass from the region of theory into that of accomplished fact.
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Southland Times, Issue 1619, 13 August 1872, Page 2
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1,090The Southland Times. TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 1872. Southland Times, Issue 1619, 13 August 1872, Page 2
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