The Southland Times. FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 1873.

Southland Times, Issue 1732, 25 April 1873, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 1873.

Whateteb subjects may crop up during the ensuing session of the General Assembly , that of Financial Separation for the future, either partial or entire, will stand pre-eminently in the fore- i ground. The Northern Island journals, i reflecting the %6ice oF the; people, have given distinct and unmistakeable indication* that so soon as the tax-gatherer puts in ah appearance — so soon as the collar galls— the inhabitants of the Northern portion of the Colony, or at least the extreme Northern part, will demand the dissolution of the; compact of 1858, and insist that the Crown lands of the Middle Island shall proyide what may be necessary to supplement a deficient revenue. Nor is ,it an idle rumor or • a vain threat. We have indeed heard it before, and it has not been without its uses in extorting compliance with demands which would otherwise not have been listened ."to: There are amongst us men of position, if not of note, who hitherto, from considerations of an existing or implied: contract, or from sentimentalistn or chivalry, have stood by the North with unswerving fidelity — who would not desert her in her hour of need, and who regarded the preservation of peace in the North Island as one of those duties in which they were imperatively called upon to assist. But this has passed away. Thie urgencies of 'obtaining parliamentary recruits, or the spirit of partizanship, have obliterated the old landmarks, and it is now demanded that there should be not only a partnership in the suppression of rebellion,, but also a partnership in public works. Leading men in the Middle Island have seen these signs of aggression, at a convenient seasoD, and have, one after "the 'other, made no uncertain utterance. They have sounded the warning note, to which, if unheeded, they will appeal in future. They will tell us that they did their duty, and that we turned a deaf ear to their monitions. Shortly, nay immediately, we must 'be called upon, in times of peace, for another million for " Defence and other purposes," and probably two millions and more for " Public Works and Im migration." What will we then do ? Parties may be evenly balanced, then as now, and- wide-awake legislators may see things not bo distinctly as they would see them were their personal interests leas concerned. To be forewarned is usually to be forearmed, but not so with us. While the loaves and fishes are being distributed, we seem content if we get a mere dole, while others are stall-fed, and unmindful of the fact that if the Provincial securities, now given for railway*, prove insufficient, or illusory, the bailiffs will come on the Colonial property and seize what they can. We may be cajoled yet for a while, but the evil day is coming, arid meet; it we must. .Better — far better —-that we should meet it at once, and demand, what Auckland calls for, and the Middle Island desires, Insular Separation so far as finance is concerned. Considerations of party must yield before considerations of more vital importance, and if no leaders can be-, found among the hitherto ; prominent statesmen, they must be found elsewhere. Every constituency Should call Upon" ~ its representatives to declare in unequivocal terms their adherence to the principle of Financial Separation, and if a dissolution should, take place, the constituencies should demand a written promise from every candidate, that, if elected, he will retire from Parliament at the request of a majority of the electors, should he be called upon to do 86, because he had not thrown his whole strength into the support of the Middle Island principle of self-preserva tion, and no further entanglement in the policy which makes public ; works (of which the most expensive and least remunerative portion will be executed in the North Island) really a Colonial charged Divide the Colony into two provinces, one having its seat at Auckland, and the other at Christchurch or Dunedin, leaving large Colonial questions to be decided by the General Assembly at Wellington. By thus doing we will limit the security, and in consequence judiciously limit the expenditure on public works. We warn the people of the South Island that if they delay organisation — if they allow themselves to be diverted -or'delude;d ; from firmly asserting broad principles, and from doggedly insisting on them, they .will bitterly repent of their culpable negligence, and will be obliged to reap as they have sown.