The Southland Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 1873.

Southland Times, Issue 1749, 3 June 1873, Page 2

The Southland Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 1873.

Inveecabgilii, and the district of which it is the commercial centre, may confidently anticipate a future of prosperity. Second to no other part of the colony in natural advantages, the Southland district only requires, for the rapid and satisfactory development of its resources, a fair field and no favor. Eeasonable and just though such a requirement may be, j it is not certain, and for reasons which ' we will endeavor to make clear, perhaps not even likely, to be conceded. Political influences, which have their origin in the wretched system of double government with which New Zealand is cursed, are all against Southland. Dunedin is the metropolis of the large and powerful Province of which Southland is now an integral part. The influence of the public opinion of the metropolis, where the Council meets, and still more important, where the offices of the Provincial Executive are situated, has long been recognised as a powerful factor in political" calculations It is not too much to say, without endorsing Mr Ltfmsden's statement that the people of Dunedin are afraid of the progress of Invercargill, that the electors of Southland may count upon this influence, whenever it comes into play, being adverse to their interests. It would be easy onough to produce a narrative of facts, from the history of the Province since re-union, which would illustrate, in a striking manner, this view of the case ; but it is beside our present purpose to do so. We prefer to direct attention to the undeniable capabilities of the district, and — without entering upon | details, which are easily accessible to those whose interest in the subject is sufficient to require such information — we assert without fear of contradiction, that they are unsurpassed in New Zealand. A larger area of land fit for agricultural settlement than is to be found in any other part of the Colony — a climate and soil especially fitted for the production of the most profitable cereal crops, ! wheat and barley, and eminently suited for the growth, in its highest excellence, of the characteristic type of New Zealand wool — a physical configuration of surface apparently designed by nature for the facile construction of roads and railways — a harbor which, even as it now stands, will compare favorably with any other in New Zealand, and which in respect of its capability for artificial improvement leaves absolutely nothing to be desired — forty miles of working railway connecting the port with the chief town and with the interior, as well as fifty miles more in , course of construction — and, last but not least, an active, industrious, and settled population, thoroughly attached to the locality — these are advantages abundantly sufficient to secure a prosperous future for any portion of the Colony in which they are to be found. No political influence, be it ever so powerful, will be sufficient in the long run to suppress or counteract the effect of conditions so highly favorable. But the progress which, with due fostering care, might be made with rapid strides towards prosperity, may be delayed by the action of opposing interests, or, even if this should not be openly attempted, the development of our unquestioned and obvious resources may be indefinitely retarded by sheer neglect. That such adverse influences exist we have already affirmed, and that they will continue to exist while the Provincial system of government continues in force, and while Dunedin remains the metropolis of the Province, may be taken for granted. But although the evil cannot be entirely removed, it may be reduced to a minimum. The remedy lies in the power of the local constituencies, and the recent dissolution of the Provincial Council has placed the matter unreservedly in their hands. Before each constituency is now laid down a tabula rasa, on which to inscribe the name of the man in whose hands their interests will be safe. In performing this duty those whose past acts have shown that they are willing to forget the interests of their constituencies and of the Southland district for the sake of truckling to a party, should be unsparingly rejected. Particularly in those cases in which this political crime has been committed in direct contradiction to hustings' pledges, should the electors, in justice to themselves', re.

cord their disapprobation. It is well known that the fact of His Honor the Superintendent's re-election, unopposed, | being likely to take place, is one which j the electors of this district have no cause ' to regret. His Honor has always shown himself willing to listen to any reasonable request from this part of the country, and ready to assist, to the utmost of his power, in securing the fulfilment of our just demands. It is equally well known that we have little in the way of special favor and affection to look for from Mr Donald Reid, whose political horizon is very much bounded by the bills that encircle the Taieri valley, and whose knowledge of Southland ia mainly derived from his unsuccessful electioneering tour as a candidate for the Superintendency. Nor have we much more to hope for from Mr Eeid's friends, with their stump-oratory about " despotism," and childish prating about "constitutional government" — terms about as applicable to the real circumstances of the case as they would be to the politics of a parish vestry. Let the electors of Southland — recognising the fact that Mr Macandbew's return as Superintendent ia regarded by his opponents as certain, and by many of them admitted to be desirable, and remembering the services vrhich Mr Macandeew has rendered to the district in the past, and which, if well supported by our local members, he may be relied on to repeat in the future—return men who will be an aid and not a " drag" to the Superintendent in his efforts for their welfare, and who, instead of squabbling over points of form, will devote their time and labor to practical measures for the benefit of the country. Let this course be followed by all who have at heart the good of the country, j and who feel their responsibility as electors, and a great step will have been taken to secure for Southland the rapid development of that prosperity to which, sooner or later, she will assuredly attain. r