A POLITICAL FORECAST.

Observer, Volume 6, Issue 152, 11 August 1883, Page 3

A POLITICAL FORECAST.

There aro no prophets on our staff, nor the sons of any. In fact, the art of prophesying has somewhat gone out of dat?, and the Witch of Endor ha 9 not succeeded in perpetuating her family. At least, if she has done bo, her descendants have abandoned the calling of their ancestors. The distinction between the witch and the priest hag become well defined. The cult of the one has become black — that of the other is sfcill white. There are wicked men who talk and write about priestcrq/V, as others do about witchcraft ; but, thank Heaven, we are not of the number. At all times it is our desire to possess an even and well-balanced mind. Although we have headed this article " A Political Forecast," let it not be considered that we intend dabbling in the .black art ; calling spirits around a round table ; or listening at the keyholes of Ministerial chambers, after the manner of the Wellington correspondent of the New Zealand Herald ; but, knowing that " The be9t of Prophets of the Future is the Past," seek, by mingling the Past and the Present together, to forecast the Future.

.* Our prophecy, like that of the girl's inexcusable baby, is only a very little one — born before ifca time, coming unfashioned into the world. It is that, in 1886, if not before, the Central Government at Wellington will be broken up. Ten years after the death of the Provinces, will the Provinces revenge themselves on their slayer. Wellington has eaten sour grapes, and the teeth of the people outside are set on edge. But Wellington liked the eating well. What will happen is this : Wellington and the Cook's Straits district will find Auckland, Canterbury, and Otago arrayed against them. What ths othei* districts may do, matters not ; but when the three large Provinces make up their mind that Wellington shall be broken up, there ia no power in New Zealand to gainsay or to stop their resolve. -4»

There are not ten men in the present House of Representatives, exclusive of the Ministry and the Wellington members, but own willinglj that the present form of Government is only a costly failure. Its only efficient purpose is to maintain a horde of Civil Servants, who should be better and more profitably employed. The country is not only ruled from, but by, Wellington. Men from the North, and men from the South, whpn they get there, find the premier question in all matters pertaining to legislation to be, among the tradesmen, " How will it suit Wellington ?" Among the workers in the "largest wooden building in the world," the question assumes this form : " How will it suit the Service ?" Between these two considerations, it is easy to see that the Colony is bound in any race to come in a bad third. Major Atkinson's celebx*ated classification, " Myself, my party, and the people," in Wellington mouths becomes transformed into " Wellington, the Civil Service, and the Colony," or " The Civil Service Wellington, and New Zealand," as the calling ef the utterer may vary. Now, the losers in all races are discontented : but in this case, the losers hold the stakes.

There are other things to be regarded as making Wellington intolerable for a four or a six months' residence. There is no society there. Civil Servants are hardly courteous to members, who are their paymasters j and the Governor is very often a disagreeable or a snobbish man. A retired grocer or rumseller is not the moat entertaining of hosts, even if he is generous enough to possess guests. There are few hosts, and fewer guests in Wellington. The climate is against it. When free from earthquakes and water-spouts, road metal and paving stones huafcle along Lambton Quay. It has no suburbs. You cannot get out of the town, unless you go to the Hutt and back again. - The prooeaa is like going upstairs .and coming. down.^_J[t possesses, the most inane and unfair Press of any town in New 2ea-

land. Those who run it are'ii^iiSFlSo^ingj House Keepers there. They think cold meat] and " twice laid " good enough, for visitors. - 1 .. I » . : X .X

Beyond these things there is, however, anotherand a more potent factor. A new political efatigel will be preached throughout New Zealaidi* Its burden will be as simple as that used by Oato,the Elder, to stimulate the people against Cir* tb.age. " Wellington must be broken up?” !Thafc 19 all. " Wellington must be broken upland if ou* vision of the future is correct, the phrase will run from mouth to mouth, until the children learning to talk will take up the cry in- th& streets. The reasons are plain. Welling'tcm lays burdens upon the people which they cannot b^ar. They only murmur as yet; but the time is coming when they will act. The time will be when they understand why they have to carry burdens for other people.

♦—^ What will happen, aome will say; when the Central G-overnment is broken up ? The Southern men reply in this wise, and the answer, as well as the voting power, lies with them. A G-orernment for North Island affairs in Atlckland ; one for the Middle Island in Christchurch ; and a short Federal Session at. Wellington. Let the Central Prison also "be there. But; how about the debt ? we hear some say. There are two answers to this question in the South. One is, " There is no dissolution of partnership';" the other, "Let each pay his dues." Whimper in Civil Service circles in Wellington of " Abolition."