SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 1869. "Measures, not Men."

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 69, 5 June 1869, Page 2

SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 1869.

" Measures, not Men."

The present Government, since it accepted office, has shown a decided inclination to settle for a time the question of land for the people. In proof of this, a select committee was appointed to enquire into the nature of several runs, part of which it was proposed to declare into Hundreds. This committee, however unnecessary we may think it was, has performed its work, and made certain recommendations to the Government, which will be found in another column. Whether they have acted judiciously in their decisions may be a disputed point; but any one reading the report cannot fail to be " convinced that they had a Very difficult task to execute, because of the very contradictory character of the evidence produced. It may be said of nearly all the witnesses examined that they were interested parties. On the one hand there was the runholder, whose interest was to keep his run intact ; and on the other there was the settler, whose interest was to have the run thrown open, that he might depasture stock and become a small runholder himself. We have, in the case of the proposed Tapanui Hundred, the runholder asserting that there were not more than 4000 acres of purely agricultural land ; and then immediately afterwards we have the settler declaring, with as much show of truth, that there were between 30,000 and 40,000 acres. Again, we have one

stating that there was no demand for thelandin question; and another, not only asserting that there was a great demand, but that there would be considerable competition for it when once in. the market, and that the whole of it would be sold within three years. With such conflicting evidence before them, we may well imagine the difficult position in which the committee were placed. We believe the Government would have arrived at a more satisfactory statement of the real wants of the respective districts, and the description of land where Hundreds were called for, had they appointed two qualified men to examine the country and report upon it. Our Provincial Governments generally are too easily swayed by petty interests, and not sufficiently self-reliant. Let them strike out a bold policy, and if they think Hundreds should be declared, and have the power to declare them without opposition from the runholders, let it be done at once. The Council by this time are well acquainted with the decided demand f'oi* agricultural and grazing land in the various districts of the Province. Why, then, waste time and money summoning runholders and settlers to give evidence upon matters already well known to them ? The cry for land has somewhat subsided within the last few months, but the demand is none the less urgent. The cry has ceased simply because its object seemed hopeless ; but with our new Government hope has again broken upon us, and a somewhat brighter prospect is in view. May the hopes of the Provincs not be again deferred.

The Session of Assembly just opened will, it is hoped, result in some definite declaration' of policy on the part of the General Government. At present a weak Ministry find themselves thwarted at every step by a powerful and ambitious Opposition. T"he changes which have taken place during the recess seem to indicate that the time for a coalition has arrived, and that the political machine may proceed without being impeded by the warfare of the " ins and outs." The aggressive policy of the Stafford Ministry against ProviDcialism.has on

the one hand failed to command, public support, while the raVid deification of everything pertaining to provincial institutions by some members of the Opposition, has modified the tone of the more moderate adherents of that system. The juste milieu, as a policy, would probably command the support of an overwhelming majority, and it remains to be seen whether Mr. Stafford has self-denial enough to sacrifice his pet theory on the stern altar of necessity. Each party has been looking at its own side of the shield, but now, after the heat of the battle is ovef, when neither one nor the other can boast of any great success, more en-lightened and liberal views appear to gain ground. While" the Centralist had excellent grounds for attacking Provincialism as long as he only considered the cases of Mavlbovough, Wellington and Southland, his opponents had equally good grounds for admiration and respect when they confined themselves to Otago and Canterbury. The Centralist carried public opinion along with him when he condemned the endless subdivision of territory at one time so popular ; and when he pictured the smaller ones, a responsive wail from each and all of them testified to the truth of his strictures Thus far he carried public opinion in his train, but when he proposed to remedy these evils by a still further subdivision ; when he ignored the prosperity of Canterbury and Otago, he found his following dwindle down to as disreputable demensions as the ragged array of Sir John FalstafF. Public opinion was equally on the side of the Provincialist when he confined himself to the successful results of his pefc system when applied to large territories and equally pitiable was his plight when Ids zeal outran his discretion. The lesson to be derived from such a state of opinion is writ large, so that those who run may read. It shows that while fanciful and revolutionary schemes will receive no share of public support, strenuous endeavours to correct acknowledged abuses or defects will be warmly encouraged. The verdict of public opinion is neither in favour of increased provinces nor new counties — it favours centralization of a different kind. "Amalgamate ! " let the weaker provinces seek strength and assistance in the bosom of their stronger .neighbours, is the cry on every side ; and such will, wo have no doubt, be the policy adopted by any Ministry likely to command a working majority. At any rate, it is clear that the South wili not tamely submit to have her revenues confiscated for the aggrandisement of the northern portion of the colony; and when Mr. Stafford failed to convince her of the excellence of such a piece of self-denial, his county scheme fell to the ground. We sincerely trust the colony will not lose the services of so able a statesman, although common-sense has refused to aid in creating his new Utopia.