GROWL NO.1-PROVINCIALISM

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 130, 4 August 1870, Page 3

GROWL NO.I- PROVINCIALISM

Under this heading, a correspondent of the "Waikouaiti Herald " writes as follows : — Now, this sweet Provincialism was once known throughout the Colony as a certain form of good government, which it undoubtedly was. But that which once was, and that which now is, are two very different things; therefore in my opinion good government and Provincialism ha\re no longer any connection whatever, and are thoroughly at varience with each other. Of course some people will set me down as a confirmed Centralist, but I deny the charge, and own to a strong love towards Provincialism — not, however, the foolishness which is known by that name in Otago at the present day, but that which characterised the proceedings of the fathers of Otago before the golden era, — that kind of Provincialism which was in the days of the " Old Identity," when the foun-dation-stone of the province was so securely laid. Where, oh ! where are the heads which concocted the Hundreds and Education systems ? Will they not again put their hands to the wheel and lead us on to the road of true prosperity ? It is most yainful to look around and see the depression which exists in a new country like this — depression which might almost have been avoided if a wise and cheap system of government had been adopted. It is almost impossible to look round and not bo convinced that Provincialism in its present form is one of the most clumsy and costly forms of government on the face of the earth. As a proof of this just look at the financial position of the eleven subordinate governments — and, for the matter of that, the Colonial Government. If we take up a paper and look for Northern news, the

first thing we see is some province appealing to the General Government to be allowed an overdraft, — another, perhaps, being sued by her employees for salaries six months overdue, whilst a third is stumbling on the brink of bankruptcy. Again, if we look south what do we see * but Provincialism in its worst form — Southland lying prostrate, unable to rise from beneath her tremendous load of hastily acquired debt, recklessly borrowed, and as recklessly spent, in a way\ altogether foreign to the requirements of the place, and therefore has brought ruin on herself and very possibly on hundredg of her settlers to boot.