CENTRALISM AND PROVINCIALISM

Wairarapa Standard, Volume I, Issue 41, 14 October 1867, Page 3

CENTRALISM AND PROVINCIALISM

_ Wo re-print from the “ New Zealand Times uu rrrS icle on this subject referring to one which lied in the .dr.ncunv. It is worthy of notice that, though the “ Timesadmits that able articles have appeared in this journal in support of Provincialism, notone of them have been recognised by the party whose views it is supposed to advocate. But the fact is that our support of the principles of Local-self-government has not been pleasing to the Provincialists, while our opposition to the establishment of a strong and costly Central Government for a gronuo of colonies like those

of New Zealand, has not been pleasing to the Centralists. If Provincialism or • Local-self-government mast go to the wall, we would rather that fate should Befall the former than the latter. The one is not necessarily hostile to the other; hut the Provincialists, during the session, have proved themselves hostile to Local Government for outlying districts, and if such should continue to be their tactics, it will have the effect of driving the whole of the settlers in such districts into the ranks of the Centralists, and of rendering the complete and final overthrow of the Provincial party, the advent of Mr Fox notwithstanding an absolute certainty.