THE ANTI-SEPARATION STRATAGEM.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 995, 13 August 1872, Page 2

THE ANTI-SEPARATION STRATAGEM.

(communicated.) A meeting of the Westland Separation Committee was held last evening to consider the action alleged to be taken by the Nelson Executive by employing persons in Westport, and paying premiums to them, to obtain signatures to a document, ostensibly a petition of the inhabitants of the Nelson Province, but in reality emanating from the Superintendent's Office, Nelson. Present Chairman, Mr Munro, and Messrs Evans, Fisher, Corr, Falla, Hughes, Suisted, Humphrey, and Dr Thorpe. The information laid hefore the committee was to the effect that a telegraphic message was forwarded on Saturday, the 3rd August, to Mr Anslow, of Westport, asking him if he would obtain signatures to a, petition, that he sent a reply in the affirmative, and that by the mail arriving from Nelson, on Monday, the sth instant, per Murray, Mr Anslow received a peti tiou, accompanied by a letter of instructions, dated Superintendent's Office, Nelson, August 3rd, and signed AlfVed Greenfield, Provincial Secretary ; conveying instructions for obtaining signatures, and the return of

the document on or before the 15th instant. That Mr Anslow had shown great unwillingness in making the contents of the document public, and that he had stated he was under orders not to divulge the contents to certain member of the Separation Committee. It was also shown that some parties who had been asked to sign their names had done so under misconception, having before signed the petition for separation, and had signed the anti-separation document, under the idea conveyed to them that it was merely a protest against annexation to Westland, arid a sharing of the responsibility of the public debt of that county. It was also stated that Mr Auslow, presumedly acting under instructions from the Provincial Secretary, had authorised Charles Edward Jones to obtain signatures, promising him one shilling per name for every signature obtained. The committee after considering and discussing the subject, expressed a unanimous opinion that the information adduced was reliable and substantially correct; and to place on record the opinions of the great majority of the inhabitants of the town and district, who had already signed the petition praying for Separation, adopted the following resolution, proposed by Mr Fisher and seconded by Mr Evans : " That this committee condemns in the strongest terms the action taken by the Nelson Provincial Executive, and more especially by Mr Greenfield the Provincial Secretary, in attempting to stifle the expression of public opinion, on the part of the inhabitants of the Nelson South West G-oldiields, as contained in their petition for separation, by employing persons and paying a premium to obtain signatures to a counter petition."

A discussion thereupon ensued, as to the action in the House of Representatives of the member for the Buller, Mr E. J. O'Conor, in calling upon the Government to explain their intentions regarding the alteration of form of Government on the West Coast, and probably thus precipitating events, and affording Mr Curtis an opportunity of giving a notice of motion, adverse to the alteration of Provincial boundaries, before the Government plans in favor of such alteration had been fully matured, which motion Mr Curtis had since succeeded m carrying. It was considered that Mr O'Conor, having hitherto strongly advocated separation from No!s=on rule, and given no expression to lis constituents of change of opinion, it would bo advisable to forward to him all possible

information as to the action of the Nelson Executive ; and it was proposed by Mr Fisher and seconded by Air Suisted, " That a member of committee, on behalf of the Wcstporr people, he requested to obtain a copy of the counter petition, and forward the same to Mr O'Conor, with any particulars relating thereto. A vote of thanks to the Chairman, terminated the proceedings. The Anti-Separation Petition, which has been guarded with so much attempted secrecy in Westport, appears in the advertising columns of the Nelson ' Examiner,' ' Colonist,' and ' Evening Mail.' The following is a copy : PETITION - AGAINST THE DISMEMBEBMENT OF THE PUOVINCE. To the honorable the House of Representatives of the Colouy of New Zealand, in Parliament assembled. The humble petition of the undersigned inhabitants of the Province of Nelson. Respectfully Siioweth, — That your petitioners are informed that it is intended to introduce to your honorable House a measure for the division of the Province of Nelson into two Provinces, or to take away a large portion of the Province in order to add the same to tho County of Westland.

That your petitioners believe that any such alteration would inevitably lead to a large increase in the Departmental Expenditure now found sufficient for the Government of the Province, and to a corresponding diminution in the funds now available for public works, education, and other important purposes. That your petitioners further believe that the result of any such measure would be financial embarrassment in both portions of the territory proposed to be divided, to the almost total discontinuance of public works, to the suspension of permanent settlement on the Goldfields now steadily goiug on, and to great discouragement to the cause of education." That your petitioners also submit to your honorable House that a great injury would be inflicted upon the south-western portion of the Province by separating it from a Province almost free from debt in order to give it to a County involved iu very heavy liabilities, which its resources have already proved insufficient to sustain. Tour petitioners believe also that good government is not so likely to obtain amongst a community whose pursuits are almost entirely of one character, whether those pursuits be purely mining, pastoral, or agricultural, as amongst a community whose pursuits comprise a fair admixture of all three, as is the case in the existing Province of Nelson. Tour petitioners therefore pray that your Honorable House will not pass any measure for the division of the Province of Nelson into two provinces, or for the alteration of its existing boundaries. And your petitioners will 6ver pray, &c, &c, &c.