New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 1874 THE PREMIER'S RESOLUTIONS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 68, 15 August 1874, Page 5

New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 1874 THE PREMIER'S RESOLUTIONS.

terrible as formerly ; that it is not unlikely they may cease altogether, and that after a little, permanent structures of stone and brick may be erected. At all events, it is to be hoped it may be so. "We look forward to the debate on these resolutions with very great interest ; but our opinion is that, for the present, the House ought to rest contented with merely discussing them, and should not come to any definite decision on them. The proposals of the Premier are very important ; and the present Parliament, which was elected without any view as to the decision of them, ought not, we think, to undertake to pass even resolutions in reference to them. No doubt Parliament is competent to settle the questions now, but it would be hardly constitutional for it to do so. Again, it appeirs to us that before coming to any decision on these resolutions, the Parliament ought to settle another question as a necessary preliminary. Colonists are not at present fairly represented in the House of Assembly, and a readjustment of Electoral Districts is required. Nothing is of greater importance when dealing with organic changes, such as these resolutions propose, than to bring real public i opinion to bear upon them. In ths House of Representatives, heads only are counted, and consequently the member who represents a hundred and fifty electors is worth as much in a division as one who represents two thousand. For examph, Marlborough or Taranaki, with about six thousand people each, has twice as much voting power as Dunedin, with her 20,000 active, intelligent and energetic citizens, or as the important City of Ohristchurch. It seems, therefore, only reasonable that until the representation of the entire Colony is readjusted, Parliament ought not to decide, even by way of resolutions such as the Premier has given notice of, such very important questions as those involved in tliem. Let the questions be fairly put before the people, and let the people be really represented. Under such, circumstances the voice of the Colony could be really known ; and the decision thus arrived at would be satisfactory and lasting, because it would be indeed the decision of the country, — not of cliques or cabals, or of people merely locally interested.

On Monday last, the Hon. Mr. "Vogel gave notice, in the House of Representatives, that he would move the three fallowing resolutions :—l.: — 1. That, considering the altered circumstantes of the Colony, it is desirable that the Provinces of the Noith Island should be abolished ; 2. That Wellington should be made the seat of Government ; 3. That the land revenue should be made a local revenue, according to what is known as the Compact of 1856 ; and that Government shall, during the recess, consider how best to give effect to these resolutions. As to the first and third of these resolutions, there is, we believe, very little diversity of opinion throughout the colony. Provincial officials will, of course, raise objections, and give strenuous opposition ; but apart from these, there will be very few indeed opposed to the abolition of the Provinces of the North Island : and in the middle Island, none to the disposal of the land revenue according to the Compact of 1856. With regard to the second resolution, the case, however, is very different. As far as we have been able to ascertain, the Colony as a whole does not wish that Wellington should remain the seat "of Government. The present arrangement is looked upon as merely provisional. With one exception, Wellington, it is said, has nothing to recommend it as the seat of Government. It is central, and that is all. At this stage of the question we do not care to give our own opinion. But we may testify to the existence of a public opinion unfavorable to the claims of Wellington. Many think Wellington a most unsuitable site for a city at all, and that, were it not for its excellent harbor, it would never attain to more than the dimensions of a small port. There is very little level ground in the neighborhood, and the place is very liable to earthquakes. The present Parliament Houses, the Governor's residence, all the public offices, all the warehouses, <fee, are built of wood. In fact, the place is a heap of sticks ; no other kind of building materials can be used, and a fire on a windy day might lay the entire city in ruin and destroy all the records of the Colony. But then it may be said, and with some show of probability, that earthquakes have not been lately as frequent or as