The Press. TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1869.

Press, Volume XIV, Issue 1870, 13 April 1869, Page 2

The Press. TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1869.

In.'Coleridge's "Six Months in the West Indies;" there is a capital story of how in one island* where there were many religious; but-only one priest, the 3 eatholic-minded 1 divine supplied deficiencies by himself ministering to all Ahe sects respectively. -"~ln- the morning he celebrated mass in French, in the forenoon read irhe liturgy of the Church of England, in the afternoon sprackened the Dutch service, and at nightfall chanted to the Methodists." Such extreme liberality is rare, but oh behalf* Of colonial journalism we can produce an instance which can safely challenge comparison. Thd -Zyttelton Timies As. as- accommodating, in its politics as the West Indian parson in* his ministrations. It is always ready; to assist any cause, and to give each side- of every question a helping hand in turn. .">.'• :u .- . :'■.'•. We noticed an instance of this characteristic on Saturday ; the samp, day presented a still more remarkable specimen. Our readers are aware that during the late session Of the Wellington Provincial Council one of the members, Mr Pharazyn, proposed that the ; control : of the police, gaols, and certain other' departments, should be made over <to the General Government. The Lyttelton Times— which, regarding a centralized : ' system, with head quarters) r ;i|i.) Ghristchurcn as " absolutely beatific," naturally suspects its neighbours of wishing to institute a similar; system for the benefit of their own metropolis— warmly denounced Mr Pharazyn's proposal. It exhorted, Provincial Council of Canterbury noyVto give up the management of tliese departments, and splemly warned them of the evils, political and financial, that must result from so ill-advised ( a step. " We would earnestly warn the Council," it exclaimed, "not to be led -away by the admirers of a strong central government to surrender their control over those departments which they have' hitherto managed. We urge this both for general political reasons, and for financial reasons especially■ affecting this province." ;The political reasons were said to /be 4 obvious enough." The idea of establishing a strong central government was described as,"ludicrous;" and the centralists, who wished " to inflict upon the colony an * Executive with more ample powers than the Executive in England," were charged with shutting their* 1 eyes to the future of despotism or revolution which? must result from their success:" There wer6 also '■financial reasons which should preus from surrendering 4 th r e control of gaols, lunatic asylums, police^'and the like to the General. jGrovernment." These were that if Canterbury set the example of such a surrender the JNorthern provinces would follow it, Si V V i^ gaols and police oi the North would be maintained at tne expense of the m;.mi a i~i„_j

We suppose it was hjar|«f«>r at this ;prosp|ct IhaiTinspired /£h*.3{rriter vnjfch that crowuißg flight I®£* Rhetoric in whicatjjoor Mr Pharazyn was made to •figure-as;the devil. Unfortunately some o? ~ua have memories, and recollect how, some sixteen months ago, this very proposal, which is novf said to involve a *' iaturti of despotism or revolution," was earnestly pressed on th© public by the LtjUeUm Times itself. It dkV not originate ?with Mr Pharami; it was first put forward in Canterbury, towards the close of 18G7, by Mr Moorhouse, and was then, as wo said, warmly supported by the Lyttelton Times: The surrender of the police, gaols, lunatic asylums, education, &c, to the General Governinentiwas then advocated by our contemporary in a long series of articles; both on political and financial grounds. For instance, on the 7th November, after expressing its entire concurrence with the plan detailed by Mr Moorhouse in his speech at the Licensed Victuallers' dinner, namely, the abolition of the Provincial Government and Council and the substitution of a Central Board composed of chairmen of > Road Boards, it added: —" As a matter of course, a scheme of this kind will involve handing over to the General Government the departments of police, gaols, education, and some others, the cost of which is now defrayed by the colony and charged against the provinces. This will simplify the financial government of the colony, render a reduction in taxation possible, and do away with much of the necessity for? legislation on the part of the provinces." Returning to the subject, on the 11th it again urged the transfer of the departments on the ground of increased efficiency. " The time has come to surrender the control of the departments of police, gaols, hospitals, lunatic asylufrisi/" and education into the hands of the General .Government. "We believe it will be ifor the benefit of the public in several—ways so to do. Economy and uniformity in administration will thus be gained without the fear w of neglect remaining long unremedied." And so far from fearing lest, other provinces should be-induced the follow the example of Canterbury, it represented the probability of their doing so as.' one great reason for. effecting the cbange forthwitji." But it.is not only within the province that we should be gainers by the change. If we set the example in Canterbury, and are unanimousi in giving up our provincial privileges and handing over the government- of the departments to the colonial; authorities, it must be thafrTrur example will by others. Then the day will rapidly arrive when a reduction in the taxation of the colony will be rendered possible. * ; *' * : If the. present scheme of reform Held" oiii no other benefits, it would be worthy of supportibrihis reason alone." The (view that these departments would be far more economically, as well as efficiently, administered under ithe General Government was repeatedly insisted on by our contemporary, and he even went so far as to make it a ground for demanding immediate and extensive remissions of Customs duties. Lastly, on December 24th, the Lyttelton Tmes took occasion to protest against any hasty or violent changes, arid .to reiterate its own view of what would be a moderate | measure of reform, Suitable to the whole colony, and satisfactory to all parties. "Let," it saiii, " some time rather elapse, and \et our advancing Circumstances and general dissensions be allowed to throw their full light upon the necessities of the country. Then, a scheme suited to the-whole colony, and calculated to secure general acceptance and confidence, i.may~ be proposed. If the members of Provincial Councils be allowed to surrender all their legislative powers, and. if the varions departments of gaols, police, and hospitals be , put under central contrelpit i s the differentpolitical .parties whose views have j agitated 1 the cbmmnnity may be found i to be-more generally satisfied than-had been looked for." And then forsooth, a man who, fol- j lowing the advice thus given, makes J the very proposal here laid down, is; dttacked as a revolutionary, and those I who show signs of listening to him are compared to men who sell their souls to the' devil, i ; '