The Evening Star. DUNEDIN, SATURDAY, NOV. 25, 1865.

Evening Star, Volume III, Issue 798, 25 November 1865, Page 2

The Evening Star. DUNEDIN, SATURDAY, NOV. 25, 1865.

Ix his recent speech at Port Chalmers, Mr Macandrew suggested the formation in Otago of an Association similar to the “ Northern Association ” in Auckland, the objects of which are to promote and assist the efforts of the Representatives of that Province to bring about an equitable readjustment of the relations between the North and Middle Islands. The usefulness of political combinations of this kind, when properly organised and managed cannot ibe exaggerated, and the Northern Association has undoubtedly strengthened the hands of the Auckland members, and will certainly exercise a jxowerful influence on the forthcoming elections in that Province. Witli the career and failure of the two Separation Leagues which have been formed in Otago fresh in one’s memory, there is not much encouragement to hope that a third attempt in the same direction •would be successful. But it must not be forgotten that the collapse of the two Separation Leagues was due to very intelligible and obvious causes. The first Association was premature ; public opinion was not ripe enough for an agitation ■embracing such sweeping changes in the political relations of the Colony, nor had the League sufficient power or means to prosecute for an indefinite pexiod the conversion of the Middle Island to its doctrines. Besides, a very powerful opposition sprang up in the other Middle Island Provinces which was too strong for the first promoters of the Separation movement, and the result was the decease of the League. The second Separation League had inherent defects which could only have led to its ultimate destruction. It

was a heterogenous combination, comprisin' I ** "persons of all shades of capacity and OJ x - intelligence —the bulk of whom had no udequate perception of the questions they had undertaken to solve. Its career w»s most unfortunate, and only brought ridicule on the members themselves, and on ;the Province at large, and in nothing more so than in regard to that silly document called a “ manifesto ”

33qt in spite of these failures, we are convinced that under proper auspices it would be possible to form an Association in ;Otago that would be of the greatest advantage to the Province. Cir-

etimgtnnees have changed much since the death of the Separation Ijeagne. The whole Colony, from North to South, is agitated with political controversy on the one great question of the day—Separation; and Otago must either take an active part in it, or sink behind into a position of insignificance. A. well organised .Association would now find, instead of enemies, active co-operators in other Provinces. Cantei'bury has already followed the example of Auckland, and formed a “ Middle Island Association,” including among its prominent members many of the leading men of the Province. The prospectus issued by this Association is as follows :

The Middle Island Association has for its general object the protection of the interests of the inhabitants of the Middle Island by Separation from the North Island, or by whatever other means the circumstances of the future may render available and expedient. The result of the present system of Government, by* reason of its incapacity fairly to deal with the conflicting interests of the two Islands, and at the same time to govern the Maori population, has been to involve the colony as a whole in a ruinous war expenditure ; and there is no reason to suppose that the Native difficulty is now only transitory, or that a small additional expense will put an end to the present war. The inevitable consequence of a contimian ce of the present form of Government must ultimately be the application to war purposes the Land Funds of such provinces as are fortunate enough to possess so important a source of wealth. To prevent this misappropriation, and to absolutely secure as an inalienable possession to each of the provinces of this Island its own Land Fund, will be the first and foremost of the labours of the Association ; indeed, it is only on these terms that Separation would be a cure for the present evils.

It will be tbe duty of tlie Association carefully to ascertain the difficulties connected with obtaining Separation, and to consider tbe terms on which, it would be best effected, both as regards the adjustment and allocation of existing liabilities, and as to the combination or federation of the Islands for purposes in which they have a common interest. The Association will endeavour to disseminate information of a definite and accurate character on -political and financial subjects, and to awaken tbe attention of tbe public to the real state of affairs in New Zealand at the present time ; and it appeals for co-opcration in this endeavour to all persons who recognise that in the existing crisis the interests of all classes of the community are equally imperilled. The Association will use every legitimate means to further the objects before stated.

Why should not a similar Association be formed in Otago? Why don’t our public men come forward and initiate it? Mr Macandrew and his colleagues, -who fought so well for Otago last session, should know that under their auspices an Association could soon be established, which would exercise a powerful influence on the approaching elections. It is a subject in which the community of Otago is vitally interested, and we believe there is so much unanimity of feeling throughout the Province regarding Sepax-ation, that the public would hail with pleasure the formation of an Association which would, as it were, condense into a focus the political opinion of the Province, and direct its influence in the proper direction.