MR. WHITAKER ON SEPARATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1636, 14 March 1866, Page 4 (Supplement)

MR. WHITAKER ON SEPARATION.

We take the following passage from the Superintendent of Auckland's speech to the electors of r&rnell, reported by the Southern Cross of Feb. 17 : — . With regard to separation, I believe we are all as one. (Cheers.; There is no question about it whatever. (Hear.) To a certain extent I have taken the lead in the matter. During the last session but one of the General Assembly I proposed a resolution to that end, and every day convinces me more firmly that what we want is separation. I see a number of letters in the papers in which it is said tube a deep subject to go into. Well, I don't see any dc-pth in the question at all. It is a simple question, as I imagine, and very eabily disposed of. What we want as a principle—a fundamental principle—is, that we should have the management of our own affairs. (Hear, and cheers.) That is what we want; give ns that, and the details of separation, although extremely important, are still of much minor importance in comparison with that fundamental principle. I have no doubt with regard to those details we shall be able satisfactorily to arrange them, so that most of them all will have been narrowed down to that point, which is, to have a Government of our own—(cheers)— that we will undertake the management of the Government of the province ourselves. (Loud cheers.) Of course there is a question raised as to whether there shall be insular Separation, to have a line drawn at Cook's Straits—or whether it will embrace the province of Auckland or any other province. My view upun that has always been very clear. I say this— I don't care as far as Auckland is concerned whether it be one or the other, iam content to take either. I should be sorry to take the line at Cook's Straits, embracing Taranaki 1 and Hawke's Baj, unless they went in with us in the movement willingly and cheerfully. ! (Hear.) If we attempt to force them to it, i we are then doing that same thing we are complaining of ourselves; we are forcing 1 them to be governed by us when we want : them to give up the Government to • ourselves. We should be placing ourselves in a position of inconsistency. If those & other provinces draw the line at Cook's ' Straits, and would willingly go into that kind of Government, I shall not offer any opposii tion to it. On the contrary, possibly, there ; are many reasons why insular Separation 1 would' be better for the province of Auck--5 land. If arranged satisfactorily, and lam of " opinion that it be so, I would have no objec--6 tion. lam not one of those who would ap- " prove of getting rid of what we don't like, * and forcing it upon others. I don't like " forcing upon others a Government they don't " like, unless they willingly should become f partners with us in separating the colony. I " would not attempt to force them. (Hear.) e There are, gentlemen, a great number of f details to be arranged. There is the ques--3 tion of liabilities ; the question as to the " mode in which our financial arrangements. ' are to be made. Well? I don't see any d great difficulty on that question. We must d consider at the present time that the colony is very largely and deeply involved in debt, 'f which is not the only liability,—we have e other liabilities besides that. We have to take Y into account the assets we have. We regard - the question of liabilities, and that as to the e management of native affairs, to be the most importaut, and the keeping of the peace in 5 the province, in this part of the colony. (Hear.) 'In orderto do this, gentlemen, it will f require a very large sum of money. Theree fore, when we go into the question of arrang--0 ing our assets and liabilities, it will be a matj ter of consideration what proportion of cone tribution will be made to us by other proy vinces, so as fairlj to divide the assets beloiigft ing to the colony, that each portion of the r colony, divided into two, shall take a fair r share of the liabilities and assets. I think the Southern provinces, if we do that, will be e disposed to make an equitable arranget ment satisfactory to both parties. lam n one of those who think if it can be done L it will depend upon the people, and temp.r of t the other provinces. It would be idle to force r the majority to do what is against their in- _ clination. We must urge upon them that a Separation would be advantageous to them, s We must go to them in a spirit of fairness, and s . we should consider our assets and liabilities, 1 and make a fair arrangement between the [. two. With regard to the separation question s it does appear to me, as I said before, that the e fundamental point is that we must have the management of our own affairs. About that s I see no difficulty in making an arrangement, 0 if the representatives of other portions of !_ New Zealand will go to the Assembly in the e same spirit I trust every member will look i. at the subject in this spirit, and that we shall s be able to come to an arrangement satisfaci, tory to us and to them, and advantageous to 1 all parties. (Cheers.) ==============