The Lyttelton Times. SATURDAY, JULY 27, 1867.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2059, 27 July 1867, Page 2

The Lyttelton Times. SATURDAY, JULY 27, 1867.

The position assumed by the General Government towards the provinces is, in most respects, satisfactory, The attempt to mil up the question with the case of Mr Macandrew, in the vague hope of catching one or two stray votes, was calculated only to.damage the credit of the provinces. The conduct of the Ministry in the Otago case is to.be blamed, if blamed, at all, for only too great deference to the wishes and action of that provinoe/n It fell to Mr Hall, the Postmaster; General, to shew the grounds on-which the Government proceeded in withholding the delegated powers from; Mr Mac : andrew, and the general impression made by his speech seems to have been that the grounds were sufficient to have much stronger and more -direct action than was taken. Only• oneiniember for Canterburythe member for Lyttelton—was so far carried away by his strong leanings in favour;; of**the-provinces, as to vote against the ; Government: on this question; Md we do hot believe that if all the members had been present at the vote, he would have had a second to join him. .:"■' ■ ■^■."l : |""?''"■. ' The ultra-provincialisti shew an inclination to thwart the Government in what is really their true and special work. A. Medical Practitioners Bill has been introduced, for which there is the greatest need, and the details of which are in most respects perfectly appropriate to the end in view. For the future all practitioners are required to submit their diplomas to an officer of the General Government for his inspection, and the name of the practitioner, with his professional titles, is to be published in the Gazette. It is ■ proposed that : in the;: case .■ of those who have fori some, time been, practising .',, in the:; colony, a, diploma from any quarter whatever* will be; allowed.; to pass; but that, for the future, only such diplomas as are recognised in Britain or America shall be received. Any one using a medical title without the warrant of the corresponding diploma, is to be punished by fine. On another point the bill proposes to deal liberally with the medical profession. It renders unnecessary, for the future, detailed accounts of medicines and visits in suing for payment. We think that where the charge is solely for professional services, it would certainly be moitt; undesirable to demand items; but when medicines are supplied, as for various reasons is often the case in the colony, it seems but fair that when asked for, theße should be given. Certainly the effort to establish a uniform practice throughout the wholecolony is worthy of every support. With such modifications as may bo found requisite, we hope,; this bill will be passed. It is the mere craze of ultra-provincialism to imagine that such measures aB this tamper with provincial institutions, or threaten their independence. Measures passod by the representatives of all the provinces, and affecting all alike, can never be »b regarded with any a similar character are the Coroners Bill aud the Fire Prevention Bill, : with tliedbtailsof which, however, we are unacquainted. ~

:■■ Tlieliinti which have reached ui as to t|io Muuicipalitiee-and Counties Bill, liiatl; tbat-tlio General Government proposes to'apportion a fixed Klmre to eacn of the provinces of itrown/Customa Eovenue; but that iiiHtpadfof■; remitting this Bhare . to -i a HroviiiciahTreaeurer forv provincial purposes, it will bo dividetljaraong the local Boards or Councils in a fixed proportion, according to the rates which they" levy v ; \ipon; themselves.'' Should

our surmise bo correct, we have here the battle-field of parties.,

We call special attention to the sitting of the Commission on.Public,Belief, and to the invitation issuod to those who ore dosirous of giving evidenco before it r to s'end'in their namos to the Immigration Officer early to-day. Wo would especially urge upon farmers and upon ninstor-carpentera. and master masons, who havo undertaken or have beoh connected with the taking of , contracts in this place; the duty of volunteering such evidence as they can givo.. Such men are best of ail acquainted with the true state,of affairs, and possess to a groat oitent the confidence of different classes. Let us only face our. difficulties frankly, and in a spirit of, general consideration and forbearance, and they wili be overcome.

Public intimation has also been given by the Provincial Secretary that.persons willing to give employment on definite terms are invited to send in their namos to the Immigration Officer, stating the terms, with character and extent of the work. We are glad to know that this has been done in several cases and with most satisfactory results.

Some of ,our contemporaries on the Weßt Coast have taken a fancy to caricature the distress existing here, by speaking of "hundreds of starving creatures parading the streets" of, Christchurch. It is absurd to apeak in this way of a place where the four pound wheaten loaf sells at fivepence and sixpence. It is quite possible that distress may exist without anything approaching to this picture, either in kind or in degree. We are at a loss to say whether our contemporaries ure ill-informed or are indulging in a sneer. Why should they have, drawn Buch a picture of misery without' telling us what they could do to relieve i .it?' ' * i