THE NEW CONSTITUTION FORESTALLED.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 772, 7 September 1853, Page 3

THE NEW CONSTITUTION FORESTALLED.

Often and often have we remarked that the good effects of a fair and just land system were never better exemplified than in the neighbouring colony of South Australia. When our goldmines were discovered, the mania operated quite as strongly in that colon}’ - as in Victoria ; and it is a well-ascertained fact that from fifteen to twenty thousand men, at least three-fourths of the whole adult mule jopulationof South Australia, joined in the scramble at Mount Alexander and Bendigo. This was in the end of 18,51 and beginning of 1852, immediately after the harvest and wool seasons, when the chief industrial operations of the year had been completed. It is also a notorious fact that a very large number returned to plough or to harrow 7 in the seed, the latter operation sufficing in this favourable climate to produce a tolerable crop ; and but an insignificant proportion of those who had occupied or bought land in South Australia, now 7 remain in Victoria. The vast majority returned, and are now busy cultivating the soil to raise produce for this market. To show what has already been done by this agricultural people of yesterday, whose first landing took place on the 28th of December, 183G (thirty-four years later than the settlement of Van Diemen’s Land, and forty-eight years later than that of New South Wales), w r e may mention that of 15,080 tons of flour imported by Victoria in the year ending 30th June, 1852, 688G tons were contributed by South Australia; and even in the subsequent year, when her male population had temporarily absented themselves, site sent us 5474 tons —a total amount in the two years of 12,360 tons, —while during the same period the older colonies of New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land together contributed only 13,288 tons. The triumph of South Australia is the more gratifying as it has been accomplished without the smallest aid from convictism, and thus at the same time demolishes the detestable argument of the Greys and Denisons; the former of whom had lately the audacity to declare in the House of Lords, that the prosperity of the Australian colonies was owing to convict labour ! In another column will be found the principal portion of Sir Henry Young’s opening address to the Legislative Council, containing further and ample evidence of the astonishing progress and prosperity of the neighbouring colony. ' There is one portion, however, to which we wish to draw special attention, as showing, on the part of the Executive of that colony, an example which we would fain wish to see followed here.

Governor Young commences by stating that out of a land fund of £24o,ooo’in 1852-3, he had remitted £172,480 for the introduction of labour from England, which, at the rate of £2O per head, would supply the colony with GG3O more labourers. He then proceeds as follows: “After providing for the introduction of labour in 1853, to the extent previously mentioned, and after providing for the completion of works already contracted for, as well as lor the survey and management of the Waste Land and Aborigines, I have directed part of the balance of the land fund of 1853, amounting to 54,000/. to be applied as follows ; —SOOO/. in aid of city improvements; 20,000/. (in addition to 20,000/, in 1853, Iron the Colonial Revenue) to the Central Road Board ; 20,000/. in aid ot Local Assessments of the District Council; and the rest in aid" ®f Immigration in 1854. I have

also placed a balance of about 114,000/. of the Crown Moiety of the Land Fund in 1054 on the General Estimates of the year. “To the extent, then, of these several amounts I have felt myself justified in anticipating the liberal policy of the Imperial Government, which, on condition of certain political changes in the constitution of the Local Legislature being first effected, as I shall presently explain, proposes, in that case, unreservedly to place under local control, for the future, the entire Territorial Revenue of the Province.”

This is in the spirit of a true statesman, and we sincerely trust it may have the effect of shaming our miserable apology of a Government into an endeavour, in the forthcoming Council, to prove themselves in some degree imbued with the spirit of the age, and worthy of holding office under the most liberal and enlightened administration England has ever seen.