ABOLITION OF PROVINCES ACT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4289, 12 August 1875, Page 4

ABOLITION OF PROVINCES ACT.

To the Editor of the Herald. Sin,- —Ij have before me the above Actj. kimlly sent me by Mr. B , M.H.K. I liavo given a slight glauco over it, and I cannot lintl that any provision has been made for education. That that has been done by our Provincial powers is better than to allow our youth to grow up in ignorance. I find in the 19th and 2oth clauses, that our Koad Districts are to be endowed, with this proviso, that if they shall have levied within the year a rate or rates exceeding in the whole one shilling in the pound'on the annual valuo to let of tlio rateable property then on the roll, then such district shall receive by the 19th clause, out of the land revenue, one pound for every pound thus raised ; and also the same tliall be paid to each district out of the Consolidated Fund, with the same proviso. Now, sir, this 1 consider to be neither more nor less thau a bait thrown out to catch a salmon ; and such will exonerate absentees from rate altogether. Ido hope that gucli will not be carried —that the whole question will have to ciiine before the people. 1 now say what I first said, that the Colonial (lovcrnuieiit have no power to alter the Constitution. We received it from our Queen Victoria, through her' Ministry, and anv alteration must pass through the same channel. Wo w ant a change of the whole ati'air, Ceneral and Provincial ; let the request come from the people. 1 think that 1 have spoken common sense.—l am, Sc, A McDonald. Pukckohc Valley. l'.t>. -I have discovered that education is to be provided for out of the consolidated revenue. Now this, 1 say, is a step in the right direction, for 1 have held from the first that such should be so. To the Editor of the Herald. Sii:, —Through the medium of your valuable paper, would you suggest to the chairmen of the Highway Boards through the province of Auckland the desirability of calling meetings of the people to express their views upon this very important subject ? Sir, the people in Auckland lack public spirit. 1 trust the people will arouse themselves and 3xprcsß their opinions candidly so as to assist our representatives on the important consideration, that of the Abolition of Provinces Bill.—l am, 4c, Electok. 11th August, 1575.