Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6996, 19 April 1884, Page 4

It will be seen from our telegrams that the adjourned meeting for the purpose of forming a constitutional association took place at Dnnedin last night, and that a society was formed on the basis of tia committee's report, which appeared in our yesterday's issue. So the movement lia-o struggled into shape, and entered on the brief career we have predicted for it It is significant that whereas thirty-five persons were present at the first "meeting, only about twenty attended the second. This does not betoken a growing enthusiasm, and the difference in the numbers may be regarded as "'the beginning of the end." One purpose, however, it has already served which its promoters did not dream of, namely, the strengthening of the Ministerial position. The telegram from our Wellington correspondent shewß the revulsion of feeling it has produced in that quarter. Taken in conjunction vriti Sir. Montgomery's ill-fated . tia programme of tbia so-called association has secured the Thorndon seat ' for the Ministry, and induced, all parties there to lay aside political differences on minor points and combine for the preservation of our colonial unity. This, it may safely be said, will be the. effect produced all over the North Island, and indeed in all parts of the colony save Oiago and Canterbury.' And even in these two quarters this attempt to overturn the constitution under the pretext of decentralising the functions of Government is, judging from appearances, not at all likely to commend universal favour. In a word, these Southernjaolitic? an s have in their selfish zeal overdone the business and so have done it to death.