New Zealand Times. TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1874.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4178, 11 August 1874, Page 2

New Zealand Times. TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1874.

It was fully anticipated in political circles that some hon. members, prompted either by that curiosity which leads’little boys and girls to peep at the end of the tale they are reading, or more sinister motives, would endeavor to force Ministers to still further unveil their policy respecting the conversion of the whole of the North Island into one Province of the Colony of New Zealand. Such a step, looked at from every point, seemed full of imprudence; and the Premier will anticipate it. When speaking to the second reading of the State Forests Bill, he indicated that the subject had engaged the attention of the Government. There were hon. members and other persons interested who asked why he did not come before the House with a definite and matured scheme, that he would either carry or not, as events might decide. After the Ministerial Statement was made on Thursday afternoon, and read on Friday morning, the generally expressed opinion of thoughtful men was that he had been extremely judicious and discreet in electing not to proceed to give legislative effect, this session, to the policy of the Government. Many persons said this who were more than half converted to the scheme. But they reasoned that time should be afforded, in order that a measure of so thorough and sweeping a character should have all the consideration its importance demanded. Persons whose opinions were best worth having wished to have time in which they might be quite sure what these opinions were. They saw, but as through a glass, what the scope of the measure was. Doubtless there are times when prompt execution is imperative, and delay is fatal, but in the case of abolishing the Provincial boundaries and distinctions of the North Island, there is no pretence for saying that extreme urgency exists. And, although the idea will command support, for a variety of reasons, some of which are peculiarly local, and others of a more general and political character, there are persons who have grown old in Provincialism, in the political creed of whom it is the very first article. Their ripe experience gives them a right to speak on the subject with an authority that we cannot accord to recruits in politics who have scarcely got beyond the goose-step in their political drill. Before this great change is just more than proposed, we ought to obtain the opinions upon it of our oldestand wisest politicians, and also of the people in the Provinces affected. Nor must we take telegraphic despatches merely, as positive indications of this. At present these are but the froth on the surface. To allow the Ministry the fullest discretion in dealing with this matter, and to follow out as closely as possible the line of policy indicated, will be just to the country and for the general good. This may be readily demonstrated ; and not less easy will it be to show that it would have been impolitic for hon. members, be they nominally independent or really in opposition, to take any other course as far as they themselves are concerned. The Premier indicated his belief that a majority of members thought as he did ; and we are led to believe such is the case. The most then that the minority could effect would be but little. But Mr. Yogel has chosen the better part in electing not to take advantage of his strength. The liberty which he reserved to himself to introduce resolutions on the subject in the present session, advanced as it is, he will avail himself of this afternoon. The resolutions he will submit will declare that it is for the interests of the Colony that Provincialism should be abolished in the North Island ; and that it should be the care of the Government during the recess to consider how this can be accomplished in the best and most equitable manner. This we hold to be a wise proposal. On every reason we submit that it is very desirable the Government should take its own course and choose its own time in dealing with this matter. If it make mistakes it can and will be called to account for them. This, we are convinced, will be the view taken ( in the country, after the subject has received calm and dispassionate consideration, of the description which it requires. This session, which, as the Premier remarked, was intended to be ’ a short one, has had sufficient legislation of a novel and interesting character introduced into it without being called upon to discuss legislation not merely of a sensational but of a “surprise” character. Let hon. members return to their constituents, and after discussing the subject with them during the ensuing nine months and quietly reflecting upon it, return to Wellington to give effect to thoughtful, wellconsidered legislation. We were not surprised that when the subject was first broached it was taken for granted that the intention was to strike a blow at Provincialism as a whole. This is but an illustration of our previous argument. Provincial Government in the Middle Island would be no more doomed by the scheme of the Premier being carried into effect than it is at the present time. In fact, if Mr. Yogol’s ideas could be carried out in their entirety, it would stand on a basis as firmasanyone could reasonably desire. Mr, Vogel does not wish to effect a change in the North Island until tho people both North and South have had an opportunity of expressing an opinion on the matter in a constitutional manner. And if the decision be to abolish it in tho one Island that would form no reason whatever for doing so in the other. There is absolutely no analogy between the circumstances of the two. The difference between some of the Provinces of the Colony was very well explained by Mr. Vogel in his budget speech. The contrast between Wellington and Otago, Auckland and Canterbury, is as great as it well can be. The reasons that exist for tho General Government having the control of revenue and expenditure in the North Island do not altogether apply to the Middle one. If, then, the Superintendents are wise, they will view this question as a Colonial one, as not affecting Provincialism in itself, and as having no relation to tho future of the institution ,in the Middle Island. This will have to be relegated to the people to settle for themselves, as Mr. Vogel proposes to do in the North Island. No more equitable course can bo conceived. The time may come when tho people of tho Middle Island, whilst not insensible to the advantages they have derived under Provincialism, may feel that the day has come, when their land revenue being nearly nil, the public expenditure should be under the control of the General Government. They may, perhaps, have an opportunity of judging from the result of the experiment in the North. Meanwhile wo hope the institution may have a fair trial here. Let its friends have an opportunity of saying all they can in its favor, and its opponents one for stating their case as strongly as

they know how. The question is not entirely a new one, but as it has never cropped up exactly in this shape before, that it should be hastily made the subject of legislation is by no means desirable.