New Zealand Times. MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 1874.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4183, 17 August 1874, Page 2

New Zealand Times. MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 1874.

We have waited patiently, and, it is scarcely necessary to add, in vain, to see what some of the organs which especially affect Provincialism as it exists in the North Island have had to say why their idol should not bo destroyed. The present is the time in which they should have waxed eloquent in its defence, if, indeed, they had any grounds to base their eloquence upon. But the line of defence adopted has been simply in accordance with the instruction communicated by the solicitor to the barrister he retained, “No case : abuse the plaintiff.” There has not been a single argument set up why in the North Island the present form of Provincialism should bo retained. We -are aware that there are people who have grown old in Wellington and elsewhere, who regard the Provincial Council Chamber as a temple of majesty and justice, and who reverence with a mysterious awo what is to them the impalpable essence of a Provincial Government. Supposing Mr. Vogel’s propositions to bo carried, and an earthquake were to follow, there are not wanting people who would connect the two events. Strangers, in this case, have an advantage over old colo-

nists. They can look at the dual form of Government prevailing with an impartial eye, and they do, we are assured, consider it very anomalous. The first question an intelligent visitor naturally asks is, —What are now the advantages of Provincialism, and what is it Provincial Governments can do better and more cheaply than the General Government! To this the reply is usually a rather meagre and unsatisfactory one. Most sensible people will willingly admit that the control of the police ought to be vested in the General Government. The same remark applies with as much force to lunatic asylums and gaols. The actual and admitted fact that it would be well for Parliament to pass an Education Bill that should apply to the whole Colony requires no demonstration. The very fact that the General Government has to give guaranteed titles to all Crown lands that are alienated is a strong reason why the survey staff of the Colony should be under the control of one of its officers. Wo scarcely expect to be told that officers of the General Government or the Road Boards cannot construct roads and bridges as well as servants of the Provincial Government. For what, then, pur visitors ask, are Provinvincial Governments retained ? The special organs of the Provincial Government seem no wiser in the matter than their querists. If, on the other hand, we should bo asked to show what Provincialism should he aisle to do, and would, if it were not an effete institution, the replies to hand are very numerous. The case was illustrated in Wellington during the past week. The reclamation of part of the To Are foreshore by the City Council at its own cost would scarcely appear to have required more than the most purely formal legislation; but in such a matter the Provincial Council is powerless. It cannot give Auckland or Wellington a dock or proper wharf accommodation. That we have not a tug service is a disgrace to the port of Wellington, but the Provincial Government, whose place it is to provide one, cannot do so. It cannot give New Plymouth the harbor which that place so much requires. But if it cannot do these things that it ought to do, it can be obstructive. Only the other day, when tho City Council wanted a little strip of foreshore to prevent damage being done to tho breastwork in front of tho very Provincial Buildings, the Provincial Executive could not grant this. Could the General Government have been applied to in the matter it would no doubt have been speedily settled. In saying this, we are not condemning tho Provincial Government for not doing impossibilities. Only a few out of very many plain and obvious facts, of which many will be forthcoming during the ensuing debate on the subject, have been set forth. Meanwhile, it is with regret that we observe absolutely no reasons being put forward for the maintenance of the existing dual Government. The case, as it now stands, almost leads to the conclusion that the Ministerial propositions should have been made long ago. Members of Provincial Councils will, it is reasonable to expect, say more for the institutions than their organs of the Press have done. Provincial Government, it may be argued, should be either less than it is or more. But then no one would think of reforming it by pruning it down, and turning the sittings of the Councils into mere vestry meetings. If, on the other hand, it were made more than it is,, it would become a General Government. To this no one would agree. No absurdity could be greater than to see two Governments in one Province armed with the same powers, and undoubtedly, perpetually quarrelling with and jealous of each other. Thus, as Provincial Government can neither be reformed by pruning its powers, nor by extending these, the conclusion seems almost inevitable that it should be abolished. This is supposing that the necessity for reform be conceded ; and no one, we are certain, is more sure of this than the present Superintendent of Wellington and the Provincial Treasurer. It would be idle to deny that they have been very dissatisfied with the position and status of the Provincial Government of which they are members. To vary this they have even gone the length of taking proceedings which tho Supreme Court decided were illegal. Wa fully admit in doing this they have had the good of the Province at heart, but how desperate must bo the disease and how difficult the remedy to find if such a course were necessary. The disease would almost seem impossible of cure. Skilful physicians, under such circumstances, would have recourse to amputation, where this is possible. The limb that is afflicted is cut away, and tho trunk of the body retains its healthy condition. This is exactly what is proposed in tho abolition of Provincialism in the. North Island. It lias been weighed in the balances by the Premier and his colleagues, and, in their opinion, has been found wanting. If it can be shown during the debate that they have wrongly diagnosed the disease, the change will not take place ; but if they are demonstrated to bo right, the days of Provincial Governments in the North Island are numbered.