MR. LUCKIE, M.H.R., ON PROVINCIALISM.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4212, 19 September 1874, Page 3

MR. LUCKIE, M.H.R., ON PROVINCIALISM.

The following letter from Mr. Luokie apipsars in the Hew Zealand Herald ; jgng—ln a notice in the Herald of Friday of my recent speech to my constituents at Nelson there seems to be some misapprehension or oversight, which perhaps you will permit mo to put right. You ask, “Can Mr. Luckie explain why, when in the House, ho considered only the North Island Provinces should be ’abolished, and now, when before his constituents, lie has come to the conclusion that all the Provinces of both Islands should be consolidated under one Government 1” And you continue, “Mr. Luckie may be quite right; but how was it he did not make known his sentiments when speaking in the presence of the Premier?” In your last question, probably from not haring had time fully to examine Hansard, you assume an inaccurate proposition. It is tine I, like many more,- did not speak on the Provincial resolutions ; but the fact is, I had given expression, not before the Premier only but in presence of the House, to very decided opinions on the subject before it w 7 as known that the Government would bring down such resolutions, and while it w r as still believed that Mr. Header Wood had abandoned all idea of doing so. How strong and decided those opinions w 7 ere will be seen from tiie following extract from an unpremeditated speecli I made in the House on the -Ith of August on the subject of the Conservation of Forests Bill, and for which I trust you will be able to afford me space. I was speaking apropos of the opposition of Provincial officers, members of the House, to tiie Forests measure ; —“ lam surprised to find that amongst those lion, members who have spoken against the measure are the Superintendents of nearly every Province in New Zealand, the Provincial Secretaries with scarcely an exception, and other lion, members who are interested in tiie preservation of Provincial institutions, and who support the Provinces at the risk of damaging the Colony. A s a citizen of this Colony, I should hope tiie converse will be the result. Ido not think the Colony is likely to bo damaged, but there is no doubt that in many of the Provinces groat changes are necessary with respect to their management. Rather than the Colony as a whole should suffer—the Colony which is now engaged in a vast and important work of valuable and lasting civilisation, and developing the wealth and power wo possess within ourselves—l say perish the provinces, but preserve the country ! The time lias not yet come when tiie Provincial system shall end ; but, if we find such wretched finance and so strange a system of audit as has existed in the Province of Wellington, such miserable and utterly incompetent finance as exists in Auckland; if wo find Taranaki, which is by no means wealthy, and neither large nor important, progressing by such slow degrees; if we find continual differences between the head of the Province and Ms so called rosponsible Executive, as in Nelson; and if wc find on such occasions as this that those very gentlemen, the Provincial officials, arc the strongest opponents to a measure which has been alluded to by all as one that, if properly carried out* would bo a satisfactory measure to the country—the sooner that time comes the better.” Nor was that the only time that I expressed similar opinions. I look, as do ninetenths of the people, on the proposal to abolish the Northern provinces as a mere instalment—the first step only. The next may, and probably will come soon, perhaps simultaneously. That it must and will come every one believes. The condition of Auckland finance, and the lamentable financial exhibitions made during tho last sitting of the Auckland Provincial Council, form ample warrant for tho nature of my reference thereto ; and the full facts respecting that management have yet to lie disclosed. •