New Zealand Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1874.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4217, 25 September 1874, Page 2

New Zealand Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1874.

The result of the political meeting in the Odd Fellows’ Hall, on Wednesday evening, ivks a pleasing surprise to a large majority of' the electors who wore present. The terms* of the resolution by which the speeches , of the two members were followed did not contain the usual expression of confidence ; but this is a matter of no moment. If confidence were not; expressed, it . was felt, and this was what we presume the two members would wish to receive, and what we are sure the electors desired to accord. Thus the' difficulty that many persons felt, Iprior to- attending the meeting, was got over. It was well-known that Mr. Hunter was an, ardent believer in the value of Provincial* institutions. ’lt was understood that Mr. Pearce was not so decided on the point; and the question which thfe admitted friends . of| both gentlemen had to ask themselves was, how to pass a resolution * that should include them, whilst they held different opinions on the £< blazing and smoking” question of’ the day. It was a relief to find that they' had decided not to become obstinately wedded to opinions that might be extreme or otherwise. ; • Timely, fit, and opposite concession avoided the whole difficulty. Mr. Pearce assumes that he will vote for the. Bill,which the .Government contemplates bringing down to the House next session ; and Mr. Hunter will give it his best consideration. This is all that his : constituents had any right to expect' at his hands. Probably he commenced the session with the belief that. Provincialism was an institution of the utmost value 'and 'importance to' the North Island. Now he, a member of the Provincial Executive, is prepared to give a Bill 1 that .proposes to abolish it a fair consideration. 1 In ordinary matters ofbusiness, wo know what this means very well. A merchant, when he takes a proposal 1 into ; consideration, is understood not to reject it as being absolutely out of the question. Very probably if a little modification bo introduced, he may accept it. ; ' AVHeh 'referring 'to the -propositwins. of the Premier, we have stated more than once that there was sound discretion displayed • in . leaving them nearly twelve months before the dountry before action could be taken.. Time was required k to familiarise people with them. Since they were introduced; many persons who looked very coldly on them have, on becoming- bettor "acquainted, wavered, then , faintly acquiesced, and at length become firm believers: Mr. Hunter must know that the abolition of all forms of Provincial Government im tile-North Island, and the certainty following that Provincialism in the Middlo Island is but a moribund institution, .with the • centralisation of all Government at Wellington;- riliist * tend to make this City of more importance than it was; and, as such, the step is certain to be popular, with. the bulk of ,his constituents. It Would bo with regret that, they would lose ..the services in Parliament of either himself or Mr. Pearce |; i and, therefore,, it was with pleasure the electors saw both standing, on Wednesday evening, on ‘ one platform, and profess views that do not differ materially. Mr. -‘Pearce, who first addressed the meeting, proved. that he was. a strong supporter of the present Government. Ho pointed out, with unanswerable logic, that the policy of the Ministry had been of inestimable: benefit to New Zealand.

The amount: >of the:, indebtedness;'incurred which 1 awakened tho somewhat feeblgtappreltensiona of Mr., Waterhouse, and disturbed the peaceful current- of his placid equanimity, did not cause uneasiness to Mr. Pearce. He was able to look on both sides of tho- ledger: and see that there was n quid pro quo for every million that had been expended,;, and further, he saw that there had been a great increase in the material prosperity of the people of the Colony. There never, said he,-had been-a time in - the history of the Colony when the people were so generally prosperous. New Zealand he regarded as the Colony par excellence'.' In the face of such an avowal Mr. Pearce was, we submit, hound to declare himself a supporter of the,Ministry. - Saying this, does not in any way detract from the discretionary. policy he pursued when the Premier brought down his resolutions. Mr. Pearce voted neither for nor against them. Now, after giving the subject full -consideration; he is prepared to support a Bill founded up6n them.’ We are unable to see that, by doing so lie in any way forfeits the trust of tho ejectors who returned; him to the Provincial, Council. Whilst a member of that- body he is prepared to place his best services.at the disposal of the community. But it does not ■ - follo w from this that he has thought Provincialism an admirable institution, or One that should be made durable. , It is, he thinks,, complex in itself, the cause of difficulties and'jealousies, and lie might almost have added, had become effete. In fact, he thinks that it . should be removed from the face of the map of New Zealand. -No doubt, the only reason for its retention consists in;the natural facts relating to the Provinces of Otago and Canterbury. ■■ • Marlborough,’ Nelson, and Westland desire- to be under a uniform; government, just as Auckland, Taranaki, and Hawke’s Bay. But at the present, time Otago and Canterbury can fulfil alj the functions, for which Provincial Governments were , ever designed, and it does seem, therefore, that , they may be to do so if such be the wish 1 of the people of the Provinces. < The abolition of Provincialism is, however,' as Mr, Pearce said,; but a question of time. And; to the administration of it in Otago,' distance is said to lend ' enchantment—this being about; the only one it has. Mr. Hunter, as it was expected,>essayed the championship Of the Provincial Executive of Wellington. In this case ho was leal to *his colleagues, as every sensible person will admit he ought to be. Indeed, there is a very strong probability that he performs a very good-work in his place in the Executive. >He may exoi’cise such a restraining power that it would be a ; misfortune if he resigned. ' On all occasions, in Parliament and elsewhere, he. is willing to take his proper .share of the responsibility of whatever, has been done. How much that is must remain a secret of the Executive ; but the fact is noticeable, that he has never vouchsafed any explanation of tho “ways that are dark, and tricks-which are vain,” for which certain i persons are peculiar. 1 But what-he can say, and point to with confidence and pride, is that, under the present Provincial Government, the Province of Wellington' has made rapid strides towards prosperity ; there have been 1 many valuable public works begun, continued, and ended in it; its population has been very largely increased, and it is growing in importance daily.’ Its financial, relations to the General Government have been', and are, of a much more satisfactory nature than those • of ■ other Provinces in the Northern Island. It had -been in leading-strings, but it was gradually shaking these off’. All this, -and more, we are quite willing to credit the Provincial ; Government with. Mr.' Hunter, strong supporter of Provincialism as he has been, 1 is yet a stronger supporter of ' the General Government. If he had to decide which would have to go to the wall, he has.clearly intimated into which scale he should' throw his weight. ' It was because both he and Mr. Pearce showed that they were inclined to keep pace with current events, and to admit the desirability that ..sometimes exists for a thorough change of opinion, that ’ their constituents heard them" off Wednesday evening, and left the hall with the impression that they were the right mou in the, right place. Between tergiversation and an honest desire to sympathise with changing; circumstances, or the march of events, there is no analogy whatever. Sir Robert -Peel, when taunted with having changed his political creed, remarked that a wise man did change his opinions, but a fool never. A sadder spectacle the sun never.shines upon than a - man who learns nothing by experience, and: who ;will not allow his judgment to be guided by the information that it is the daily duty of every one ,to acquire. ‘ ■ .•