PRLNCIPLES OF THE SEPARATION LEAGUE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 214, 27 August 1862, Page 6

PRLNCIPLES OF THE SEPARATION LEAGUE.

The following statement has been issued in t the form of a circular by the Separation League: — : The object of the League raay be briefly i stated to be the promoting, by every legitimate means, the Separation of the Government of the Middle Island of New Zealand, from that of the Northern Island. In promoting this object it will be the fundamental principle of the League not to interfere in any way with matters that do not strictly belong to it. Under this category comes the question of SEAT OF GOVERNMENT, A subject with which the League will in no way deal. Not only would the consideration of this question at the present time, be premature, but it is to be borne in mind that the appointment of the Seat of Government in a colony is a-privilege which the Imperial Government has always stipulated for, and the introduction of which, into the application for Separation, would have a prejudicial effect with the Home authorities. Supposing the members of the League could even come to a decision amongst themselves as to the place whicii it was most desirable to make the Seat of Government, any pledge they could make would be deemed utterly worthless by the Imperial authorities. It may be safely said that the" later, the time of making tiie selection of the Seat of Government^ the greater the probability of the choice being a judicious one. Supposing, for example, that the Scparationists could agree that at the present time, Ticton, Chris.tchurch, Akaroa, Timani. Invercargill, or Dunedin possessed the most claims to be the Seat j of Government it is impossible to say, seeing j the rapid state of progression through which the country is passing, which of them would be most eligible' a year hence ; before which '> time it is scarcely possible to obtain the Separation desired. The deduction is clear, that even if the Home Government would not resent as unwarrantable the application for Separation coupled with a stipulation as to the Seat of Government, the Separationists would be unwise to pledge themselves on a question, the merits of which are liable to such material alteration. It is therefore distinctly laid down as a principle, that the League through its members or officers is in no way to take any action as to the choice of the Seat of Government.

I'ROVIXCIAI. INSTITUTIONS. Under the .same category of questions for non-interference, comes that of the maintenance of Provincial .institutions as at present constituted, or their modification. On this, also, it would be beyond the functions of the League to interfere. The only way in which the question is likely to arise, is that a new Constitution Act will have to be provided, and in this it will be competent to make alterations in the present system of Provincial institutions. One reservation alone may be calculated on—that of the non-interference with the vested rights which have grown np in each province, and under this head it may be reckoned that the dealing Avith its land revenue will be left to each province Beyond this, it may be presumed that Provincial institutions will be open for reconsideration, and the Imperial 'Government will "see that each Province be fully represented. The mode in which Separation will be granted should be safficient to prevent any fears arising as to its having an unfairly prejudicial effect on Provincial institutions. Adopting the plan pursned with Queensland, in granting the Separation, the Home Authorities will endow the Middle Island with the same constitution as that of the Island from which it separates,'-accompanied with the powers for electing a Parliament under the authority of that act. To that Parliament will be left the re-consideration of the Constitution Act, a*.id if amended it will have to be sent home to pass the British Parliament. Queensland decided to retain the Xew South Wales Act with slight modifications. The same course will be open to the Middle Island of New Zealand. In fact it will start off, as at present, with the same Constitution Act, with this advantage, that it will have the power to make any changes deemed desirable, without being fettered by the opposition nf the Northern Island. Thus, on the subject of Provincial Institutions, the Provinces will have ample opportunity to assert themselves, and meanwhile the League regards it as utterly outside its functions.