DUNEDIN, SATURDAY, MAY 4.

Otago Witness, Issue 805, 4 May 1867, Page 11

DUNEDIN, SATURDAY, MAY 4.

The difficulty with the General Government thickens. Instead of any retractation ©f their policy, they press more heavily upon the Province, and by every possible means endeavor to mark their disapprobation of the opinions and choice of the electors. Otago is made to stand alone. The Superintendent elect of every other Province has due honor paid to him, and customary powers are delegated, but to Otago's Superintendent they are refused. It is little use wasting words in condemning the tools the General Government employ to work out their designs. That they found one in Mr Bradshaw is only saying that he obtained that for -which, he entered Parliament — a Government appointment. If he had not accepted it, some one else would, and it matters little to the Province who is employed, for no person could do the work so as to render the insult less galling. I s , therefore, he would resign his seat in the Assembly, he might be fairly passed over in the consideration of the questions that arise, for the dispute is Governmental. By retaining it, he occupies a position that does not leave him free to act, for it is impossible that any one can be impartial and unbiassed as a member of Parliament who is receiving a salary from the Government. So long, therefore, as Mr. Bradshaw retains his seat, he holds a position through which he can weaken the influence of the representatives of Otago. Throughout the last session, he acted against the interests of the Province, and voted with the Stafford Ministry. He has obtained his reward, and justice to himself, the Province and the Colony, requires that he should retire from the Colonial Parliament.

The Session of the Provincial Council that opened on Wednesday promises to "be an eyentful one, but througt the action of : the General Government, legislation must necessarily be narrowed and restricted. The measures proposed are significant of -the advancement of the Province, and of its increasing corresponding necessities. 'The welfare of a community is not al•together dependant upon its material .advancement ; for provision must be made to counteract those moral evils that , necessarily accompany social development. It has long been matter for regret that better provision has not been made for separation of the young in crime from those who have become confirmed criminals. Magistrates and Judges have called attention to- the necessity for arrangements being made for that purpose, and the Superintendent has intimated that the subject is about to receive the attention of the Government. Scarcely a less crying evil is it, that in the Gaol no facilities exist for the separation of those who are confined for mere trivial offences, from convicts, whose crimes have, perhaps, horrified society. It is degrading to a man who, for some trifling inadvertance, or for .» venial offence, scarcely affecting any other than himself, has been committed to prison, that he should be compelled by the law to become the associate of those whose lifetime has been a, course of evil, and who have crowned their career by a startling deed, that lias procured for them years of punishment. The law cannot overlook petty offences ; but it ought not, in addition to the trifling punishment it awards, to degrade the culprit by condemning him to keep company with such associates. On these grounds, the proposition to provide a jraiali prison for the confinement of refrac"tory seamen commends itself, as humane And equitable, and will, no doubt, meet ■with the approval of the Council v \ ffR A. measure that is without precedent in! -the' British dominions has been recommended and adopted, in order to ascertain the opinions of the residents on the Goldfields respecting the non-delegation v«£ the Governor's powers to the Superintendent. It is almost a work of superero-

gation, as the. large majority by which' Mr! Macandrewwss elected in all parts of the Province is & sufficient answer to any enquiries on the subject. The present measure, however,' goes further than an appeal to the electors. It asks every one of mature age to record his opinion, whether he is an elector or not, and will form a very powerful argument against the course taken by the Stafford Ministry, when their Anti-Pro?incial action comes under review by the House of Representatives. The disorder into which so important an interest as goldmining has been thrown by the reckless measures of the Colonial Government, the stoppage of public business, the divided authority, and the damaging suspense that must be endured before the questions in abeyance are capable of a satisfactory solution, point to the gravity of the mistake that has been made. It is evident that Mr. Stafford and his colleagues might do for an old world administration, where precedent is accepted as a rule of action; but in the Colonies, governments are being evolved out of ' circumstances, and it is absurd to forget' that as the communities are self -governing, i a due regard should be paid to popular opinion.