PROVINCIAL CONSOLIDATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 846, 15 February 1868, Page 1

PROVINCIAL CONSOLIDATION.

(From the Daily Times, Feb. 11.) We have, in several previous articles, arrived at the conclusion that New Zealand is on the eve of a change in its form of government, whether that change be a ratification of the destruction of Provincial institutions, which for somo time has been slowly proceeding, or whether it take the form of reinstating Provincial institutions on their old footing. There is a wide-spread dissatisfaction abroad at the present state of affairs. Responsibility and power are so divided between the General and Provincial Governments, that it is impossible to tell where they end and begin, or with which Government how much of them rests. The executive power of both Governments is weakened, on account of the uncertainty of the extent to which each has claim. The time is approaching when thi3 uncertainty must be set at rest — when the Constitution Act must either be repaired or substantially altered. At present, New Zealand has, in reality, only a shred of a Constitution. From so many sides has the original Constitution Act been infringed on and tinkered, that he wouldbe a wise man indeed, who could tell how much of it remains — how much of it has been lost in other Acts not professing to interfere with the Constitution Act, but which, nevertheless, do so. The Constitution is not hedged round with any safeguards or securities. In Victoria, any measure conflicting with or repealing any part of the Constitution Act, requires a specified majority of members to pass it. In New Zealand, it was at first intended to yet more Becurely defend the .Constitution ; since in the original Imperial Act there was no power given to the local Legislature to effect alterations. In a subsequent Act, a large power of alteration was permitted too the Assembly, and by what we presume was an oversight, it was not made necessary that there should be any particular majority in effecting such alterations, or that' they should, even be specifically described. The Act,

saving some excepted .points, was placed on the ordinary footing — that is to say, that -when there -is a conflict between the Constitution Act and any later Act, the subsequent Act overrides the 'earlier in' respect to the point of conflict. Thus it happens, that, without any design to shape out a better Constitution, the Constitution Act has constantly been nibbled at f- till but a wreck of it remains. So anomalous a condition cannot continue, and the decision will shortly have to be made in favor of a single form of Government, or of a double form, with Provincial Institutions reinstated into a recognised position.

We have often exposed the disingenuousness of those who profess to desire to see Provincial Governments done away with, on the grounds their arguments disclose. If those arguments' were sincere, whatever tended to" meet them would be welcomed. But this is precisely how their insincerity is proved. The ■ reasons urged, and the arguments used, in ' favor of doing away with Provincial Governments, when they come, to be examined, apply but slightly to Provincial Institutions ; their real application is to the extravagance and abuse which have arisen from a too minute subdivision of the Provincial System. The answer to the Centralists is, clearly, " Enlarge the Provinces ;" but they shrink with dread from such a remedy, because they feel it will cut from under them the ground they choose to use, the arguments which it suits them to employ. Thus it happens that those who decry Provincial institutions, are the very men who would increase them by paltry subdivisions ; because, in the weakness of the Provinces, they find their own strength. For the last three years there has been an organised and persistent effort to set the small Provinces against the large, and much mischief has been the consequence. If the Provinces were re-mapped, the game of th 9 Centralists would be " played out," and this they know. But there is a great dead in the arguments professedly used in favor of Centralism, which really points to the evil of a too great extension of the Provincial System. The New Provinces Act was a mistake, and the new Provinces had better never have been formed. And if this Avas the case in the far ]j>ast, it is much more so now that increased tacilities for communication and enlarged settlement have brought neighboring Provinces into more intimate connection. 'No one pretends that the Provincial System will last for all time. What its supporters ask for it is, the opportunity of gradually working itself out, until it has effected its mission. This gradual process should mean, that the Provinces should join together whenever they are ripe for doing*so, and in course of time within each Island they would become one. The time has come when Consolidation to a considerable extent would be attended with advantage, Southland should be re-annexed to Otago ; and in the North, another annexation would be attended with advantage. Circumstances, of late, have proved that the Timaru district is intimately connected with the district south of the Waitaki. A bridge across the Waitaki should be the signal for the anexation of the Timaru District to Otago. Of course, an equitable arrangement in respect to existing rights and obligations would have to be made. No doubt, a groat deal of virtuous indignation will be expressed at such a proposal. But let us come to the real test — the interests of the settlers and property holders. • Can there be any doubt, that the settlers in Southland, by a large majority, would support the Union? And we are much misinformed if the same would not be the case with the Timaru settlers. We earnestly commend the subject to consideration. Next session o f the Assembly might witness the Consolidation completed, and Otago placed in the position of a powerful Colony.