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Southland Times, Issue 2165, 13 August 1875, Page 2

Mr Lumsden did nni tako muoh uf a stand on provincialism, but he did support it by" aryumenla that could be easily answered. We shall eunfine ourselves in the meantime to confronting lu'm with liis ibrmer self. "Whether or" not the country may be ripe for abolition. Mr Lumsden at least seems fco have been prepared for it six years a^o. In 18(31), lv: iuldre^cd these words to the electors of Invercareill : — " Instead, therefore, of moving backwards in our political lif', w - 1 Y.imht fo confe*in|)l.'te tin use inevilable changes which are sure to result in ' tlie dismemberment of the provinces ! and their subdivision into districts locally mamnj-id by administrative boards. Such a change would le more in consonance with the received principles of constitutional p-ovenum ut, under which people are encouraged to t;iko nn activo interest, in the mana<gej ment of public nifjiirs — tlie best oiiar ' atileo for the successful maintenance ot j free, institutions and an economical sys- | tern of government." Aoain," His (Mr I Lumsden's) opinion was ihat wo should si ci< a Government outside of provinces altogether He agreed with the re-unionists ihat the provincial system was a failure. It had served ifs purpose, and should be superseded .... Ho would liko to sco one national Government ior Xew Zealand. Provincial squabbles in the Assembly spoilt great colonial j schemes, and the sooner the provinces wero abolished the better We would bo wisec to wait till the General Assembly provided new shoes | for us to step into : ' Perhaps Mr Lumsden does not like the Govern- ] ment shoe/maker of the day. Perhaps i he hues the shoes of a member of the I Provincial Executive, so easy and | pleasant thai, he is loth to kick tliem [ .df. What we have »iv< n aro Iho extracts that Mr Osborne meant lo - L -ead to the audience ou Wednesday e\ owing. Ccriaii-.lv they would have bt en to tiie jurp-s.-, but tho meeting did lid care, to le-ar anything that was not to the honor of iMr Pumsden.