THE Thames Advertier. SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 1876.

Thames Advertiser, Volume IX, Issue 2251, 15 January 1876, Page 2

THE Thames Advertier. SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 1876.

The constitutional changes which will doubtless command the attention of members of the new Assembly when it is called together in a month or two cannot much longer remain in embryo, and our leading politicians will very soon be called upon to shadow forth a po% for the consideration of member?. Some of the schemes—such, as Federal ism and Centralism—have already beenpretty well Canvassed during the election speeches of candidates and members elect. The question of Centralism has commanded much attention on such occasions, and. the general opinion arrived at seems f to .be that it is both, practicable and easily obtainable. Thore will be a great change, not only in membership, but in the tone of feeling of the new Parliament ; and members, whether returned as Centralists. or Separationisls, Oppositionists or Abolitionists, will be found to a very large extent imbued with strong opinions upon local self-government. There must be no mincing matters, no half measures introduced, such as the local bill introduced by Ministers last session, only to be quietly] .shelved at a later period of the sitting. '"' The local bill of next session must go straight "to the i root of the matter, and provide for conferring large powers upon such bodies. The onlysolution of thedifficulty of effective administration..will be found in tho establishment 'ef -properly endowed Boards of Works, and to provide for such tho measure to be introduced by Ministers would have to be both full and complete, or a secession from the ranks of Government supporters would be the result. We shall not be surprised to n'nd-that this result is attained at an early stage of the session, because the Government have not grown in favour or.position since the close of the kstParlianient, aud there were not a few wavering supporters then" who havo turned their backs upon a Government ■which has been found guilty of gross

jobbery and corruption in dealing with the waste lauds of the colony and iu the administration of native affairs. The people will not longer suffer these things to pasa by unnoticed and uncondemued as heretofore, so that much, greater discretion and honesty will be demanded of Ministers in the future. The new Parliament will be essentially a reform administration, and local selfgovernment will be the cry which will demand the fullest and most intelligo|& consideration of lion, members const? tuting the new Assembly. "We have so far only had some vague generalities of the new scheme to be introduced for solidifying Borne of the angry elements aud carrying a united phalanx of the Assembly in its train, but we hope soon to have the substance in lieu of the shadow. There must be no bartering away of our birthright—tho land fund, let it bo secured to us most unmistakably, and a Board of Works measure will be found most suited to the requirements of tho Thames and. other similar districts, We do not yield Centralism, with local government and land endowment, lo Separation, and we think even the most ardent admirers in the past of that divided form of government aro beginning to doubt its wisdom and expediency at the present time and under such altered circumstances.