THE POLICY OF THE OPPOSITION.

Timaru Herald, Volume IX, Issue 343, 9 September 1868, Page 3

THE POLICY OF THE OPPOSITION.

We take the following telegraphic intelligence from the Lyttelt&A Tivies, from which it will he seen that the so-oalled " policy" of Mr Fox and *ke Opposition ia to keep matters pretty much as they are, aad give local government through tke Provincial Councils : — Lobby rumour says that the Opposition is united m a desire to- put an end to the financial partnership between the General Government and the provinces. They will not, however, with a mere view to consistency, act so as to involve any province m difficulties for want of time to lace its position. ■ They propose to make the disolution of partnership practically complete, so far as putting an end to the complex system of accounts, the never-tending i disputes, and the annual log-rolling m! the Assembly, They will endeavour to avoid precipitating a crisis, or throwing the provinces absolutely on their own resources of local taxation, without an interval for meeting their position, where the [absence of a land fund, or. ocher circumstances might make such a course improper. Their plan is based upon# capitation grant, different m amount from that of the Government, and applicable to ordinary expenditure. They. (Consider the adjustment proposal, m reference to lon as, a great injustice,; that it makes those provinces which have been frugal and have borrowed least, pay for the public works of those that have borrowed heavily : that being manifestly unfair, it must be ultimately' reversed if agreed to.j and that it would probubly lead to the invasion ' of the Middle Island land fund by the .North, as un act of retaliation. They are determined to fix some limit, both of time and amount, for the continuance of special expenditure for Native and Defence purposes;. TUo Southern moinboro ooy thoy vrill be liberal, but they insist on some definite line of financial responsibility being imposed. Their local self-govern-ment policy proposes to be one of encouragement and development, but m connection with provincial instead of General Gevernment ceatres. Endowments to outlying districts from the land fund are concurred m. Goldfield districts, such as Westland and the Thames, they would treat specially, with a view to. real local administration of their resources for the purpose of securing development and settlement