PROVINCIALISM.

Timaru Herald, Volume XV, Issue 661, 27 September 1871, Page 5

PROVINCIALISM.

[From the Timarii Herald, Sent. 2.] It is somewhat curious that the proposition for the destruction of provincialism should come from a mnn whilom one of its sternest supporters, and from whom but a very short tune back noihing else could be looked fbr but uncompromising hostility to anything that tended to its overthrow. Until very recently, Otugo has been the head centre of provincialism, followed close by Canterbury. But the people m both provinces have had forced upon them, by facts not agreeable to their self-love, that provincialism was hopelessly doomed. Putting aside the cost of tbis system of Government, its useless paraphernalia, its absurd forms and ceremonies, it bas been painfully evident from recent exhibitions both m the Otago and Canterbury Council Chambers, that tbe representatives chosen by the people have lately fallen fnr below the standard looked for, and bave exhibited themselves m a light not plensing. Let us go backward and take a glimpse at the Otngo Provincial Council. We find there something wbioh strongly bears out the assertion that Otago Provincial legislators are getting, if not got, debased. In tbe last session of tbat Council, the Government were m considerable straits for money — the province being m debt over £50,000 — its members, with most commendable public spirit, out down expenses right and left. Sheep inspectors, and other officials had but short shrift, and were curtly told that their "services were no longer required " ; — and, moreover, to be consistent with this retrenching policy, honorable members were at first sufficiently honest to bring their own honorarium under tbe pruning knife. But alas for poor human nature, and for the honesty of Otago politicians, the effort at honesty was too much for tbem, for ere the close of tbe session the " Old Adam " reasserted itself, and the honorarium -was placed again at the high figure. ! Our Canterbury Council is no", so bad as this, but scenes have taken place within its precincts wbicb unmistakably point to the decadence of the provincial system. Canterbury cannot, it seems, get over the glamour cast over tbe province m former years by a false .'prosperity.' Ih tbose days Canterbury Forgot that it was but a section of jhe Colony. It desired to assume high pretensions, and was apt to be very dip- . tutorial m consequence. In the Council the old leaven of superiority is still 1 left, and it is bard for members to briug themselves to think that tbeir . power ns legislators hns passed away for ' ever. Year after year has this power been decaying, till now but little remains except show and useless cere- | monies, and we can almost forgive ' councillors for making* tbe most of ' tbem— plensing shadows of a former ; power. But these shadows are growi veiy dim ; gliost-like, they are fading ; rapidly away, and Mr Macandrew's - resolutions will, like' duwn on the mid- ' night apparition, cause them to vanish r altogether. '■ We 'think it very improbable that ' tba Assembly will be brought— at all [_ events t'liiq session — to pass, any mea- >..' sure whicli carries ont the object of the resolutions — the forming of each of the

islands into a separate government, but: subservient to one general government. But they will have the effect, should the House decline legislating- on the broad: question, of bringing before the Assembly the necessity of relieving the present provincial system oi some of- its cutnbrousness, and substituting m lieu a simple and workable form of government. On all sides there is but one cry: that if rhe provinces are to remain intact they should be governed by common sense, and not by effete and obsolete traditions. For ourselves we cannot now see the special advantages that would accrue iv the establishment of a government m each of the islands ; the most, perhaps that can be said m favour of the proposition, is that it is a step towards simplification and economy m Government. Now, we have eight provincial governments and one general ; whereas, Mr Macandrew's resolutions seek to give us two provincial and one general govern ment. Three against nine are undoubtedly an advantage as being decidedly cheaper, but, to carry the argument further, the deduction necessarily is, that one government is best of all. " To effect tiie proposed alteration m the constitution of the Colony will lead to the consideration of questions not to be lightly disposed of, and although at first glance reebnstitu-* tion may seem but a matter to be easily settled, yet, if the House attempts to legislate upon it a perfect maze of difficulties wiil indubitably crop up of most embarrassing intricacy, of which, not the least, will be financial. There are General" Government loans; there are provincial loans ; there are a mass of originally raised provincial loans, but consolidated and paid for out ot the general revenues of the colony. Tbe working out of tbese many problems satisfactory to the parties . concerned will be a grave stumbling-block to Mr Macandrew's resolutions being seriously considered by the Assembly.