Wellington Independent FRIDAY, 21st JUNE. 1872.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3530, 21 June 1872, Page 2

Wellington Independent FRIDAY, 21st JUNE. 1872.

Whatever change there may be in the position of political parties next session, the question of Provincialism must of necessity occupy a very pom inent place iv the- discussions of the Legislature. Since the failure of Mr Stafford's Government in 1808 to carry measures having for their object the supplanting of Provincial Governments pur el simple, by a large and general scheme of a municipal character, the question bas been allowed to drift about without any controlling hand. Strong as were the ultra-provincialists — representing as they did those whose occupation was threatened by any reform in the Constitution — the course of evenis since that lime has undoubtedly shaken their position. The colony has from one end to the other endorsed a large and comprehensive scheme of immigration and public works. Money to enable this scheme to be carried into effect has been borrowed by the colony upon its united credit, and the management and administration have been by common consent placed in the hands of the colonial ministry. This policy o r itself drove a heavy nail into the coffin of Provincialism as it was ; and public opinion throughout the colony has since encouraged the efforts of those who desire to see at one and the same time a strong central authority, and a liberal system of local administration. But whilst public opinion outside the Legislature, and evidences of opinion wiihin it have been in the direction of simplifying provincial machinery, no single political party has had the courage 16 grapple with the question and submit a practical scheme of reform to the country. The feelings and desires of the constituencies are well known. Leave out the, heads ot Provincial Governments, and we venture to say that an almost unanimous desire exists to see provincial institutions put back to their proper and constitulional position, and the principles upon which the Provincial Governments themselves were founded extended in the establishment of local self-government in all the centres of population throughout the colony. In spite of themselves the Provincial Governments have been compelled to do partially* what the Assembly has not yet been able to do as a general measure. Bit by bit ihey have had to make concessions, which however useful as far as they go, am only a tithe of what is necessary and desirable, and do not entirely meet the case. In Otngo ihe Provincial Council has manifested a desire to encourage local institutions throughout the country districts, and useful measures in that direction have been passed. In our own province a similar disposition has been evinced, and much stress has been placed thereon by .tho Provincial Government. But unfortunately there appears to be also a disposition on the part of the pvovincialists to grasp in one direction much more ihan they are disposed to abandon in another, and it is l his strange anomaly which induces us to doubtthe genuineness of those whohave flaunted the desire to place provincial institutions in a more modest position.

To onr mind, and to those who are willing to place a most liberal construction upon the utterances of such prominent men as Mr Fitzlierbert, and who accord them a loyal interpretation, there is something utterly irreconcilable between the course proposed to be adopted by the Provincial Governments towards their own subjects, and Ihe position they appear to insist upon wilh respect to the colony. The chief evil of provincialism in ils later stages of development has been the splitting up of the colony into factions, and making a concrete colonial policy almost impossible. The force of circumstances has done much to break this miserable division of thought and action, and successive sessions during past years, commencing with the consolidation of the provincial loans, have produced measures which in various directions have hedged in the powers of the provinces. Public opinion has gained . strength against ultra-provincialism year by year. Everywhere, at every election, the cry in the country districts has been, <: Give us local administration of local revenues." The Provincial Councils have in some directions shown a desire to meet this demand ; but then we find another cry raised by the Provincial Governments — " Give us local administration of colonial revenues." In point of fact the Provincial Governments _ai)poai'__dis--pAO .j jubi now to n I tempi Ito occupy a much more powerful position than they ever before held. Thequestion is — Will the colony — will the people of New Zealand — consenl to such a proposition? Is it dosirablo or convenient? is it at all likely to conduce to the dignity or welfare of the colony that its General Government and Parliament should be reduced to a skeleton, and that all the evils of multiplied governments, which have so long impeded the progress and prosperity of New Zealand, should be restored under much more mischievous conditions ? Wo do not go with those who would " sweep away " Provincial Governments ; we believe that they can still within their own proper sphere of action accomplish a vast amount of useful and important work. The time has not yet come, nor do the various and oft conflicting conditions of the several parts of the colony admit at present of such a uniform plan of administration as obtains in other colonies. But the way towards this desirable and desired end is being gradually paved. The improvement in communication between the various provinces ; the telegraph ; and soon the railways ; will naiurally beget and encourage a more national feeling in New Zealand. And our political action should be shaped towards this end. We do not need any violent changes ; the principle of our Constitution is a right one: it only requires extension, as population and settlement increase. But we do not wish to see, nor would ihe people of New Zealand wish to see, the legitimate functions of the Legislature .and General Government handed over to the Provincial Governments ; and yet this seems to bo the aim of the ultraprovincialisls and others who for the present have strong personal reasons for supporting the proposal. "We can only express our opinion that if such a policy should unfortunately be adopted, the colony would lose in reputation and credit more than it has gained during the last few years. It svould most probably end in the separation of the two islands, and the entire humiliation of the colony.