MR. SEWELL ON PROVINCIALISM.

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 405, 17 December 1874, Page 2

MR. SEWELL ON PROVINCIALISM.

Mr Sewell lias been creatin&a very eonaible but we fear unpopular theory, He has written to the Canterbury papers urging ' that it would be safer for the Southern provinces themselves to join the 'party of total abolition than to seek to overthrow Provincial Governments in the North Island alone. Mr Sewell is we are certain perfectly correct. The repi-esentatives of the South who caught at Mr Vogel's proposals did so under the impression that to destroy the provinces of the North Island was the on)y way to preserve their own. The mistake was perhaps natural, but it was complete. The mere attempt to overturn the Constitution so far as this Island is concerned has carried public opinion in the South very far towards the abolition of provincialism inhere also. The truth is th,at Provincial Governmenti is one of those delicatfe plants which can't stand even the suspicion of instability. The moment the idea is a cepted that the North may survive with - out Superintendents and Councils the mass of people id the South begin to fancy the South would net languish so very much without them either. This lias already worked a great change in the aspect of tiie whole question in the Southern Island. It begins to dawn up<>n ]>eople that after all what is sauce fo r the Northern goose may also prove to be sauce for the Southern gander. Mr Sewell, however, goes further, and warns the people in the South that unless the proposed change extends to the Souther a gander it cannot but place that unhappy bird in a dangerous position. In many cases this is unquestionably true. It is true that the South Island divided into provinces will be relatively much less strong in Parliament than the North Island consolidated. Possibly the tables may be turned in such a case, and the good things that adorn the Colonial board may find their way into the expectant mouths of the peojile of this island. We could almost wish it might be so even at the price of a serious political mistake. Our Southern friends have so long enjoyed so muc h. the best of everything that they should be able tospare us some in our turn. We could find room for good immigrants (if any such are forthcoming). We could find openings for railroads such aa we hear off in Canterbury and Otago. And if only the action of the 'Assembly should force unity upon us and discussion upon the South Island wo may perhaps hope to gat more of those things than we ever .shall without it. — Echo.