Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1875. THE SITUATION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 130, 29 October 1875, Page 10

Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1875. THE SITUATION.

-hProvincialism, as we have known it, is a thing of the past. It is dead and gone for ever. Of its resurrection there is not only no probability, but there is no possibility. Even a large majority of the House of Representatives could not now restore it. The ucheard of species of legislation of the last session of Parliament, and the unanimity of the Legislative Council against it, have conspired to destroy every "germ of life in it. But what is to replace it ? Our sapient legislators, who so unwisely and in such haste did the deed of annihilation, neglected to devise a substitute. They have proved themselves able and willing to destroy, but absolutely incapable of building tip. Again, what is to replace Provincialism ? And who can again trust in the promises of Government 1 The answer to the first question must be left to the future ; every man in the community will Jiimself find an answer to the second.

Ore thing, however, appears quite certain : — Centralism and shires will not be accepted by Colonists as a substitute. Already the cry of separation is loud and general in Auckland, and this cry will find an echo in Otago and Canterbury at least. These powerful Provinces will never consent to be governed from Wellington, and by the politicians of the Straits Provinces. Through the folly, the supineness, and selfishness it is said, of the majority of both House 3of our Parliament, who do not truly represent public opinion, the Colony is now governed by Taranaki and Hawke's Bay!" This is at once injurious and humiliating to the large and vastly more important Provinces, which happen to be the most remote from the seat of Government ; and it cannot be endured much longer. This is the direction in which public opinion is setting at present. No one dreams of setting up again the nine old Provinces, and probably all are agreed that the smaller ones should have never existed. But the project of two Provinces, one for each Island, with well-defined and extensive powers, finds favour with many. According to the idea of these politicians, the functions of the Central Government should be reduced to a minimum — the Customs, the Post-office, payment of the debt, and foreign relations. And it is not at all unlikely that this is the final arrangement to which the present crisis will lead. j Indeed, it appears to many that there is no other way of securing peace between the two Islands, and of fully developing the resources of both. It is greatly to be feared that under a Central Government, seated at Wellington, this Island would never cease to complain of being sacrificed to the North ; and vice versa, were the seat of Government removed to this Island, the North would complain of being sacrificed to promote the exclusive interests of the South. Are not such complaints as these heard already ? The South says that her revenues have been squandered in useless, impolitic, and wicked wars with the Maoris in the North. Auckland complains that she has been wronged and plundered to aggrandise Wellington. These are specimens of the charges and counter charges which will be inevitable under pure Centralism, and which, by embittering men's feelings and appealing to their selfishness, cannot fail to sow the seeds of misunderstandings, and dissensions, and of diverting their minds and energies from the development of industries. A general election will take place immediately, and, consequently, it behoves the electors to study the present state of affairs attentively. The destinies of the Colony are now, it may be said, exclusively in their hands. It is all important that they should send to Parliament wise and honourable representatives, and give them precise instructions as to the form of Government which they wish to see established for the management of their affairs. On this point there should be no uncertainty. The great question to be decided is — shall each Island have its own Government and the entire management of its own internal affairs ? Shall there be two Proviuces in New Zealand, and a Federal Government with, very limited powers ? or shall there be but one Government throughout the entire country % This is the issue in a few words, and electors should not allow themselves to be deceived by elaborate plans for erecting Counties, endowing Road Boards and Municipalities, and the like. But Catholic electors cannot help attending to one other consideration. Their schools are, in most places, treated with great injustice. Catholics are compelled to pay taxes to maintain a system of education to which they are conscien-^ ticusly opposed, and are refused all aid out of the public funds towards the support of their own schools. They are doubly taxed. In fact, they are insulted, outraged, and plundered, so far as public education is concerned. This is a question, therefore, which, in their estimation, is infinitely more important than Provincialism, Centralism, Separation, or any merely political measure. No Catholic, consequently, unless, indeed, he is a degraded or lost man, will vote for any candidate, no matter who he is, or what his other qualifications may be, who is in favour of merely secular education, and against giving aid to Catholic schools. Catholics are, above all things, Catholics ; with them politics come after religion. The faith and morals of their children, are vastly more important in their estimation than ministers or forms of government. These change ; but faith and religion cannot. The Catholics of Victoria have, in great aggregate meetings, held in Melbourne and Ballarat, resolved to vote for no candidate who refuses to pledge himself to endeavour in Parliament to secure justice to Catholic schools. They have determined to disconnect themselves altogether from party - t in fact, they have

ceased to belong to any political party. There can be no doubt that in New Zealand Catholics will act in a similar way. Here, indeed, their influence is very little, they hardly count at all. Nevertheless, they will certainly do their duty, and vote against the men who, in refusing aid to tbeir schools, show their contempt of their principles, their domineering spirit of injustice, their disregard of their conscientious convictions, and their determination to stamp upon them the mark of inferiority, no matter to what party they "belong. Whilst, on the other hand, they will support every candidate, regardless of political [principles, who advocates denominational education. There is another thing which they will do, they will abstain from voting at all, when the choice lies between two secularist candidates.