New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 1876. THE LAND SALES.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 155, 21 April 1876, Page 10

New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 1876. THE LAND SALES.

Some of the Otago newspapers have told us, within the last few days, that there is a report to the effect that the Provincial Government is in want of money, and that consequently large blocks of land are about to be sold. "We do not know whether there is any truth in these reports, but, true or false, the journals in the interest of Centralism have not failed to endeavour to draw an argument from them in favor of their views and against Provincialism. We cannot see the force of the argument ; the only thing that is clear to us is that the journalists of Centralistic proclivities are, apparently, at least, afraid lest any great extent of land in this Province should be disposed of, even though the proceeds were to be spent in building railroads in Otago, before the final establishment of Centralism. In fact, the fear is that the Central Government shall not have enough of Otago land to enable it to drive railroads, say through the impassible mountains between the Hurunui and Picton. It will, no doubt, be answered that the Abolition Act, by localising land revenue, renders such fears as we entertain groundless. But the provisions of this Act, in reference to the localising of land revenue, are all moonshine. They are not worth one year's purchase ; the Ministry and rampant majority that would deprive a Province of its constitutional rights, in opposition to the unanimous voice of its inhabitants, would make short work of the clauses of any Act of Parliament. Besides, colonists have the striking experience of the past to enlighten and guide them. What about the capitation grant ? Money is at the bottom of the scheme for the abolition of the Provinces. About this there is no doubt, no one denies it. It is money the Central Government hopes to obtain through this most unconstitutional measure, and nothing else. But how can this be effected if the land revenue is to be localised ? Of what advantage can this be to the finances of the Central Government ? None whatever. He must be blind, indeed, who does not see that Abolition means, and must mean, the ultimate absorption of the land revenue by the Central Government, and the centralising in one city of all the departments of Government — the Supreme Court, Registry Office, Deeds Office, &c, &c. If Abolition be accomplished, no time will elapse before people here, for example, will be unable to effect even a mortgage without the delay and expense of a previous reference to the seat of Government. And so it will be as to all public, legal, administrative and legislative business. It is so everywhere under centralised forms of Government, and, under the circumstances, it is in the nature of things it should be so. If the people of the large Provinces permit themselves to be tricked out of their present institutions, they will before long bitterly regret their folly. They have now what freemen everywhere prize, and what freemen ought to prize — control over their own affairs, But, let Abolition be once an accomplished fact, and their position will be that of absolute dependence on a coalition of the smaller Provinces ; they will, in fact, lose all real control over their own affairs, and be placed at the mercy of people at a distance. It is only necessary to reflect on what is going on now to be convinced of this. Does any sane man believe that the politicians who are now so superciliously trampling on the two Provinces of Otago and Auckland, defying the unanimous opinions of their citizens, and endeavouring to filch from them their most valued rights and privileges, will pay any regard to their special interests ? The Colonial Government is endeavouring to establish a most vicious principle ; and on this head, it appears to us, hardly possible that any can be deceived, except such as are willing to be duped on this question.