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William Rolleston : a New Zealand statesman

II

page 119

II

Although Rolleston fought hard to secure a modified form of Provincialism or some adequate substitute, he had the good sense to recognise that the battle had been lost. He knew well enough that the large squatters of Canterbury had supported abolition in order to get rid of his persistent efforts to promote closer settlement and check land monopoly.

But since abolition had become an accomplished fact he told his constituents: "It is the business of Canterbury members to do their utmost to make the change work satisfactorily in the interests of the public."

To assist in this object he loyally acted as Commissioner or Agent for the Government in winding up the affairs of his Province. It was natural that in doing so he cast many wistful glances back over the admirable results he had achieved as Superintendent of the Province, and the healthy state to which he had brought all its institutions. Some die-hard Provincialists resented what they regarded as his too easy acquiescence in so revolutionary a change, and they murmured at his wise and public-spirited patriotism.

His acceptance of the inevitable by no means implied that he had abandoned his convictions or his right to criticise the Government. What aroused his irony was to see his old colleagues changing their political allegiance "in order to swim with the tide" "I found it necessary", he said, "to strike out on a line of my own; sometimes supporting the Government and sometimes the Opposition." Although he strongly believed in party government and loyalty to a party he could find no leader who would hold to a steady course. Vogel's sudden volte-face against Provincialism he could never forget nor forgive.

He (Vogel) was the pet of the ultra-provincial party for a long time (said Rolleston), and they looked to him as their champion and chief. Then he became the most active promoter of abolition.page 120 It is a fatal evil in the administration of a country when confidence is destroyed by the union of men who are prepared to sink principles which are held most dear by the people of the country.