WELLINGTON.

Dunstan Times, Issue 497, 27 October 1871, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

—o—(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT,) Oct. 11. Last night Mr. Stafford, in a very able speech, commenced the grand fight of the Session, ontho motion—'‘That the Speaker leave the chair, to enable the House to go into Committee of Ways and Means.” He stated that the proposals of the Government were very unsatisfactory to him and to all the other members of the Opposition, It was very clear that the country could not go on in the way it was now going, for they were brought face to face with th°e fact that there was a very large excess of expenditure over revenue for purely departmen'al expenses, all of which had to be provided for out of borrowed money. It had always -4 been customary to provide for the expenses ' * of the Native Department out of ordinaryrevenue, but now this was to be paid out of borrowed money. The same exactly was the ease with the payments to road boards, The total indebtedness of the colony was nearly 9.000,0001., and he would aslc honorable members if, in the course of all their reading, they had ever read of a people who had to bear such an immense burden in proportion to the population One of the great features of the policy was the formation of a Board of Works, and they were told that the Board proposed to be created would be free from political infiuence; but it seemed to him that the ingenuity of man could not possibly conceive a plan that would make the Board more susceptible to political interest than the one proposed. Besides the engineers, who, of course, would be Government men, there would be six members of this House three of wh m were to retire every year, but would he eligible for re-election; consequently if the three retiring members had done exactly what the Government wished during the year they would be again appointed ; but, if their opinions had clashed with the Government, then of course other more docile men would be appointed. The scheme, however, was so transparently rotten, that he could not conceive that the ouse was so lost to all sense of right as to adopt it. With regard to the Brogden contracts, it was quite clear that the Treasurer had no power whatever to enter into them. The House had never given its sanction to his doing anything of the sort. One of the provisions of the contract was that, in case of difference, the dispute waste be referred to arbitration. This, he contended, was v ~ r y wron g, as it entirely did away with the power of the House over the matter, and it was notorious that arbitrators nearly always decided against the Government. The contracts were altogether in favor of the contractors. If the works, or any part of them, became useless through insufficiency of design, the contractors were not to be made liable for this. He considered that they most undoubtedly ought to be. Then again, the immense pow-er that the Government meant to introduce, namely, the loan ; to perform the works, would completely overwhelm us : they will have such great power that we shall bo helpless in thoir hands. Last year the House was in a most unhealthy slate. It suffered itself to he led away by the golden visions of the dreamer, and it was only just beginning to recover from the debauch it was then revelj in S in > Although the House did think , then that the guarantee system was the best, i he believed they had changed their minds, i ior his part, he considered the guarantee • system the worst public method that could be adopted. The payment by land he considered extremely objectionable. The settlement of the country was a question that could not bo avoided : it was the most important part of the whole work of the Government, and yet they had had no intimation given to them as to what this Government intended to do in the matter. The Government proposed to give an immense amount of land to the contractors. If they were to give it to the men, then he could understand it, as that would promote settlement ? hut he could not conceive any reason for giving it to the contractors. With regard to the proposed alterations in the Government of the Provinces, he must say that, if the Stafford Government flogged them with whips, the present Government thrashed them with scoi pions. This country was one of the very finest ever trod by the foot of man, and he could not endure to see it given over a prey to the speculator and large contractor. Mr. Stafford sat down amidst great cheering. Mr. Vogel then rose and said, that a very great compliment had been paid to the policy of the Government by tbs fact o£ the honorable member for Timaiu, Mr. Stafford, having only been able to frame such a very poor indictment against it after the very long time he had taken for its consideration. Although he had found fault with parts of the Government policy, he had not attempted to suggest anything better. There was no doubt that very largo liabilities had to be met, and how were they to meat them unless they pushed on the remunerative public works as quickly as possible, and reduced the departmental expenditure ? The expenditure was not increasing nearly so fast now as it was under the he must term it—reckless native policy of the Stafford Government. Five or six millions had been spent upon the war, and therefore there was no wonder that vv e wore so much indebted. Now the native expenditure was decreasing, and he considered that a very great thing for them to be able to say. There was now something to show for their public debt. Various railways, ic., were being constructed and arrangements bad been made for carrying out the emigration scheme, and what had been done shewed that Uie Government intended to carry out .their jiolicy. The House did not seem inclined, to reduce the departmental expenditure, judging by the debates that had taken place. The Hon. member who had just spoken was very good at destructiveness, but seemed to lo v«iy deficient in oonstruo-

tivencss, It was proposed to form the Board of Works, so that when there was a change of Government, there might be a change in the board, and he thought the honorable member was very ungrateful in objecting to this. With regard to the contracts, they were drawn as to be exceedingly binding upon the contractors, and the only profit they could make would be 5 per cent instead of the 20 or 25 per cent, that a small contractor would require. He did not think that it at all followed, because the contractors were undertaking large works, that therefore they would become an overwhelming force in the country ; and it was far easier forthe Government to deal with one man than with a number. The design of all the works rested entirely with the r Government, so it seemed to him that it would be monstrous to make the contractor liable for bad designing. Last session the honorable member acted the heavy father to both sides of the House, blamed them bboth alike, but finally dismissed them with his blessing. By the contract the contractor was bound to make the railways that the Government wanted for or 5 per cent. The land that he was going to get was not worth much, only about three shillings per acre. The contractor himself by no means thought he had obtained a good bargain, and, unless he could induce the House to alter it a little, he would not care to carry it out. The House was almost in the position of being able to adopt or reject the contract. They (the House) would find it quite impossible to obtain such favorable terms elsewhere. The Government were inclined to modify their policy with regard to the guarantee system, and are of opinion that cash payments were best, as long as they continued to spend the money they borrowed on reproductive works, the more they borrowed the better credit would be. With regard to emmigration, they were convinced that it must be carried out in each part of the Colony so as to suit that particular part and no cast iron rule must be ) aid down. If the policy of The Government was only earned New Zealand would, soon become the envy of surrounding Colonies, and worthily be placed in the front rank. He felt so much interest in the works being carried out that really he did not care what Government they were with so that they were taken up at once. The applause that followed Mr. Vogels speech had not subsided before Mr. Gillies rose. He spoke very sharply against many parts of the Government policy, and after he bad concluded the debate was allowed to drop. Oct. 14. Some people complained that the debate was very barren, but it is now bearing fruit with a vengeance. The very first Bill the Government brought on, “ The Government of Provinces Bill,” the principle of which was enunciated in the financial statement, and which was intended to reduce very much the number of Provincial Councillors, &c., they were compelled to withdraw, several of their strongest supporters voting i [ against it. Last night the Government j brought in “The Treasury Bills Bill," and i thought to pass it through the Committee with a high hand, and without giving any j explanation of it; but on Mr N. Wood j objecting to them proceeding in that way, i the Goverement were obliged to report pro- | gress —without having made any progress— I an I ask leave to sit again. There is no chance of “The Gold.fields Act” being passed this Session. It is so badly drawn that the Special Committee c uld not make anything os it. “The Education Bill” is withdrawn, and various other important Bills are likely to be. The House was occupied duoing the greater part of the morning sitting yesterday with the case of Mr. Smythies. Mr. O’Rovke moved the suspension of the Standing Orders, to enable the Bill to relieve Mr Smythies to bo read a second time, and in doing so he stated that every possible obstacle had been thrown in his way to prevent his bringing on the Bill, and that he saw that unless the standing orders were suspended it would be impossible to get the Bill passed this Session. The motion was argued, and a debate ensued, in which Messrs. Maclean, (Waikouati) Gillies, Holies ton and Fox opposed the Bill, and Messrs. o‘Rorke, Vogel, Bathgate, Gisborne, Stafford and Shepherd supported it—the Bill was then read a second time and committed without a division. In Committee Mr. Macandrcw carried an amendment proviuing that those clerks who had been articled to Mr. Smythies should not he affected by his suspension, and the time of their services should be counted during his suspension. The House seemed to be of opinion that Mr. Smythies had been most unjustly dealt with.