THE NO CONFIDENCE DEBATE.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1916, 26 June 1869, Page 2

THE NO CONFIDENCE DEBATE.

Tke following summary of the speeches delivered on Mr Fox’s “ want-of-confidence ” motion, is taken from the Evening Pott: — On the 19th the no-confidence debate was opened by Mr Curtis, Mr Mervyn waiving his right to speak. Mr Curtis made an exceedingly able speech on behalf of the Government. He said that the action of the opposition placed no issue but a personal one before the House or before the country. They declared no policy themselves, and prevented the Government declaring one Why had not Mr Fox done what he had reserved to himself the right of doincr, taken exception to some portions of the speech and reply ? A distinct policy would then have been enunciated on each side. Aa it was, the speech showed a policy, that of vigorous prosecution of the war, and a fresh loan. Why did not the opposition challenge this, and show a better scheme? He did not acquit the Government of haring made great mistakes, and been guilty of some mismanagement, especially in allowing for a moment the conflict «f civil and military authority which last year existed on the West Coast; but they had great difficulties to contend with. One of these was the infamous and disgraceful conduct of a large portion of the Press, in publishing everything, regardless of its truth, or the consequences of publication. These publications had done infinite harm, and their object was to sow universal discord, the writers often being men dismissed from the service for bad conduct. It was wonderful what a change of opinion regarding Colonel M‘Donnell had come over the opposition. Last session he was abused in a cruel way—• was everything that was bad ; this year he was an angel and a martyr. The Southern Provinces entertained a very wrong impress s:on of what the Avar really was. It was not an aggressive Avar, entered on for either pleasure or profit; but simply a defensive Avar—one forced upon us in defence of hearths and homes. The South should realise this, and not talk of giving the North no more assistance. He was glad to say that no such selfish idea prevailed in his Province. The people ■ f Nelson ignored Cook’s Straits, and felt that they were part of the same Colony as the North ; that they were as much bound to protect and aid the North as they were the South. After the catalogue of crimes brought against the Government by Mr Graham, including that of having caused the present depression in the pastoral interest—that was the fall of price of wool —he hsd expected next to hear them charged, like Canning’s Government, with causing the big blue flies in butchers’ shops. When one’s wife or family was ill, the doctor was called in, without waiting to calculate how he was to be paid. The Colony was ill, and a remedy must be applied. They could not cure it without money, and the only way to get money Avas to borrow. As to Mr M‘Lean’s dismissal, he did not see how the Government could haA'e done otherwise, although, owing to an accident, the mode of dismissal had proved unfortunate. It was absurd to talk of no more borrowing, and if the Opposition got into power, they would find their supposed policy an impracticable one. What issue Avere they to go to the country on ? Was it that of getting Imperial troops? For himself he believed that, strongly urged they might get troops, but it avoulcl be under special conditions, the most important being that they should not fight. He was in favor of retaining o e regiment in the centres of population, even if we had to pay for it, simply for its moral effect on both Maories and Europeans, but he objected to getting a large supply of troops merely to garrisoq our towns, and again subject the Colony to all the ills of Imperial interference. Mr Curtis sat down amidst loud cheers, and then Mr Vogel rose and made decidedly the host speech yet made in the debate. He spoke for two hours and a quarter. It was a speech however, which will hardly bear condensing. He re. ferred to the good resulting from publicity being given to all possible particulars regarding Avar, as proved in the case of the Crimean War, as an answer to Mr Curtis’s remarks about the Press. He denied that the South refused to assist the Forth; but they refused to give it to be Araated, as’ they felt it Avould be if given to the Government. As for the opinion of the people of Nelson,' he denied that Mr Curtis represented either it or them, and alluded to a number of events to prove that he did not. The dismissal of Mr M‘Lean was the act of a passionate illtempered man, who was annoyed at finding any one stand in hj s way. It Avas a great wrong to Mr M‘Lean, and hereafter in calmer momonts Mr Stafford would, no doubt, be ashamed of what he had done. He aceused Mr Richmond of a desire to see the Colony so committed to and used up with a Avar aa not to he able to retire from it, and he said the whole conduct of the Government proved them reckless of the lives and property of the colonists. They had abundant proof that the Colony wished them to retire from office. Mr Stafford’s constituents had

asked him to resign, and he had had to find a seat in the district noted for his extreme views. Tne Premier really held a position analagous to that of a member of the American Congress, representing a Mormon constituency. Mr Richmond, at Taranaki, had been listened to by his constituents, and called an educated idiot, and Mr Hall had been met by a want of confidence motion. As to Colonel Haultain, they all knew how he stood with his constituents. Last session they thought he was about to be transferred to another house, as seemed to be the rule in regard to all members who had forfeited the confidence of those they represented. Such a course of procedure was sure to end in a conflict between the two Houses, and one between the Council and the country. Then the present Government stood in the way of the employment of Mr M'Lean, whom even Mr Stafford admitted to be the most capable man in this colony in regard to native matters ; and they also stood in the way of the Colony obtaining assistance from the Imperial Government. Indeed, the present Ministry was simply playing out the policy of the Imperial Government, which was to avoid giving the Colony assistance if it could possibly he helped; but if the Colony said it must have it, it would get it. If they threw themselves on the Imperial Government they would be aided, but if they made provision for their own defence they would be left to do it entirely themselves. It would not take long to get troops, and till they came the Colony ought simply to act on the defensive. At the same nothing should ever induce it to pardon Titoko Warn, Te Kqoti, or their colleagues. Whenever taken, in cickuess or in age, they should at once be blown away from our guns. If further borrowing went on, Auckland—the productive districts of which had no concern with the war—would feel the hardship as much as the Middle Island, for its revenue would be consumed. It would feel it even more, for Mr Stafford talked of the North repaying the South, and this would fall on Auckland Self-reliance meant depopulation, and depopulation ruin. There was really no national feeling in the war, and those who prated of self-reliance while absent from the Colony and free from its burdens, were not true friends. The fact was, we were not strong enough of ourselves to colonise the North Island and at the same time preserve even a remnant of the Maori race. He would like to see the disturbed di-tnets removed from the control of the Government and placed under that of dirtinguished officers who knew their business. As for the Opposition being unable to form a Government had not the present one asked Mr Fox, ’ Mr M'Lean, and Mr Travers, to ioin it; had it nt looked with longing eyes to Mr Stevens and Mr Bell. If M r box got into office in a month Mr Richmond V>o coquetting to get a seat m his Ministry- If the present Government remained in, it was hopeless to expect assistance from home ; if anew one took office, that assistance could he obtained. ihe Government at home would not give us more than we askocl for, and a« long as we said we could defend ourselves we should be let do so. H, however, we said we could not do this, they would have to help us. But the < overament, so far from asking for help, had systematically kept back from the Imserial authorities all knowledge of our true position, Were it really known, the Eng fish bondholders would feci themselves bound to assist the Colony, and would bring irresistible pressure to bear on the home Government to make it send troops. He would Vote against the Government, because in this question of troops they bad virtually ignored the Assembly by not calling it together to reconsider tbe resolution passed last session, when the reply to that resolution was received • because they had shown they were entirely unequal to the responsibilities they had assumed, and had miserably mismanaged public affairs; because so long a« they remained in office there was no hope of anythinor better, their past conduct on circumstances shutting them out from the possibility of doing l etter ; because they stood in the way of the Colony receiving assistance from home ; because they stood in the way of the Colony availing itself of Mr M'Lean s services and of receiving hia assistance ; because they stood in the way of the sympathy the Governor had shown towards the Colony, and of his desire to assist it ; because the country required and earnestly desired a change, and because, after having a fair and prolonged trial, and the possession of absolute power, they had been found miserably wanting. Mr Vogel sat down amidst great cheers. Mete Ivingi next addressed the House, giving a long account of his own operations on the West Coast, and highly praising Col. Whitmore’s inode of conducting operations. He referred to the surrender of Tauroa and his people, and declared that it did for Tito Kovvaru, as now there was no one to assist him. The result was owing to Whitmore’s wise management. The Hon. Mr Hall spoke for about an hour and a half, replying to the various speeches against tho Government, Ho madp a very fiezve attack on the hon. member for Oamaru, Mr Graham, and in reply ts Mr Vogel’s accusations regarding Mr M'Lean, declared that when that gentleman found himself unable to do what the Government desired, he should have regffined. Mr M'Lean had shut himself out from the public service. It was the Government, not Mr M'Lean, which was responsible to the House and country for native matters, and, therefore, it was necessary that the power of control should reside where the responsibility did. Mr Vogel had spoken of Mr Richmond's meeting at Taranaki, hut had not told the House that a vote of want of confidence had been lost by an overwhelming majority at that meeting. Last year the Opposition was very desirous of a dissolution, but this session not a word was said about it. Perhaps some hon, members, Mr Vogel perhaps, were not sure of their seats. Mr Stafford had been accused of having it all his o-vyh ■way, hut when in 186b he and Colonel Haultain came to the House, and asked for what they considered adequate pio\is'ou for the defence of the Colony, the House refused to give it, and turned them out of office. As to Mr Graham’s remarks about severing the connection with the home country, he should be sorry to see such a thing ; but when the empire refused to provide for the internal or external defence of the Colony, it became thinking men to consider in what position the Colony would he placed in the event of England going to war with a great naval power. The quarrel would not bo ours, but we would certainly suffer severely from privateers ami cruisers. He defended Col. Haultain from the various attacks made on him, and declared the Colony would hereafter find that it owed that gentleman a debt of gratitude. Before the Minist y gave place to the Opposition, they would like to know what Mr Fox’s views were on the

means of obtaining money, now absolutely required ? What would be done with the confiscated lands ? What provision was to b* made for defence ? What was proposed to be done with those provinces in a state •{ bankruptcy ? And what would be done for outlying districts ? The Govermment had been blamed for its conduct of the war, but it had done what was never done before it had tackled the forests of the Colony, and had followed the Natives into their fastnesses. This was owing to the energy and skill of Col. Whitmore, to whom the Colony owed obligations which could not be exaggerated. The Rader of the Opposition had endeavored to prove th* Government unfit to hold office, but had he proved himself fit to do so ? Did his past career prove him so ? He thought not; and on that ground alone would be sorry to see the resolution carried. Mr Collins then moved the adjournment of the debate, and the House rose.