WELLINGTON GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 2968, 23 August 1872, Page 2

WELLINGTON GOSSIP.

(from our own correspondent.)

August 20.

The resolutions tabled by Mr Stafford as a want of confidence motion, are such a compound of sophistry and Jesuitry that it is most difficult to say there is truth in them When however the tactic* of the leader of the Onpqsitiou and party are so well known by members, the majority of the House—that is, the independent party—will no doubt give them their hearty opposition, and consign them to that bourne they so well dcaer.m, and it is hoped the House for this Ecudion will hear of them no more. The wa<«te of time caused by this heartless and stdfislx opposition is sickening. The lamentable spectacle Mr Stafford made of himself when he roared with passion, giving play to language which ought not to be tolerated by any political assembly calling themselves gentlemen, will not readily be forgotten : it was simply disgraceful, showing the longing desire to return to office and power. Is it the good of the country that he so ardently desires ? Bah ! The first resolution states - “ That the administration of the present Government is unsatisfactory.” Why? Just because Messrs Stafford and Company think that the Fox Ministry have been too long in office, and they want an innings ; and if they cannot get them out by fair means, they will do so by foul. To characterise the tactics of Mr Stafford in any other sense would be absurd. Mr Stafford or auy of his party shown that they can administer the affairs of the country better? Have they shown any programme ? No. Will the country be so deluded as to forget Mr Staf-

ford’s administration of “ the wretched past,” when he brought the country to the verge of ruin ? Take his Native administration, and the debt thereby settled upon the Middle Island. Is the great policy that the country has been committed to by two sessions of the Legislature to be set a.-xde, or placed in the hands of men who have in the past shown their inoompetcncy to guide the affairs of New Zealand either as regards linancial or Native administration men who, if power had not been taken from them, would have brought on New Zealand ruin with ail its woe ? The second resolution finds fault with the absence of Ministers from the scat of Government during the recess ; well, as two blacks won’t make a white, it is unnecessary to point to the shortcomings of Mr Stafford in this particular; hut what about the most important duties to be performed by Mr Vogel in postal aud monetary arrangements, which it is simply nonsense to say, could have been conducted in Wellington. Again Mr Fox, at the invitation of a discontented body of miners ou the West coast, who were loudly complaining of the injustice done them by the Provincl >1 authorities at Nelson, goes, at personal inconvenience to himself to look into their urievauces, and the result is, that he brings a Bill into the House with the view of remedying the evil. Again, the Native Minister’s more particular duly is to travel, so as to know the Native wants, and also to endeavour, by means socially aud otherwise, to keep them in a relative state of friendship and unity with the European population. Such is the sophistry of this second resolution that, when realised, if will not bear light. Are the financial arrangements of the country such, thatan able Minister is not to go to Britain to make far better terms than could be done at Wellington ? Is the Premier, who, although a Cabinet Minister holding no portfolio for any particular department, to refuse to accede to the request of a hard-working and industry body of men—viz., the miners, so as to redress their grievances ? Can Native Administration or that of Defence be placed in the hands of incompetents, when it is known such incompetency has brought the country into very serious troubles? Then as regards the late appointments of Public Works Ministers, it is simply “ bosh ” to say that they are glued to their stools in their offices at Wellington, To use a homely expression This cock won’t fight’*—you must try something else, Mr Stafford. The third resolution is just what the Ministry have been doing, and want to do, when practicable; but they are not disposed to go the length that the try-on of Mr Curtis’s motion leads to—viz , handing over delegated powers to Superintendents, and still being responsible to the country, more particularly when the Auckland Superintendent tells them plainly he is not to be dictated to. Such are the views and opinions of the supporters of the Government. They are aware that errors have been committed inherent to any npw scheme in which the organisation was not complete before entering into it; caused, however, very much by the action of members taken in last session of Par r Lament, when they set aside the conclusion come to of the previous session, that there should be a Board of Works. As regards the administration of immigration affairs, it is patent to all, from papers laid before the Houses of Parliament, that Ministers have endeavored to remedy any grievance or error that has been pointed out to them, and have in all cases taken prompt action so to do. The resolutions, as a whole, are artfully contrived, and apparently disengenuous; but no greater sham, delusion, or snare was ever attempted to be perpetrated by a body of politicians on a thinking community. Mr Stafford’s time lias not yet come to replace the present Ministers, and he “ must wait a little longer.” The majority against the resolutions will bring him, it is to be hoped, this time to his senses ; and the countiy should declaim against so much loss of time being taken up for sheer party purposes, to the detriment of good legislation in the best interests of the country. No business has been done during the past week aud until the Government know their position with their opponents, it can hardly be expected much can be done. In spite, however, of opposition, Ministers will proceed to-day with a statement of public worl s expenditure, aud also as the budget will be brought up. the country will thereby be enabled to test the acts of Ministers with their opponents.’