THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Evening Star, Issue 2969, 24 August 1872, Page 2

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

[By Electric Telegraph.] (From Greville's Telegram Company.)

Augnst 24. In the House last night, Mr Gillies said the question was not one of outs and ins, but of the prosperity or ruin of the country. The indictment pi’eferred against the Government was its inability to successfully administer its own policy. The policy had been accepted and entered upon, and could not be reversed. The Premier had said it was the policy of the General Government to supersede any ministration of the Provinces, regarding Public Works and Immigration ; but Mr Vogel, in 18G9, said the General Government were relieving the Provinces of their duties, and therefore of their revenues also. He disproved Mr Fox’s statement, that the present Ministry, on taking office, were obliged to ask L 150,000 on Treasury bills and another LI 50,000 a week after. Only one L 150.000 was asked. He referred to the non-fulfilment of the promises of the Government in respect to the Province of Auckland, and also to the failure of the Administration. The unfunded debt of the Colony had largely increased. In 1869 it was 1.2,653,260 ; in 1870, L 4,347,866 ; in 1871, L 5,442,366. -L2,000 000 of the loan hul been raised, and there was only L 1,040,975 in hand according to the Financial Statement; but there was no statement as to actual liabilities for works how let The Government had entered into contracts amounting to L 856,000. That would more than swallow up the balance of the amount raised. LI 10,000 was spent in charges and interest on loans, LI 10,000 in departmental expenditure, LIOO.OOO to road boards, LI 62,000 to paying old debts, L 295,000 on defence, and LI 20,000 on roads in the north of Auckland, many of which were almost impassable for drays. Mr Stafford was misrepresented as favoring a war policy. The country was now committed to a peace policy, and it was absurd to suppose that any Government would reverse it. Regarding letters lying unopened, he had only recently received a reply to a letter written five months ago, and twenty letters were not answered yet. Any new Government would have difficulty in retrieving the blunders of the present Ministry. ThelOpposition was asked what was its policy ? It must certainly be a peace policy ; economy ; efficient administration of public works and immigration ; a reduction of the civil service expenditure ; and an adherance to constitutional government by not exceeding the votes of the House. The Government must be strong enough to hold their own, and not depend entirely upon public servants, and also take full advantage of local machinery, while it retained supreme control of the works being executed. Mr Stafford might have seen reason to modify his views regarding the Provinces.

Mr Reader Wood referred to the opinions of the press regarding the present administration, and said when the policy was inaugurated New, Zealanders loudly praised it.

It was absurd to say that those who opposed it now could find no language strong enough to condemn it. ' mly seven members opposed the policy at the commencement, but the number had steadily increased. If the Native question had not been introduced into the debate, the resolutions wmild have teen carried by acclamation. Even now they would be carried by a small majority. He traced the Treasurer’s promises and career, and said there had been no results from either. The hurdcu of the ministerial speeches had been apologies. Mr V ogel had promised that at the end of the third year there would be LIO,OOO in excess over the working expenses of the railways, but that promise had not been realised. He condemned the allowance of 5 per cent, to Mr Brogden, and said tenders were to be called for at the expense of the country by the Agent Gen- ral for the material required, and that twenty days after the percentage was to be paid to Mr Brogden in London. The Government had exceeded its powers in entering into alternative contracts. The Act only authorised contracts for three railways. He called upon the Treasurer to reply to the statement made that GOO letters lay for five months in the Treasury unopened, and would take his silence as an admission of the truth of the statement. The Government had accused the < »pposition of disunity, but were themselves disunited. He referred to the differences in the Cabinet on the Permissive Bill, ami called upon the House to condemn its improper exercise of patronage and general administration.