THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Evening Star, Issue 2972, 28 August 1872, Page 2

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

[Bv Electkic Telegraph.] [From Grcvillc's Telegram Company.) August 27. Mr Macandrew, while admitting that tie administration of public works and immigrr. tion bad been unsatisfactory, was certa-n it would be equally unsatisfactory if entrusted to Mr Stafford or Mr Wood. Much of its failure was due to the action of the Legiskture itself, and much to want of experience in matters of the kind. Any Governmei t would have made errors; but if the Ce’ony had to pay for those errors, it would have to pay twice over if a new and inexperienced Ministry assumed office. The Legislature had made a great blunder originally in uudertaking tbe practical administration of the policy. The Provincial Legislatures could have directed the administration much mere effectively, but the blunder was that of the House, and he would not endeavor to shift the responsibility on to Ministers, or make them scapegoats. He believed that tie public works would have been quite as well performed by local contractors as by Mr Brogden ; and in future, no doubt, as had been promised, the public tender system would be adopted. If Mr Stafford now assumed office, he would be bound to fulfil the engagements entered into by the present Government with Mr Brogden. Mr fUid’a statements regarding the discrepancies between the Engineers’ estimates and the contract prices had staggered him ; but Mr Reeves’s manly explanation had shown that the discrepancies were not so great as he had supposed. If a little extra price had been given to Mr Brogden, he believed that it would be abundantly recouped to the country by collateral advantages resulting from the connection of his firoa with the Colony. He believed it would result in the introduction of millions of English capital to develope the mineral resources of the Colony. He defended Mr Vogel’s mission to Australia, and the San Francisco mail contract, saying that it was not Mr Vogel’s fault if the Victorian Parliament refused to ratify the latter. He agreed with the third resolution, but he had no confidence in the sincerity of those by whom it was proposed. It did not go far enough. He would throw the whole responsibility of the control and administration of public works and immigration on the Provincial Councils. The only way now left in which to remedy the blunder made in not doing this in the first instance, was for the Government to avail themselves of the assistance of the Provincial authorities and their staffs. Tbe resolution was framed simply to catch the Provincial votes, but the matter really at issue was oply a personal '

one. Ho would not agree to hand over the administration of the policy to its determined opponents —to those who had been unwillingly forced to accept it to Save their seats. With reference to immigration, he took upon Ivmself the whole responsibility of the appointments of Messrs Birch and Seaton, having urged those appointments on the Government in his capacity of a member of that House. He believed the appointments of those gentlemen were useful and judicious ones. If Messrs Birch and Seaton wore political opponents of Mr Reid’s, it was their misfortune, not their fault; and that fact would not interfere with their doing good service as immigration agents. As for the appointments being unpopular in Otago—i£ tbe Angel Gabriel had appointed any otneer, his appointment would be as unpopular as these. He condemned the defection of the Wellington members as being ungrateful to a Ministry that had obtained obloquy in other parts of the Colony by assisting them. If the present Government chastised them with whips, Mr Stafford would do so with scornions. He saw no reason why the Otago Provincial Council should not vote the expenditure of the public works of the Province, and control and administer them by its own Provincial staff. , , . Mr Wakefield supported the resolutions, Mr Carrington (Taranaki) admitted that the administration had been unsatisfactory, but said that was inevitable He approved of the proposed general amnesty, and the restoration of the confiscated lands. Mr Bluett (Canterbury) opposed the resolutions He criticised the Opposition speeches, and ridiculed the proposed new Mr Ro'lleston (Canterbury) disclaimed any desire of a seat in the Ministry. He quoted from John Stuart Mill against an excessive centralisation power as tending to decrease self-reliance and the love of liberty. The proper principle was the greatest dissemination of power consistent with efficiency. The central Government in this Colony was endeavoring to absorb too much authority and administration. The only part of the Colony where there had been any substantial remits from tbe railway scheme was Canterbury, where tbe Province executed the works, subject to central supervision. He condemned the habitual absence of Ministers from the seat of government, and also the system under which one Minister controlled tbe funds while simultaneously incurring expenditure for contracts. The Central Government was becoming a departmental autoency The conduct of Ministers last year respecting the Brogden contracts was disingenuous. The terms of the contract said < i Governor has not authorised, and that “ the Hon, Julius Vogel is not empowered,” but he had nevertheless agreed. Instead of the Government confessing that it had exceeded its powers, and asking the House to ratify what it had done, it tried to force one of the alternative contracts upon the House. The contracts now entered into would more than absorb the sum authorised. The contracts were let for L 160.000 in excess of the amounts authorised by the House of Representatives. The Government allowed the contracted 5 per cent, merely for writing their names, notwithstanding the large expense of the Agent-General s department. With regard to immigration the Government appeared merely desirous of attracting people to the country. He would condemn as unconstitutional the course adopted by the Premier with regard to the Native Minister. It simply meant that the Native difficulty was our master, and showed the necessity of removing the Native administration from a central House, and constituting a kind of Native Brogden. The condition of affairs afforded a strong argument in favor of insular separation. It was necessary to define the respective functions of the General Government and the I mvinces, so that they might run m parallel grooves without collision ; but the Government shirked this question. The country was paying its current expenditure out of borrowed money. Ho wanted a thoiough reform in the administration, especially in the civil service, and a healthy sympathy between the General Government and tbe Provinces opened up. The Brogden contracts were creating a power bemud the throne greater than the throne itself. He did not want a merely nominal head of the Government practising a policy at variance with everything he professed, leaving tbe Colony a mass of debt from the three million loan, and returning and getting into office under promises which he had falsified in every respect. He gave the Colonial Treasurer credit for honesty of purpose and energy ; but looked upon him as the impersonation of all that was reckless and mischievous. The time would come when the people would regard Mr Vogel as one of the greatest evils that ever befel any country. He did not anticipate ruin to the country from the failure of the Public Works scheme, for it would take two or three reckless gambling Colonial Treasurers to min the country. He would vote for the resolutions. Mr E. Richardson (Christchurch City) defended the Brogden contracts and general administration. Mr Walter Johnston (Manawatu) condemned tbe Government administration, and announced his intention of voting for the resolutions. Mr Peacock (Lyttelton) opposed the resolutions. Sir David Monro moved the adjournment of the debate.

(F> "om our own Correspondent') Annual; 28. The Opposition arc not so confident as they were, Mr Pearce, a Wellington member, has declared for the Government. It is expected that other noutra/a will do so also, The debate will extend to Saturday. Mr Vogel speaks to-night.