THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Evening Star, Issue 2973, 29 August 1872, Page 3

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

[By Electric Teij-graiti.]

(From Grcr'dlc's Trlm/ram Com pain/.]

August 28. Sir David Monro r.snmed the no-con-fidence debate to to-day, and supported the resolutions. Mr White (Hokitika) severely Attacked Messrs Luckic and Harrison, and said if the latter wre move independent and less servile in his support of the Ministry, he would be of more benefit to his constituent*. _He said Mr luckie was a mere tool of the Minis try ; and attacked the Government patronage,'especially of the Press. He said that the Press Association was a mere Government institution under the immediate control of two Ministers of the Crown, and Mr Harrison was an unscrupulous supporter of the Ministry. He affirmed that at'empts had been made to influence his vote by means of the wires. Mr Vogel said, when he visited Melbourne, the manager of the A ran* desired to arrange with the Government of New Zeeland to supply the Press with telegrams which he expected to obtain from Reuter when the cable opened to England, and asked : 500 a year Mr Vogel told him he was not empowered nor authorised to treat with him for she Government, but recognised the value of the connection; and if the Government would not treat with him, lie would purchase the privilege himself. It appeared from inquiries which he (Mr Vogel) institute.!, that no arrangements bad been made for special Kew Zealand news, and it was arranged, if Mr Vogel and the A rr/us came to terms that special New Zealand telegrams should Ire procured from Loudon. The Cabinet refused to take up tin matter, which then devolved upon him (Mr Vogel), who formed a Press Association. With reference to its being a one sided -character it was sufficient to say that it included papers of a 1! shades of opinion. Already a large number of papers had obtained news from the .Association. The evening journals were excluded, but negotiations were going on to take them

in 'Mr White : Will the hon. member state who are the directors aud who the managing directors ? Mr Vogel said the hon. member had no right to ask such a question. The hon. member for Waikonaiti had been dwelling in an atmosphere of exclusiveness. Only recently he said he would rather see sheep than men in the Middle Island. He read extracts from a former speech of Mr Rolleston’s, condemning Mr Stafford in strong terms. Mr Rolleston ; History repeats itself. Mr Vogel; Yes; and the lion, member repeats himself. Mr Rolleston had newr agreed with any member of the House. Hhs perpetual career was one of opposition. The decision regarding the Brogden contracts brad been come to long before the House met. The decision of the Government regnrHng the Wanganui Bridge was perfectly right, and for the interests of the Colony. Mr Stafford never factiously opposed the Government. His speech was suspiciously moderate. No Government could have long existence in this Colony. From time to time those whose wants were not satisfied became enemies. The Government’s position was much complicated by its proximity with Provincial Governments. Wellington bad now gone into Opposition, because the Government to grant a Sreposterous claim for Native rents. The irogdon contracts had involved a very largo amount of labor, and were thought in London and here almost perfect. He twitted Mr Stafford with bringing down such measures as the Road Boards Bill, and then withdrawing them. He denied that Mr Stafford was the author of the railway scheme. Ho traced the history of the policy, and said he would explain the allowances for his trip to England and Australia, and if the House pronounced them exeess’ve, he would refund. He deprecated the aspersions and suspicions against the character of Ministers of the Crown. While in Loudon he devoted himself entirely to the public business, and only received LI2OO allowance : Mr Fitzhorbert received LffffGO. He quoted from the speech of Mr Stafford at Timaru, advocating the construction of railways on the guarantee principle He had refused to accept Mr Brogden’s tender for the Invercargill and Mataura Railway until theGovernincnt Engineer went over the prices with Mr Brogden, and an agreement was come to. Mr brogden wanted a guarantee of prices of railways and rolling stocks to cover any probable loss. He refused to allow ten per cent, or to guarantee. The live per cent, arrangement was then made, 'the Government engineer also checked the prices of the oth r railway tenders. Mr Brogden could only make money if ho managed judiciously. Ilia connection would benefit the Colony. The Government would throw open future contracts for tenders. He read extracts Loin a speech by Mr Reed at a meeting in Uunodin, stating that the Clutha railway would cost L 375,000. he (Mr Vogel) then said it would cost 1/270,000. The actual contract was for L27G.000. Mr Reid now blamed the Government. Mr Reid bad offered to give L 15.000 to anyone who raised 1.400,000 to construct the same railway at eight per cent. The Port Chalmers railway bonds were sold at SO, which was a groat loss. The same bonds were now selling at 92- Hr. had instructed the Agent - Genera] to repurchase bonds at 99, but probably he would not simcccd. When he said in 1870 that there would bo LlO OUO over the working expenses of railways at tha cud of the third year, lie said also the statement was merely conjectural. Ho believed yet it would be realised. LI 35.000 bad boon derived from the sale of land during the year. L 75.000 from Colonel Fielding’s purchase. Allowing the public works policy tube justified by the result, he defended the Agent-General's management of immigration. He had to light against and break up established monopolies. He defended the San Francisco mail service. The average time was superior tu any service since ISU3. Ho read tables as to the past various services, shewing it to be cheaper than any services during any previous Ministry’s term of office. He denied that the San Francisco Service spoiled negotiations with Atlantic and Pacific Company, which were stopped by the -war in Europe. 9 be Civil Service expenditure shewed a saving on previous administration thus The Treasury, L 698; Customs, LI,DUG ; Post Office, L 594 ; Judicial, L 726, The credit balance m year

1867-68, was 168,000 ; in 1868-GO, 169,000; in 1860 70. 1286,000 ; in 1870-71, 1315,000; in 187172, 1,208.000. Mr Gillies; All out of borrowed money. Mr Vogel : 132 000 should be deducted from li d.ility for Treasury Bills issued That sum was a liability from tlrdr predeccis.-ns. He rerut a memo, fdv-wing that on there was paid 1/10,000 to the credit of the Public Account into the Bank of New Zealand. and LOO,OOO to the credit of the Consolidated Fund. Now the balance to thfil credit in the Bank was 13)8,000. l iabilities to bo met at the cud of October would reduce the amount to Id 10,000, be asked when did over the Treasury be in such a position before? He denied that the Government ha I abused its patronage, but charged Mr Stafford with having done so. ° FTc did not sec why members of the House shomd be precluded from appointments to the. public service. Some of the highest officials in tin'laud had been in the House of Commons, Ro warned the House not to believe in the sincerity of the last resolution. He referred to Mr Stafford’s former centralist views. Mr Bunny had said a disqualification Act would not prevent the Provincial authorities employing members of Barliaim'iit ir seemed by the Provincial Administration of public works. Provincinlistic or Cmtralistic views dcpe-'ded upon which f-ide a man served. Provincialists became Centralists when in the Ministry. He criticised Mr header Wood’s opposition, and supposed the new Ministry said the Oppo iti. u merely desired to secure scats in the Ministerial benches. ’• ho speech occupied nearly live hours, was very aide, ’cell delivered, and loudly cheered at tae close.