THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Evening Star, Issue 2978, 4 September 1872, Page 2

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Electric Telegraph ]

(From Grcvilles Telegram Company.) Wellington, September 4. Mr T. L. Shepherd yesterday resumed the debate on Mr Stafford’s resolutions, and supported the Ministry Mr Webster (Wallace) supported the resolutions. Mr i’alder (Invercargill) support d the resolutions. Re said LIOO.ODO might have hem saved on the Brogden contracts. One million was lying to our credit in London on which the Colony paid interest at the rate of 5 per cent., but received no interest in return. The Government might have arranged with the leading Banks in the Colony to nearly the amount it was authorised to raise annually. The Colony would thus have only lost 1 per cent, on the money. L 50,000 had been lost through negligence. Mr Pearce (Wellington) oppo ed the resolutions. He said none of the charges made had been substantiated, nor was there sufficient warrant for turning out the Ministry. The blunders of the past were to be repaired in the future. Major Jackson (Waikato) moved an amendment to the effect that, in the present prosperous state of the country, it was not desirable that there should be a change of Government. Mr Kelly (East Coast) seconded the amendment. Mr Halleuatein (Queenstown) said the maladministration was inexcusable. The large deposits in the Banks, quoted by Mr Bathgate, only proved a feeing of insecurity among capitalists, who were afraid to He would always condemn political corruption. He was sorry to hear Mr Vogel reply to charges of corruption in the light way he did, and said he could not too strongly condemn the appointing of members of the House to lucrative appointments. He would have preferred to support the Government, but could not conscientiously do so. Mr Harrison (Greymouth) said the charges of the Opposition were not proved. It was simply a struggle for place. (he West Coast constituencies were in favor of the Government, Mr White: No. Mr Harrison: The member for Hokitika is voting against the wishes of his constituents, Mr White: I have received a telegram from my predecessor, stating there are not ten men in Westland in favor of the Government. Mr Harrison proceeded to defend the Press Association, which he said included journals of all shades of opinion. Every respectable journal in the Polony had joined it. Mr White had been the agent of the rival association until his services were dispensed

with. Mr White rose to make a personal explanation, He denied that his services had been dispensed with. Mr Harrison repeated the expression. Mr White made another personal explanation, and read a letter from Mr Montrose, Groville’s manager, stating that he (iVr White) had ceased his connection with the Agency several mouths before the session commenced, at his own expressed desire, Mr Harrison’s statement was untrue. The Speaker called Mr White to order. Mr White substituted the word erroneous,' He said the Press Association was a political institution, and that Mr Harrison was unscrupulous. The Speaker again called Mr White to order. Mr O’Conor (VYestport) said the Government had not fulfilled its promises re the West Coast goklfi Ms. The L 24.000 appropriated for the goldfields had been Wastefully expended The money spent on the Inangahua Valley Road, costing LISO per mile, had been wasted, amounting to LSOOO out of a total expenditure of L 20,000. He condemned the partial manner of distributing patronage to the Press, which was calculated to demoralise it. The system of publishing Government advertisements in an entirely independent Press would be advantage oas. Ministers went so far as to bring their literary hacks on to the floor cf the House to trumpet the praises of the Government. All persons receiving large turns from the Government should be excluded from the House. He advocated the appointment of a Minister of Mines. Th© Press Association was simply a Governments institution to take the public by the ears. The Government attended to the wants of districts proportionately to the amount of pressure brought to bear upon them. Mr O’Neill moved the adjournment of the debate.