THE DEFEAT OF THE STAFFORD MINISTRY.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1311, 11 October 1872, Page 2

THE DEFEAT OF THE STAFFORD MINISTRY.

MR VOGBL'S SPEECH. The following telegraphic nummary of Mr Vogel's speech, we extract from the Lyttelton Times of the 7th inst. :— Mr] Yogel, in moving his resolution, commenced by explaining why he, instead "of Mr Fox, moved it. Mr Fox, although not intending to retire from public life, did not desire again to occupy a seat in the Ministry. He expressed great regret at this determination. He brought the motion forward on three grounds. First, that Ministers obtained their seats on false pretences ; second, because of the personnel of the Ministry ; third, because of the consequences sure to follow if they retained office. The present Ministers' only idea of the policy seemed to be to grope in the footstepsof their predecessors ; instead. of one Superintendent there were now three in the Ministry, and an ex-Provincial Secretary, who had, very properly been dismissed from that office. . The old Ministry was blamed for its anti-Provincial policy. The new one showed an affection for the Provinces by taking away the stamp duties and Road Board grants. The late Ministry had been blamed with regard to the Brogflen contracts, and for not accepting Proudfoot's tender. Mr Reid's statement never mentioned either, although the latter was quite as open to him as to their predecessors. It was good for the members of the late Government that they had been turned out, as their successors showed the hollowness of the pretences on which they had been turned out, The budget was a most extraordinary production, and was evidently compiled witta the intention to make things as bad as possible, and it proved the correctness of the late Government if that statement was the worst their opponents could make out. He then criticised the financial statement at great length. He deeply regretted the proposal to abandon the Road Board graut, which had been most valuable. The late Government had intended to meet Mr Reynolds' resolutions not by the previous question, but by a distinct amendment that such a change was impracticable and inadvisable. He believed that sooner or later the provinces in, the two islands would be consolidated, but separation was impracticable, as the Itn-

penal Government would not allow it. He could not couutenance any removal of the seat of. Government, although such had been imminent, owing to Messrs FitzHerbert and Bunny's action. He then criticised the individual members of the Ministry at length. With regard to Mr Stafford, he said he should be sorry if the vote should result in the country losing the services of Mr Stafford. He believed that Ministers would carry out the colonisation policy with a, view to making it a failure, so as to justify {heir own predictions. He was altogether opposed to re-considering the railways already authorised. He thought the proposed bridle track to Kaikoura in no way a work of colonial importance, as it would benefit a few station-holders only. Thousands of places had a greater claim. He declared that the conditions of the West Coast must be dealt with this session, and if he returned to office he would deal with the matter. He denied that it was possible for Mr Stafford to carry out MrM'Lean's Native policy. He-believed that Ministers were also hostile to the Government Assurance scheme. In the Legislative Council they had struck out a clause in the Bill requiring assurance companies to deposit security. The San Francisco mail service could never have become, a success under their management. The result of the present administration would be — Native affairs in disorder; West Coast interests sacrificed to those of a clique ; a number of detached, unfinished railways, and the country in the Bame state of depression which it formerly was in under Mr Stafford. He condemned the proposal to abandon the confiscated lands, but admitted that the Colony was now pledged to carry out what, jthe Ministry, whatever its tenure of office, had promised. ?