GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 14, Issue 697, 5 July 1869, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

: ; TUESDAY, JUNE, 29* (From "Notes from the Gallery" in the Evenw , JJOSt, J.une-30.) j " m ßr When the House met yesterday, Mr fl o . Mr M'Lean, and Mr Vogel occupied the Government benches. lii the; absence ofthe Speaker* Mr Oarleton. took the chair and, after prayers, Mr Boworth, the new member for Tairei, took the oath and hig seat. Then several petitions were present, ed, including-a. number from Timaru a'nfl Gladstone, asking for the creation of county and complete separation from Can, terbury. This, preliminary business over the House was all attention for the expected MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. Mr Fox, on rising, said his first duty w aß . to account for-the fact that the whole ofth a scats on those benches were not occupied, and the reasons which had made it exp e , dient for him, to enter on the duties of of. fice before his Ministry was completely formed. In the fifst place, then, such a. course was not by, any means,unusual, andthe House would no doubt remember many, similar cases ; but he admitted it would have been more consonant with his own, feelings apd those of his colleagues had ha. been able to come into office w.ith a Cabinet fully formed. However, on Sunday morn, ing, some very important telegrams had been received, which, contained v,ery alarm., ing information, and demanded action of a prompt character* and involving such an, amount of responsibility as was not likely, to be assumed by the retiring Government. To enable the critical state of the country" to be properly and promptly met, it there-. fore became necessary that he and those who had consented to join him should at once take office, and they had done so. The time had been so short, and the weather had been so bad since, that he had not been able to complete those negotiations, which were necessary before gentlemen whom it was desirable should join the Go,, vernment could consider their position and give a definite reply. Personal illness. on his own part had also prevented the advancement of those negotiations ; and he. trusted, therefore, that the House would extend its usual indulgence to him, and ha felt sure that if allowed a reasonable time, he would be able to fill the present vacancies with gentlemen possessing the conn), dence of the H/mse and his lixcellency. He would in, a few wordsoxplain tiie principles of the policy which the Government intended to carry out; and, in the first place, would refer to the question of war. and the defence of the Colony. As far as, the Government had yet been able to ok tain an insight into the state of affairs, theyliad been absolutely dismayed at finding, the extensive nature of the operations in which the Colony was involved ; the way in which it was committed to general hos-* tilities against the natives ; and the enor-. mous cost of the present force employed. Many of the expeditions now on foot weri attend" ed with imminent danger to the forces engaged, and might involve the Colony in difficulties which it would be impossible for it to face. As far as possible the Government intended to retire from an aggressive position, and reduce by a very large amount the force at present employed, and in like manner reduce the cost of l&e force. They did not intend to turn theie backs on the enemy, nor to give up an acre of territory which was ours by confiscation or otherwise, but he would not say that they would continue to occupy every outsettlement. They might have to abandon, some for a time, but generally their action would be defensive and not aggressive, and they would by every means endeavor to. avoid being forced into war with the King party. The Government did not at all sympathize with the idea of a Colonial, standing army, and they would try all they could to de-miiitarize our force, and to give it the character of a police rather than ■a military force. It was neoessary to haw some force, but they saw clearly that the tendency of a large force was to demoralise the men, and that a small force might do what was required much more efficiently and much cheaper than a larsce one. It was also their intention —and this was a cardinal point of policy—to ask assistance from the Home Government in the shape. of men. They would retain the 18th Kegiment, of course pay such a sum as might be agreed on for i,t, and they would also try to get from heme another regiment, so organised by special enlistment, selection of officers, special arrangements as to pay and settlement, and other things, as to be peculiarly suited for their work ; in fact, a. New Zealand Regiment, suited to the circumstances of the Colony. As to financial, matters, his hon. colleague, had not had much time to make himself acquainted., with the position of matters, or to master the actual position of the Colony as to ha* bilities for past debts. As a general principle, however, he might aay that the Go* vernment was agreed that any expenditure for war or defence purpoaes should w borne by the Colony as a whole; but, as it was likely that considerable expenditure might be necessary in the North Island in. making roads and opening up the country,, expenditure of a permanent, if not reproductive kind, they thought that if the ordinary revenue could not bear such cal«>, money might be raised by loan, but the burden should be borne by the North IPlaud alone. The Colony as a whole would, have to pledge its credit tp raise the Jfl<J ney, but an Imperial A ct might be obtained; to make the North Island responsible » the Middle one. On financial, as on otw* matters, the Government would give *?* ; House the fullest possible information, «* j

it with the utmost candour. J? r9 wag another subject upon which he 2to say a M word?, an <* th , at * a9 reding organic constitutional changes. I? Government had no intention of be niing a party to any 6uch changes until a. opinion of the country had been taken 51 means of a general election. As rerdcd Provincial Institutions, theattitude tJia Government towards them would L ofa friendly and encouraging character, ? jj t not take on its shoulders the burden of their affairs if they were able carry them on themselves. The Government would render them the most cordial assistance in fulfilling their functions, but it could do no more. If, however 'any Province became absolutely incapable of standing alone, and so became in danger of proving a burden and disgrace to the Colony, the Government would, with the aid of the House, take jfeps to rescue it from such a painful and injurious position. He trusted, however, |], a t kind considerate treatment would rendei* such a tiling unnecessary. In reg,„.(i to native affairs, he might say that gillie (he Ministry would be no party to B ny actions of a barbarous savage character unworthy of the civilization of the age, they would suffer no interference from without to prevent their dealing promptly a nd decisively with the rebels. He still thought the ordinary laws of the realm afforded the means of doing this, but if it was found not to do so a special bill would be brought in to establish - tribunals with retrospective jurisdiction, and capable of dealing promptly and summarily with the case brought before it, and of inflicting such nn amount of punishment as would do real justice. Mr Fox then eat down amidst cheers. Mr Staffokd at once rose and asked whether the hon. Native Minister had resigned the office of Superintendent pf Havvke's 13 ay ? Mr Fox replied that Mr M'kean had not jet done so, but was prepared to do so at the end of t'-e session. A number of bills under the care of private members were then advanced a stage, and the House adjourned.