PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1425, 11 September 1872, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS.

[from a correspondent.] The Want of Confidence Debate. Wellington -Sept. 6, 1872. The great debate has come fo a close, no less, than fifty-five speakers having taken a part in it., and the discussion having occupied ten days. From the first the Government were at a disadvantage. Their peculiarly offensive style ot oratoi'y, which so ill befit* the Treasury benches, and certainly does not adorn those of an opposition, was not on this occasion, possible. The race was far too close to permit of any risk being run, and among the few undecided members were some of the most high-minded and honorable gentlemen in the House. Any of Mr Fox's abuse or Mr Ormond's habitual virulence would with such men have prejudiced their cause, and contrasted with the singular forbearance and moderation of, the opposition must have been brought into strong and painful relief. Mr Fox, therefore, made but a sorry figure, and poor Mr Reeves perhaps a worse, when put upon their defence. So temperate has been the whole debate, so very and honorably different from the want of confidence debate of 1869, and so clearly is this due to the aotion of the opposition, that Mr Stafford has throughout carried with him the sympathy of the by standers. Mr Yogel's speech was above his average, chiefly because it was devoid of the personalities he has been wont to. make use of; for he possesses real ability and there is matter in what he says, though he frequently obscures it by the employment of objectionable abuse. The House gave him its full attention on this occasion, and duo credit for his speech. But one swallow does not make a summer, and excepting Mr Yogel, all the Government hurt their case by their oratory. Mr Gisborue's rounded but empty Mr M'Lean's Maori policy—left people no wiser than before; while Mr Ormond's spiteful speech—carefully kept back till it was too late for the Opposition to answer it—even at so late a moment, when excited feelings might have heen excused, was too strong for the stomach of the House. Indeed, he spoke to almost empty benches. As a political ruse Mr Ormond committed a transparent error. He professed to supply the Houße with facts and dealt out what he so misnamed by the yard; but he overdid his part. A few ingenious inventions might have imposed upon people; but when so many and pungent accusations were scattered broadcast, it was evident that had they been susceptible of proof the Cabinet would not have left them to the last speaker on their side to ventilate. Speaking last has an advantage: reckless statements can easily and safely be made. Mr Qrmond knew when, for instance, he contradicted Mr Bryce about the state of certain roads and bridges at Wanganui, close to that gentleman's own residence, that there was not time to obtain evidence to disprove his assertions, even by telegraph. The very questionable taste of his violent personal attacks upon Messrs

tracted from anything that was good in, his speech, and his excuse for retaining his two salaried offices was more ingenious than ingenuous. On the other side, the simple terms of Mr Stafford's introductory speech—« so much objected to by Mr Fox—wasmuch liked by others ; and the sledgehammer arguments of Mr upon facts which even the production by Government of papers till then kept back did not materially weaken—told" terribly in favor oi the Opposition. The Rev. Mr Andrew and Mr ReaderWood made two very humorous aud clever speeches, in which they were much applauded., Mi: Bathgate, of" Bunedin, made a very ingenious speech, diametrically opposed to an equally in-J genious one he had delivered the pre vious week on Mr Curtis' motion. But the speeches were many, and few below par. Mr. M'Lean was tenderly handled throughout; but the monstrous, attempt to keep the Government in office on the plea of the necessity of his. services by degrees forced itself upon the minds of members, and produced a reaction of feeling towards the end of" the debate. Many of the later speakers, protested against the doctrine that oneapparently successful " Maori doctor " should prove a life preserver to a corrupt and incapable and as* sured Mr M'Lean that nobody would beg him to join Mr Stafford, as he seemed to wish, on bended, knees.. Finally, the leader of the announced that he would himself undertake the mysterious duties Mr.. M'Lean is supposed alone to. under-. stand, and knocked the stool from* under his expectations. But the-, triumphant reply of Mr Stafford to all, the miserable attacks on. his. character and previous administration, silenced his. detractors, and is the, theme of universal admiration. His visit to England at his own cost he, modestly but satisfactorily explained.. His savings on Mr Weld's budget hedemonstrated, to have been not only real but were, lje admitted, carried, too., far in the over reduction, of the defenceoi the country.. The state of the country he proved to have been never so* prosperous as when, in 1861 and 1866,, t he was driven from office. He pro.vedhimself wholly innocent of the Waitara? war, and not even an adviser of it, as. he believed (and it was not denied) that Mr M'Lean had been. In fact, chargeafter charge examined fairly melted away, and when he concluded his address with an explanation of his native policy, even the most bigoted adversary was compelled to admit that the ante--cedents of none of our public men; could bear the scrutiny that Mr Stafford's had undergone, and come out so> clean and unimpeachable.. The natives have shown the greatest, delight at Mr Stafford's intention to. undertake native affairs, and the publia of New Zealand will probably have reason to rejoice if it is proved that the Maori question is not a M'Lean or beyond the comprehension of ordinarily intelligent Europeans. The Op--position has already gained and it seems likely that Mr Stafford will, when in be supported by a strong majority.