General Assembly.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 376, 11 June 1856, Page 5

General Assembly.

We copy the following from the Wellington Independent of the 31st ult. : —

NEWS BY THE OVERLAND MAIL,

We stop the press to give the following items of intelligence by the overland mail relative to the proceedings of the General Assembly : —

By a private letter we learn that the Sewell Ministry was ousted upon a vote of want of confidence on the 2nd May. Dr. Campbell, the Superintendent of Auckland, was sent for by his Excellency, but that gentleman declined the task of forming a Ministry. At the time our correspondent writes Dr.'Featherston was with his Excellency.

(From the " Taranaki Herald, May 28.)

By the overland mail last week we received the Auckland Journals to the 3rd inst,but they contain no European news of importance, and only a few days' proceedings of the House of Representatives subsequent to those related in our last. The Pensions Bill had been the subject of discussion, not now as regards the principle of the measure, but simply in relation to the amount. A long discussion was terminated by the following straightforward and manly avowal of his determination by the Governor.

" MEMORA-TSTimM".

" I have read Mr. Sewell's speech carefully (as reported in the Southern Cross) ; it accurately rppresents my views on the subject of the Pensions. " Since the meeting of the House I have for the first, time heard definite accusations, which could be recognised, against the gentlemen whose retirement is in question.

" I have no desire to shield them if they have been guilty of any malversation of office, and if the House will furnish me with sufficient proof thereof, I will recommend the Secretary of Stwte to remove them summarily, and without pension.

" Failing any proof of misconduct, I revert to the terms stated in Mr. Sewell's

speech. " Having inference to what has been done in other Australian' Colonies, as stated hy Mr. Sewell, and remembering1 that these gentlemen are called on to retire., not for their own convenience, but for that of the public, I am of opinion that their retiring pensions should not be less than two-thirds of their salaries. The House is of opinion it should be one half. The time has thereIVre arrived for a reference to her Majesty's

Government

"I will p-ive my absent to the Pension Bill, it" it assigns pensions to be fixed by her Majesty's Government, not exceeding twothirds of their present salaries. " If I have mistaken my instructions, the error will thus be rectified. If I have understood them correctly, an unconditional acceptance of other terms would be a deriliction of duty on my part.

" TitojrAs Gore Browse

"May 2, 1856."

A debate on the Address had also taken place, apparently involving n trial of strength between the minister and the House. An amendment was proposed by Dr. Campbell, and seconded by Mr. Browne, not (as the hon. member stated) because he disapproved of the general policy, but because he did not place confidence in the personnel of the ministry, and would rather have other ministers in office of whose policy lie did

not approve, but in whom he could place confidence. The Journals before us do not contain the termination of the debate ; but some misgivings as to the result are expressed in an editorial in the New Zealander, and private letters of later date .state that the amendment was carried against the ministry by a trifling majority. At this distance it is impossible at present to appreciate the object of the movement that has brought about this state of things ; and we cannot but think the difficulties should have been great to have rendered advisable a step attended with so much hazard to the progress of the time business of the session, the permanent settlement of the government of the oolony.

From the " Southern Cross," May 2

Yesterday, in the House of Representatives, Dr. Campbell gave notice that on Friday (this day) he should move, by way of amendment, thft the following words be omitted from the proposed reply to the Governor's speech ; —

" Fully sensible of the duty which devolves upon the General Legislature of the Colony, of maintaining unimpaired the authority and functions which are reserved to the General Government by the Constitution, it will be our earnest endeavour, as one of the branches of that Legislature, to join in exercising these functions in cordial cooperation with the Provincial authorities, and with as little interference as possible in all matters within their own Municipal sphere."

It is well known that the mover o f the amendment is far from entertaining1 ultraprovincial ideas : on the contrary, he has always expressed himself in favour of strongGeneral Government. So far has he been from seeking1 to grasp power for the Provinces, that he has even pressed the General Government (though without success) to resume powers which he was advised were beins? illegally exercised by himself, as Superintendent.

But the fore-cited paragraph of the reply sjoes much beyond what is termed ultra centralism —into making boroughs of the Provinces— into converting the Superintendents and their Councils into so many Mayors and Aldermen. We had hitheito supposed that this idea was laying still enshrined in Sir John Pakiiiifton's despatch never to escape from thence into open day.

In the present state of the Colony, it is idle to talk of Municipalism. Whether the Constitution Act. taken as a whole, is thebest that could have been framed under the circumstances, is a question which may admit of grave doubt. But the Act exists, and we have to work it. No matter from what cause —whether from its being contrary to the spirit of the Act, or from the Act not having had fair play at its introduction, Municipalism has simply become impossible^

Yet it is on this basis that tiie present ministry propose to reduce the amount of Provincial Revenue, leaving: the Provinces, with all their engagements, all their incumbrances, to get out of the difficulty as best they may.