HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 385, 12 July 1856, Page 4

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

June 3MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. Mr. Stafford said that he would, with the leave of the House, make that statement which might naturally be expected in pursuance of the announcement which he had made to the house on Thursday last, to the effect that it had been his Excellency's pleasure to commission him to form a Government. Acting upon his Excellency's commands, he bad yesterday reported to his Excellency that he had obtained the assistance of such persons as colleagues as he thought might be practically able to give effect to the wishes of that House and tte country, with reference to the settlement of questions of great public importance which there was an anxious desire to have adjusted. The persons who formed the new Government, were, as the house was probably already aware, Dr. Campbell, who would be associated with him as a member of the Executive Council ; Mr. Richmond, who would fili the office of Colonial Secretary; Mr. Whitaker and Mr. Sewell, who would respectively hold the offices of Attorney- General and Colonial Treasurer. The Government so formed desired.as speedily as possible, to submit to the consideration of the House those questions of a practical nature, (he immediate adjustment of which was on all sides admitted to be imperatively required, and in the consideration of which, he trusted the Government would receive such an amount of support as would enable some satisfactory conclusion to be arrived at. Prominently among these questions was that of the distribution of the Revenue, and the Financial relations between the Provinces and the Colony as a ■whole. It was the desire of the Government to effectsome settlement, of a permanent nature, of this question, which above all others had been productive of annoyance and irritation throughout the Colony. The Government felt that this irritation would not be allayed, but would rather continue to increase, if some permanent understanding on this subject was not come to, both with respect to existing burdens and prospective liabilities (hear, hear) The basis upon which the future apportionment of the revenue was proposed to be mads, was that of leaving to each Province the largest possible amount of the revenue which might be raised within it. This was absolutely necessary when it was remembered that 3tßevolved upon the Provincial authorities to execute all the works essential to the successful settlement of a new country—that to them was committed the task of introducing immigrants, of opening out. the country for their reception, of executing all those public works necessary alike to the prosperity of the present, and the advancement into the wilderness of a. tuture population. The energy and efficiency wnich the Provincial Governments and Legislatures liad already evinced in the fulfillment of these duties, thau which, in the planting of a new nation, tiiere were none more important, was fully appreciated by the present Government, which felt most solicitous, neither by an abstraction of their funds, nor m any other way, to cripple or impair the efficiency 01 the Provincial authorities (hear, hear), in order, therefore, to provide for existing debts, and tor the purchase of land from the natives, the Government proposed to raise, with the assistance and guarantee of the Imperial Government, a loan sufficient to secure these objects, at the rate of interest specified by the Imperial Government with reierence to the proposed compromise of the New C ompauy's debt. The principle of executing, by means of a loan, great public works of a reproductive character, was at all times admitted to »nnV k, Y Uh adva °tage, and was peculiarly Xr^-f t0 t Citcums^nces of a young colony, where it was only fair that a pcmion of the burden ot opening out the country to occupation should W,°^ Ye lt') °" P osterity—upon those who had thus £' et Ded occupy it-(hear). Until such to^ r ? c 6lfeCted at horne'ft ™uld b* necessary to make temporary provision for purchases from the whicT nXT* 8 ? e C l Urre"t year' means of a )oan ad Jl g, • S obtained either here or in the adjacen. colonies. Intimately connected with this burden? £ as that °r.tbe adjustment of the public TJn „ ' !- c uucerl«nty with respect to which was He ?1 i $ reat. com Plai»t ™ all the Provinces. uoonSp "' m illustrati °". to the imposition New V ,Pro.™ ce of Auckland of a liability for the W Zealand Company's debt (hear). Two years resolved that Auckland siiouldbe relieved from that tvc^J u-n h:tentio» °ft'>e Government to •s Z c f l!i , t0 glVe leSal eff;ct t0 that resolution, wli'l fi tllat there had a!rea' ly buen too tofeit \ i( can) In co"si!i^ng a measure to icheye Auckland from that debt, Tt might not be unaovuable to take into consideration the question or exempting iron, that debt also all the Provinces of the Northern Island, onU.e understanding that the_Aiiddle Island was to be relieved from conmbuting iuad.s i or the purchase of Native la ids. (Hear.) He put this forth as a subiect which tne Government were thai considering but as to which it had not come to a decision. 0 One element of advantage which such an arrangement

would possess, was, that while the Middle Island would know the certain amount which it would be culled upon to provide, by gradual and easy payments extended over a series of years, the Northern Island could determine the exact amount which it might choose to expend in laud purchases in each j ear, as the Bill by which it was proposed to provide the necessary funds would, while permitting, if required, large sums to be raised, be framed so as to admit of only such sums being taken up at any one time as could be profitably employed- Whilst alluding to this subject, lie would briefly advert to the case of New Plymouth, which owing to circumstances of which thejr were all aware, had a special claim on the consideration of the Government. (Hear.) The Harbour department alone in that Province was, taken in connection with its revenues, a source of very great expense ; and the ability and determination displayed by the Local Government there, in overcoming natural obstacles, had resulted in establishing a department unequalled by any in the Colony for its efficiency in the landing and shipment of goods and passengers (hear). Those who had been at all times so willing to assist themselves, in spite of so many opposing difficulties, as had been the people of New Plymouth, deserved in their present circumstances, which had enlisted the sympathy of all in the house, to receive assistance from without, (hear, hear.) These questions would, however, be more perfectly considered "when the Bills to which he had referred, and the Estimates had been submitted to the House, which would be on an early day. Whilst referring to .matters of revenue, he would aunouucs that it was the intention of the Government to put an end to the furthei issue of land scrip. (Hear.) It was not, however, decided—nor did he believe it would be so—to pass a. s a.^ Deen Proposed on previous occasions, an Act limiting the period during which the scrip already ssued should be exercised; as, unless the period inamed was a long one, itjjmight to a certain extent not only be unfair to scrip holders, but the effect also ©f such a limitation would be to delage the land offices with scrip in payment for land, to the exclusion of cash payments. (Hear, hear.) Another subject which would occupy the attention ofth_» Government was the establishment of interprovincial posts, under the control of the Provincial authorities ; which, if public roads were necessary to allow distant parts of a Province to be settled, were equally required as an inducement to such settlement, as facilitating all business transactions, and tending in every way to maintain and promote civilization. He would next observe with respect to a subject, to which he would not have considered it necessary to refer had it not been so frequently alluded to in that session, namely the relation's between the General and Provincial Governments. The relations at present subsisting would he unaltered, and in no manner whatever would the spirit of the Constitution Act be interfered with by the present Government, who, recognising the efficiency and practical usefulness of the Provincial Governments, desired in every way to increase that efficiency and usefulness. (Hear.) The propriety of some alterations in the provisions of the Constitution Act had been suggested. He did not consider it advisable that any changes in that Act, except merely of a technical character, should be made without great consideration ; whether such changes were made by that House by bills reservei for her Majesty's pleasure, or by the Imperial Parliament; acting at the instance of the House. The only alterations which the Government proposed to make at present would be of a technical nature, and might possibly, in pursuance of the recommendations of the Disputed Elections Committee, comprise an Act for the preservation of purity of elections. (Hear.) Another measure which would be submitted for their consideration was one for transferring to the Provinces the administration of the Waste Lands. This bill, which was now prepared, would vest in the Provinces the entire direction and management of the laud departments and surveys, as well as the power of regulating the sale and disposal of these lands, with the singie restriction of reserving to the General Government the right of receiving, in the first instance, the proceeds of the hud sales; as until the liabilities to which the land revenues were at present subject under the provisions of the Constitution Act, had been removed by law, the General Government which was responsible for their due application, must necessarily exercise a control over them. Acts to amend existing laws were in some instances necessary, but it was doubtful whether their consideration should not b.; postponed in consequence of the length to which the session had already arrived. (Hear.) Some laws concerning this subject were already before the Legislature, which would receive all possible support from the Government. He had now briefly explained the principles by which the Government would be gu'ded, and the course which it proposed to adopt tit ring the present session; from which the House Wmld perceive that the measures proposed to be submitted to it were of a practical character, and related only to subjects as to which immediate action was necessary in compliance with the generally expressed wishes of the country. He trusted that in the attempt to give practical effect to those 'wishes,

the Government would meet with such aiv amount of support from that House as would enable it to remove long standing and harrassing obstacles to the advancement of the colony, and the unfettered exercise of that energy and enterprise which was the characteristic of its it.habitants. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Fox wished, with the indulgence of the House, to ask the hon. gentleman a question or two on some points on which he had omitted to touch. First, who would occupy the first seat in the Executive Council, and who was to be leader of the Ministry in that House ? Secondly, if the hon. member (Mr. Stafford) would himself be leader, and as the hon. gentleman did not hold any Executire office, who was to be the practical medium of communication 'between, the Ministry and his Excellency ? Thirdly, as the hon. gentleman was Superintendent of Nelson, to which Province recent circumstances might render it desirable that he (Mr. Stafford) should return as soon as possible was it his intention, not having ..resigned his Superiutendency, permanently to retain his seat in the .Executive Council, or wouid he merely retain it to the end of the Session? And, next, were the present official arrangements intended to be permanent, or had some understanding been come to with regard to certain changes in the persons of the present holders of office at the end of the Session?

Mr. Stafford would reply to the questions of the hon. memoer for Wangauui—First, that the leadership of the House would vest in himself, he having been honoured by his Excellency with the task of forming a Ministry, and having undertaken that commission. Secondly, he recognised with Mr. Fox the necessity of establishing a regular medium of communication between the Ministry and his Excellency, and as this would necessitatr^khe laying of documents before his Excellency for sifjfttature, it had been determined thac some official member of the govermnenc should undertake that duty, which had been entrusted to Mr. Sawell on account of his previous acquaintance with tin's business; but whether that was to be a permanent arrangement he (Mr. Stafford) could not now state, and°he could not recognise the hon. gentleman's right to ask the question- (Hear, hear.) The next question was of a mere personal character; but though he (Mr- Stafford) recognised the right to ask as to the personal formation of the Ministry, he could not recognise Mr. Fox's right to ask him what steps lie meant to take as Superintendent. (Hear.) In that capacity he (Mr. S.) was perfectly ready to answer to his constituents whenever they should call'upon him for an explanation. He would state, however, that he had no present intention of retiring from the Ministry. As to the last question no arrangement had been made for any changes in the personnel of the Ministry—neither had there been any allusion to the subject among the members of the government, nor any anticipations been held out to parties as to any re-arrangements at the end of the Session. Though, after what had passed in that House, it would be presumptuous for any Ministry to look upon itself a3 permanent, yet so far as it rested with themselves, the present Ministry might be considered as permanent. Mr. Hall said that an important subject had been altogether overlooked in the.statement that had just been made- No intimation had been given of the course the ministry intended to pursue, with respect to the adjustment of the outstanding Land ClaimsMr. Staffoan had not thought it necessary to allude to this subject pending the bringing up of the report of the Coimnktee on Land Claims. The Government were fully aware of the importance of the subject, but thought it unadvisable to do anything without sufficient information which might give rise to hopes that might not be realised. He was not ashamed to state that he at all events was unacquainted with the actual extent of these claims. (Mr. Fox—" Hear, hear ! '') The hon. gentleman said " Hear, hear," hut he (Mr. Stafford) would be rather ashamed to profess knowledge while he was really ignorant of the real merits of the case. (Hear, hear, from the Ministerial benches.) Upon receiving a report from that Committee, the Government would be prepared to take what action might be necessary for the final adjustment of j^Lfmutter. 7.