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Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 105, 20 October 1877, Page 2

The Ministry lias not yet expanded to normal proportions, the portfolios Toeing as yet in excess of the holders. Sir Gf. Grey (Premier) is Colonial Secretary^ Mr Larnach, Treasurer and Commissioner of Stamps ; Mr Macandrew, , Minister for -tands and Public Works : Mr Sheehari, Native Minister and Minister of Justice; Mr Fisher, Postmaster Greneral and Telegraph ConTmissioner. ; ■ ■ •■ { On Monday .evening, Sir G-eorge delivered his Ministerial Statement. lie acknowledged, haying [experienced a difficulty in; forming a minisjs-y owing to the , existence of three parties in the the House) for; this; reason, only a few gentlemen had 'taken office, but it was proposed to add to their number shortly and to associate with them certain. Ministers of the native race. Their first consideration: would be the financial condition of .the Colony and they would retrench were retrenchment was 'consistent w.tih the public "welfare. They were disappointed in finding the greater part of the £100,000 lately advanced by the HoUise had been" ex-; hausted prior to there taking office, therefore an appeal to the liberality of , the House would be an almost immediate necessity. .The .liabilities of ■ the colony at the present- time conr considerably exceed the liabilities they, .expected to. find, in existence. With such demands upon its liberality the House has a, right to insist on great reductions being made in public expenditure, and one means of doing this is to alter the system of administration. Two great systems of ' administration were running concurrently in New Zealand— the system of 'administration, of the General Government and the system of administration of the Provincial Government. Well, hon. gentlemen were pleased -in their wisdom to I'destroy absolutely the Provincial Grovernment— the Provincial: Legislatures. x But in doing, that they idW not do ;• away ■ with the provincial system, and ; there is , no doubt. whafceVer, the two, systems of administration have never yet merged into one another, and that a vast and unnecessary expenditure is" incurred by attempting to conduct a system of administration not suitable to one united G-overnment. The great effort therefore, which must be made is to devise a system of administration of pubEc affairs by which the whole * administration will be grasped by the powerful hand of one GWernmentrjf there is to be but^one Government; .By that means very great Bimplifica-

tions in the conduct of public business will be brought about and a reduction in expenditure may be made which will J even surpass the expectations of hon. gentlemen. In order to show that they intended doing what was right in the way of Retrenchment \they had resolved that, as!. Ministers, ithey would commence withi themselve^pthis being done from\t£ 1 beliel, that ij^.is the duty of the public' meiubf this^lßolony in a time of pressure to set an example of econtfmy in all jesßects.. .By commencing in that way they would be mofe*unW^tter^~td^aeal" with other persons. But while retrenching they were resolved that no work of public importance should be neglected. J fhe system of Public Works that had been commenc d should be carried to completion. They intendefl to with-, draw the Lands Sales Suspension Bill, the Native Lands Act of 1873 being sufficient for present requirements. Sir Greorge denied being hostile to Wellington as the Seat of Government. No man had the interests of Wellington, more at heart ■ than himself. The Government intended to bring, the Session to a close as soon as possible. With a view to this they would take up a certain number of Bills; such, for instance, as the Land Bill^ Mines Bill, Slaughterhouse ; Bill, , Volunteers, and some other measures. of that kini -They proposed . at ;the same time to. drop a certain number of measures, an attempt to carry which, would probably .greatly lengthen the Session— such, as the Native Lands Suspension Billi Lands Drainage. Bill, Fencing Bill, Charitable Institutions Bill, Harbours and Navigation^ Bill, .and; Settlements Works Advances Bill. NBy abandoning these bills they would; "yery greatly- reduce .the business before the House. But there is a vast nurbberiof iprivajte bills, many of which are of great importance and the Govertimeiit 'have ? in reference -to these bills to afford 1 every, assistanceiii their power to hon, : gentlemen in ge^ng' i meaisures forward. The opinions he himself held of great institutions are liberal-opinions to an advanced degree. But;he would never impose upon, an unwilling cdmvuunity aiiy views 6i 'his own^- he should only advance^ in- such '; questions as far as the will of the country might de-> mand. But if the popular will should demand measures : which he believed to b&radv.erse 'to the 'public welfarej then they; as a, Government, would stand aside 4 an,d allow other gentlemen to cpjne for^ardi v Holding these views they^would.n^t,, during the Session, attempt to presslorwafdahy of the grea,t measures wJiich he was desirous of see--ing introduced into this country.; D uring j the recess; such of them as they- thought suited to. the cireumstances of the times , should ; ,. : ;be carefully prepared, and submitted !next Session, it will be then, for the members to judge whether they have faithfully fufiiled the trust committed to their hands. ' - ; .