LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 154, 3 July 1869, Page 2

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

.— o By the arrival of the steamer Phoebe last night, we received our usual files of papers. From the Evening Post of the 30th, we copy the following Ministerial explanation, given by Mr. Fox to the House of Representatives .on Tuesday last: — - - Mr. Pox, on rising, said he would in a few words explain the 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 obtain an insight into the state of affairs, they had 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 hostilities against the natives; and the . enormous cost of the force at present employed. Many of the expeditions now on. foot were attended with imminent danger to the forces engaged, and might . involve the Colony in difficulties which it would be impossible for it to face. A s 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 the force. They did not intend to tuyn their backs on the enemy, nor> to give up an acre,/ of 'territory which V'was ours by confisca-r :^tidii y'.QJe\: oth&mise, but _e wb^d 'nbt

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 sympathise with the idea of a colonial standing army, ' and they would try all they could to demilitarize our force. It was necessary to have 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 thau a large 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 Regiment, and of course pay such a sum as might be agreed on for it, and they would also try to get from home another regiment so organised by special enlistment, selection of officers, and special arrangements as to pay and settlement, and other things, as to be peculiarly suited for their work ; in fact, a New Zealand j regiment, suited to the circumstances of j the Colony. As to financial matters, his honorable 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 liabilities for past debts. As a general principle, however, he . might say that the Government was agreed that any expenditure for war or defence purposes should be borne hy 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 'productive kind they thought that if the ordinary revenue could not hear such calls, money might be raised by loan, but the burden should be borne by the Worth Island alone. The colony as a whole wouid have to pledge its credit to raise the money, but an Imperial Act might be obtained to make the North Island responsible to the Middle one. On financial, as on other grounds, the Government would give the House the fullest possible information, and deal with it with the utmost candor. There was one other subject upon which he had to say a few words, and that was regarding organic Constitutional changes. ! The Government had no intention of becoming a party to any such changes until the opinion of the country had been taken by means of a general election. As regarded Provincial institutions, the attitude of the Government towards them would be of a friendly and encouraging character, but it would not take on its shoulders the burden of their affairs if they were not able to carry them on themselves. The Government would render them the most cordial assistance in fulfilling their functions, but it could not do 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 steps to rescue it from such a painful and injurious position. He trusted, however, that kind considerate treatment would render such a thing unnecessary. In regard to native affairs, . he might say that while the Ministry would be no party to any 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 and decisively with the rebels.

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