PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 200, 22 August 1872, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

Wellington, August 22. Mr. Stafford last night, in an able and moderate speech, moved the resolution standing in his name. He referred to the frequent absence of Ministers from, the seat of Government; to their hasty San Francisco mail contract; to Mr. Vogel's bringing Mr. Brogden out from Englaud without first procuring the necessary data for the railways; to the neglect of the Government to profit by the information on this subjjct that was stored up in the country; and to their abstaining from availing themselves of the advice and assistance that might have been supplied by the Provincial authorities. He said that the present Government had addpd £108,0!!0 .annually to the unfunded debt of the colony in the Civil Service department alone, and that they had gradually increased the unfunded debt from £276,000 to £710,-000. He spoke of the Premier as a mere memory of what he was in the past. The speech was loudly cheered at its close. Mr. Fox. in reply, said that the resolutions were not sufficient to turn out a Ministry that had been in office for years. The Public Works and Financial statements that had been made were utterly at variance with that of Mr. Stafford's, and telegrams of a satisfactory character had been received from all parts of the country with respect to them within the last few hours (laughter). The colony had not superseded the provinces in colonisation, but merely overshadowed them, as the provinces now exercised the same powers that they always did (oh ! oh ! and laughter). Mr Stafford had alluded to the Colonial Treasurer's brilliant imagination, and want of ballast, but did he (Mr Stafford) possess either of these ? What scheme did he ever invent for the benefit of the colony ? la 1868 he had led the colony into two wars, in neither of which had he displayed either prudence or foresight in making preparations. Mr. Fox then traced ihe history of the San Fiancisco contracted contended that the House had already the faults of the Government in exceeding their powers. The service had been neither inefficient nor unsuccessful (laughter) and would yefc prove a greajb benefit to the colony. He felt proud of having been one . of a Ministry that bad inaugurated the service. The Ministiy had always availed themselves of the advice and assistance of the Provincial auihorities. He denied that the Ministry had succeeded in getting Mr. Waterhouse to join them only during The session, and s.iid that Mr. Sewell had receded from them and divulged the fact that various differences existed in the Cabinet, which he should have kept secret. The Immigration scheme had not hitherto proved successful, but it was attended with great difficulties, and the Government had not yet had time to work it, but it should be remembered that it was to extend over ten years. Mr Stafford had not touched upon Native matters and had exonerated Mr Maclean. If there was any hope that Mr Maclean would take office not in the Ministry he was authorised to state that there was no possibility of such a thing. He CMr Fox) was quite willing to continue to [serve the colon}', but if the House agreed to these resolutions, he would retire into private life, (Cheers). The speech on the whole was weak and full of attempted criticisms, but not nearly so temperate as that of Mr Stafford. 1 Mr. Reid (Otago) compared the pneering tone of the Premier's speech with that of Mr. Stafford. The Pan Francisco service would have been far more beneficial if the vessels had been English owned. The only policy that Mr. Fox had ever introduced was that of dividing the public money amongst four Superintendents, $ which had excited universal derision, and ho wondered the Premier could read his speeches of former years without laughing. He had gone into office on a Provincial policy, but had gradually reduced the payments to the Provinces, which threatened soou to disappear altogether. The Government had shown theii: utter want of business capacity in entering into unintelligible and extravagant railway contracts. 3he contract under which Mr. Brogden received five per cent, merely for his advice was most injurious to the interests of the colony, Th<j immigration scheme, as carried out by the General Government had proved a total failure, especially so far as Otago was concerned. The estimates prepared by Mr Blair showed that the railway works in Otago could have been constructed at 20 per cent below Mr Brogden's contract. He read offers from Mr Forest to construct railways at 15 per cent below the price paid to Mr Brogden, and to give ample security for the performance of the contract. The reply was that any works not let to Mr Brogden would be submitted to public competition. Messrs Proudfoot & Co., of Dunedin, had offered to construct the railways at 7J per cent below the Engineer's estimate. The saving in the case of Mr, Forest would have been £17,927 and in that of Proudfoot & Co. £12,750. The Engineer's estimate for, the Invercargill and Mataura line ;was £45,643, yet this had been let to Mr. Brogden for £86,697. (Loud cries of "Oh ! oh ! "). The loss on the ponstruction of railways in the Otago Province alone was fully £GO,eoo. The Government would no doubt urge that they were bound *,l>y the action of the House, bud why did - they not vote with the minority who objected to Contract No. 2 ? They were entirely responsible, and their excuses were but admissions of failure. He referred to the increased cost of the Civil Service, and condemned the numerous political appointments made by the Ministry. He hoped they would come forward boldly, and contradict the statements made in the lobbies that several of their supporters had been promised appointments. He felt quite sure that the feeling of the country was strongly in favor of reform (cheers). Mr M'Gillivray (Otago) said that the immigration scheme had proved a failure, and that the Agent-General was not a good man of business, but the Ministry had done a deal of hard work, and should be allowed to remain in office. He should like to see a promise of a better administration before voting for the resolution. Mr. Bunny (Wellington) announced his determination to vote for • the resolution, arid would oppose the Government for- the very reasons that had formerly induced him to support them. He would.' oppose any Ministry that acted as they had, done.' Tpe affairs of. the country had been allowed to 'drift, and were left entirely in the hands of a few under-secretari^, some of whom were entirely incompetent., (Ministers were all away,; from\tnev seat *6f T'knd the Colonial "Secretary was 'kept at work like a horse at a mill, J.an.d bad to sign documents that hi

had not time to read. He knew of his own knowledge that at one time there were no less than six. hundred, letters lying unopened at the Treasury. /.Several head'? of the departments did';-, not go to their affairs until 11 a.m.. and in fact the whole rivirse"vice was expensive and extravagant to a : degree,' and; needed a thorough sweeping reform The Hutt railway, if thrown open to' public tender, would have cost £1200 per mile below the price at which it was let to Mr. Brogden. and the Foxton Tramway wn<« badly situated. He objected to handing over, the whole colony to Mr Bropden (Loud Cheers). He was surprised that the Government had not immediately refuted the statements made by Mr Keid relative to the Rrogden contracts in Otago, as if they remnined siknt it must be construed as an admission of his charge?. He condemned & Government by wiles (?) The Ministers of Public Works were looking after their own private affairs instead of devoting their time to the interests of £the colony. If the present system were continued, a resident Minister would have to be appointed for each province. After mature consideration he had come to the conclusion 'hat if the Public Works and Immigration scheme were to be economically and beneficially administered it must be entrusted to other hands than those of the present Ministry. Mr. Parata (Native) expressed his intention of voting against the Government (cheer."!). A great many of the natives were against the Government, -who had not fulfilled their promises to the native?. The Ministry looked more after the European interests. The native troubles arose from Europeans who spoke Maori. He hoped the new Ministry would be composed of men who could not speak Maori. . A long pause then ensued which was brokea by cries of " Government ! Government ! " Mr. Bathgate proposed the adjournment of the debate which was negatived on the voices. Another long pause, Ministers being in consultation. Loud cries from all p^rts of the House for the Government to reply. After a long delay, Mr Tribe said he thought the resolutions were premature, as the Government had not had n fair trial, their policy having been commenced ouly ten months. (Loud laughter.) The Opposition wanted io step in and reap the advantages of the labors of the Ministry. He believed that Mr Brogden's monopoly would be for the ben* fit of the colony (renewed laughter) as it would bring capital into the country. He quoted the lines about the " old love," and " the new," and praised the Government finance. Mr Reeves moved the adjournment of the debate, which was agreed to on the voices. , Messrs Reader Wood, Eolleston, Williamson . and Fitzherbert will speak against the Government on different subjects. The defeat of the Ministry is absolutely certain.