New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1877.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4969, 24 February 1877, Page 2

New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1877.

We are in receipt of the Christchurch papers containing full reports of Mr. Stevens’ recent post-sessional utterance. The very brief summary of the speech which has previously appeared in our telegraphic columns would not in fairness have justified comment upon what Mr. Stevens said, but with his sayings completely before us we are enabled justly to criticise them. With regard to the financial condition of the colony, Mr. Stevens took a view far too gloomy, and one which ho will find not borne out by circumstances; but on the whole his speech is a fair review of the events of the past session, and an honest delivery upon the present political situation. Early in his address he took care to use a most practical argument against those who, now that provincialism has been abolished, desire to abolish abolition, and substitute a modified provincialism. To the few who advocate this, Mr. Stevens says in effect, “Let us reverse the old position of things, and now that the abolitionists are at the right side of the hedge, let us ask the provincialists what they used to ask us when we desired to abolish the provincial form of government —to show us why.” He fairly points out that when the action of public men is complained of, and . where it is believed by any section of the community that some other form of government should be brought into operation, it is the duty of that.section to state plainly what is the form of government they desire, and. to point out in.what respects it would be better than that they desire to change, and then, and not before, should they call upon the defenders of the status in quo for an exposition of their particular views.

Mr. Stevens declines very sensibly to see frightful evils in the way of Centralism looming in the distance. He does not know why the gaols and police should be otherwise than moat satisfactorily administered by a Minister of Justice, in Wellington. He believes that will be found to answer every possible requirement of the public, and,he believes that it will tend to a large amount, of economy in many ways, and' that' instead of what has hitherto been so perceptible, in the expenses of this department, there will he a great difference in the coat of the administration.

Passing on to the question of the control of railways, the speaker considers that if’ the General Government could be trusted, as they were trusted, with the enormous power of constructing railways from one end of New Zealand to the other, they are also fitted to be trusted with the working of those railways when constructed. And the same argument he applies to surveys, and of this he 'says :—“I know nothing more calculated to bring about a satisfactory state of the surveys of New Zealand than that the whole thing should be placed under the control of’ some scientific, experienced, and competent person, who could thorougly supervise the whole work. I care not whether he lives in Wellington or any other part, so long as he is fitted for the position,”, The report of Mr.; Stevens’ speech states that this last expression of his was received with cheers.

Mr. Stevens is opposed to making counties and municipalities support hospitals and charitable institutions, and considers such support would be an undue burden on localities, and is also opposed to their being managed by committees of subscribers, thinking that the whole cost and control of them should be borne by the General Government. He will find many to differ from this,view. He is of a steong opinion that the ,county system was hot intended to supply the place of the provinces, and considers that it was intended to supply certain deficiencies in certain departments of local government. Mr. Stevens makes one remark worthy of special attention by legislators in reference to' His views as to the number of, counties into which„ the late, province of Canterbury should have been divided. He is of ' opinion that it should at first Have beeh split lip into no more than three coiunties, “ But gentlemen,” says he,’ “in public life I have learnt this lesson,, that it is only a . very small part of whit you, would like that you can get, and therefore, in the, face of a general expression of opinion that-the counties should be more numerous, 1 thought it my duty, as a public man, to give.way.” After’ denying- that - the • party with which he voted last session had centralising tendencies in the bad acceptation of the word which the provincialists alone would give it, Mr. Stevens" ‘explained his action on the 1 separation, resolutions, and very soundly rates that ,tyrannical portion of = the- Assembly who by , their action endeavored to ruin the pastoral tenants > in Canterbury. \Ve have, not hesitated on former occasions to express • our views; in regard to triennial Parliaments, and therefore need not point out now that the, senior member for Christchurch in his advocacy of them does not say a word likely to alter our opinion. It will be satisfactory to those gentlemen who have’ in petto some imaginary party of therhear future, and an equally imaginary leader, to learn that Mr. Stevens la ■•hot with them., As to the merits , of the present Government he is very explicit.; After denying that last session. he made a bid for the office of - Colonial Treasurer, he goes on, to say of the existing ’-Ministry : “ The" question is this—can you get a Government containing better administrative talent than the one how in povfer?

The Colonial Treasurer, Major Atkinson, has deservedly achieved a high reputation, and I have no hesitation in saying is of great value to the country. (Hear, hear.) You', can always depend upon what he says, which is plain and straightforward. If he makes a mistake, he will toll you next day that he has done so. There is no public man that l.know —and 1 have had some- little experience—who is more straightforward or clear in his statements ; and though he does not mix up figures in an elaborate manner, he has a good and solid knowledge of the finance of the colony, which is what is wanted. Mr. Ormond, who is in charge of the Public Works Department, is a man of considerable administrative talent, and one who deservedly commands high respect. Mr. Donald Reid, who has recently joined the Ministry, is a man who has made his mark, and who will be a great acquisition to the councils of the colony. (Hear, hear.) I say therefore that we should pause before getting rid of a Government such as this, unless they commit graver faults than they have done, or it is likely they will do. lam not one to rail against the Government. I say that we should get the best Government we can for the colony, and give all an opportunity of getting on. (Cheers.) The fact is that there are no parties now. Abolition has removed all that, and it was perfectly free to us working with the Government to act in opposition if we felt it fight to do so ; but I do not think it would be fair to do this so long as the Government conduct finance properly. Since, the removal of the incubus of provincialism we have to consider, not only the great subject of finance, but the question of the departments of . Government from one end of the colony to the other. I am not despondent of the future of the colony ; far from it, and I hope the Government will be able to deal with the weighty and important matters before it. I trust that every effort they make towards retrenchment, and the placing of the finances of the colony on a more solid basis, together with any measures for the general good, will meet with cordial support from every colonist of New Zealand. (Loud and continued cheering.)”