DIRECT STEAM COMMUNICATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5710, 18 July 1879, Page 2

DIRECT STEAM COMMUNICATION.

First blood for the Opposition was drawn on Wednesday. Mr. Wakefield opposed a resolution brought forward by Mr. Macandeew to the effect that a “commission “ should be appointed to consider and “ report as to the best means of establishing a direct steam passenger and “ mail service between New Zealand and “ the mother country.” The Minister for Public Works is known to disregard questions of ways and means in reference to this hobby of his, and he yesterday supported this fad at the expense of his friends, and rashly courted defeat upon a simple question of a week’s adjournment. He explained what no one ever doubted, namely, that by establishing a service such as the one which he favored, a very great boon would be conferred upon the public, and that he looked upon it as an advantage that was well worth paying for. He would propose that Lyttelton should be the point of arrival and departure, and not Port Chalmers, and he looked forward to the time when the service should become, like that across the Atlantic, so constant as to be almost a daily one. This particularly rosy view was taken before dinner, but nevertheless the theme was handled exactly in the style of an after dinner speech, and when Mr. Macandrew jokingly alluded to the daily service across the Pacific, hishearers laughed good-naturedly at the extravagance of the imaginary picture. Mr. Wakefield, however, soon brought the House back to the realm of hard fact and sober sense once more ; in a few words he moved the adjournment of

the debate for a week, and adduced two or three excellent reasons why a little time should intervene before the appointment of a committee was affirmed. In the first place the House had last session passed a distinct resolution against a similar proposition which was then brought forward. In the next place this was a matter which lay within the province of the Executive to decide, and it was quite unnecessary to appoint a committee to perform the functions of the Government. Lastly, it seemed to him that in the present financial position of the colony it was more than likely that if the committee were appointed, it would be called upon to throw away a lot of work, at a time when there was ample employment for all of a far more urgent character. It was plainly shown that the Stad Haarlem trip had been a great mistake, and although Mr. Mac-a-.-dkew stated that he had disapproved of the employment of that vessel, evidence was brought forward by Mr. McLr and Sir. Rollesto.v which proved that the Government had authorised the Agent-General to make arrangements with the New Zealand Shipping Company to send out 600 emigrants to New Zealand in the Stad Haarlem at £2 per head in excess of the price authorised by Parliament. Both these speakers admitted that a steam service was preferable to one by sailing ships, but pointed out that it was infinitely more costly, and consequently it would be well for the House to decide whether they were in a position to afford the luxury before going to the trouble and expense involved in finding out what the exact cost would be. It turned up in the course of the debate that very contradictory orders had been issued to the Agent-General relative to the despatch of immigrants, that the trip of the Stad Haarlem had resulted in a heavy loss to the New Zealand Shipping Company, and that .the first experiment in a steam service had been a complete and expensive failure. Mr. Rolleston stated that he had no desire to forestall any debate on any of the larger questions involved, but he was curious to know by what authority the Government had agreed to pay more than the price fixed by Parliament for the introduction of these immigrants.

At the end of last session Mr. Macandrew moved a similar resolution, advocating a subsidy of £50,000 for a monthly service, and although he then stated that information was being obtained, it has apparently not been got yet. At that time the subject was allowed to drop without a division, because it was made perfectly clear that the House was entirely opposed to the experiment All the arguments used in yesterday’s debate were plainly in favor of an adjournment, but at an early stage of the proceedings Mr. Macandrew had declared that the Government would not consent to an adjournment, because it would look like shelving the motion ; and with a highly commendable determination he stuck to his resolve. The weakness of the Government in debate was never more conspicuous. Mr. Gisborne mumbled a rigmarole about the object in view being a good one, and said that it was not a party question, deliberately ignoring the fact that his colleague had. turned it into one by insisting upon having the resolution put to the vote there and then at any price. Mr. Rees considered that a week’s delay implied a policy of isolation, and at the beginning of his speech said that the main object of immigration was to bring out human beings with capital to this colony, and at the end of hia speech insisted that the bringing out of all classes was the duty of the Government. This was all the talking on the Government side of any importance. When “ Hansard” appears it will be found that not a single argument of weight was urged against a week’s adjournment of the debate by any speaker on the Ministerial side. Mr. Stout’s absence was at once felt, and the feebleness of the Government rendered them absolutely contemptible in the eyes of their opponents. Mr. Woolcock turned them into ridicule by promising them his support, because he looked upon the resolution on the Order Paper as an admission of failure on the part of the Ministry to fulfil the duties of their office, and he would aid them in every possible way to hand over their duties to some other persons. The House enjoyed a laugh at the expense of the Ministry, but, strange to say, there was no member of the Government who felt himself equal to the task of turning the tables on the offender and making him repent hia temerity by some bitter sarcasm or keen and biting retort. It has often been remarked that in Parliamentary warfare the moment an enemy can be snubbed and made to look ridiculous with impunity, its days are numbered. Its prestige has departed, and it is plain that its opponents are inclined to despise it and to take advantage of its weakness. Mr. Macandrew forgot, when he rashly braved defeat, that Mr. Stout was not present to cover his retreat with the clever and sarcastic oratory of which he was a master. In another column we publish a full list of all the eighty-five members of the House. Out of eighty-four possible voters sixtysix recorded their votes, of these thirtyeight were in favor of the Opposition. At least half of those who were absent could be relied on to support the victors, thus bearing out the assertion we made yesterday morning that the Opposition numbered an actual majority of the House. It is true that when it became evident that the division would go against the Government, Mr. Sheehan voted with the Opposition. It was plainly only a clever device to hide the nature of the defeat, and was doubtless done with some ulterior object in view. A glance at the division list will show that it was neither more nor less than a crushing defeat for the Ministry, and that it was accepted as a party division by both sides of the House. Mr. Wakefield has probably succeeded in shelving the proposal for good, and at the same time has had the honor of leading the attack, and of gaining an important outpost in the first onslaught.