MINISTERIAL STATEMENT.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 196, 15 August 1874, Page 2

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT.

Mr. Vogel: With the permission of the House, I wish to make ft few remarks in reference to a matter which has been engaging very general attention. After what occurred the other evening, no doubt hon. members will be anxious to know what course the Government propose to adopt in reference to a question that was very much canvassed yesterday, viz., the question of the abolition of the Provinces in the North Island. At an early period of the session—when the Financial Statement was made—l did not disguise thatit was the desire of the Government to assist the Provinces in this island to continue to dischargerheir functions, and proposed that fresh assistance in some cases should be given, and in others to do so by loan. The question is very materially changed by thejdebafe which took place upon the State Forests Bill. It then appeared that some of the Provinces, and notably the Province in which we now are, look upon the measure to establish State forests for the Colony as of a particularly aggressive nature, directed against Provincial institutions generally and this Province in particular. One speech that was made in the course of the debate was of a.nature necessarily to direct the attention of the Government to the whole subject of Provincialism, in this island especially, and the result was the ascertaining of .figures which shewed beyond an extent I at least ever dreamt of, and I believe hon. members generally ever supposed, the enormous proportion of revenue and means expended in this inland that was indirectly expended or supplied by the machinery of the Colony and Assembly. What the impression created in hon. members’ minds generally by those figures is I cannot say ; but on my mind the impression was a very strong one. Since the speech I made the evening before last, the Government have received assurances from all sides, which leave no doubt in the minds of Ministers that the majority of members of this House are anxious to see the Provinces in this island abolished. There are some conditions which I have referred to —notably the seat of Government and the compact of 1856—that should be recognised by Act. There can be no doubt that a large majority of the members of this House are prepared to assent to such p. proposition, and are, I believe, Sir, desirous of seeing effect given to it with as little delay as possible. Therefore, it would be idle to deny that the Government have taken into consideration whether or not it would be opportune to bring forward proposals to that effect during the present, session. After what I said the other night there can be no doubt in any hon. member’s mind as to what my view of the matter is. The question is whether or not any action should be taken this session ; and, Sir, the Government have come to the conclusion not to ask for effect to be given to this proposal during the present session. (Hear.) I will tell hon. members what led the Government to come to this conclusion. First, there is this consideration ; that there has been a sort of understanding, partly expressed, and partly implied, that the session should not be unnecessarily prolonged, and that beyond a certain amount of business indicated by the papers, or by the Governor’s speech with which the Assembly was opened, there would not be any important legislation proposed. Although, of course, there is freedom of action in this matter, and the Government have the perfect right to come down and ask for consideration to be given to all matters the urgency of which has shown itself during the session, it would be always well to adhere if possible to any expressed or implied understanding of the kind. But, Sir, the reason that weighed most with the Government in coming to that decision which I have intimated is this : that although there is a largo majority in this House holding the opinions I have here described—although I believe throughout this Island, and throughout the North and Middle Islands, the opinion of the people of the Colony would ratify such action—that it would be an exceedingly popular thing; yet there is a feeling throughout the country on the part of those who approve of such legislation that it would be dangerous action now to indulge in large legislation of this kind in a hurried manner, and without due notice. Even those who approve of the proposal might very justly say, “ after a surprise of this kind, may we not have a surprise which we could not welcome.” They might justly say whilst Parliament is Hitting- thrici muof l»«- n. erronfi SATISfi of incr-CU-ritv of large organic measures being passed without ordinary notice being given which would enable the people by constitutional means to express their opinions by petition. Therefore, it is quite possible that those who would most approve of the measure, might not regret its being carried into effect hurriedly, because they dreaded the precedent that, would be established. It would be surprise legislation, almost in the shape of a coup d'etat. These are the reasons that had induced the Government to come down with the statement which I am now making—that it. was not their intention to propose to come down to the House, and initiate legislation upon this subject this session. Of course I have no right to prevent the House expressing any opinion on the subject, and I do not- wish to assert a right. Many members might think the necessity of the country justified extreme action, but- for our own parts we think such a measure would be more acceptable to the country if it came from the com.try and during the time Parliament was not sitting, thereby giving an opportunity for having the measure not only established in the minds of members, but also in the minds of those who elect the representatives. It seems to us better not to deal with the matter this session. I am, however, not prepared to say that th re may not be brought down resolutions on the subject. lam not prepared to say that we shall do so, or that we shall riot, That, is a point we have not come to a decision upon. 1 have taken the earliest opportunity of giving such information upon tho subject as I am able to do, recognizing how vary much hon. members’ attention has been directed to the matter.