Political Affairs.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 221, 28 August 1884, Page 2

Political Affairs.

(from OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) The progress of affairs in the political world here, has not been very brisk since I last wrote, and appear still to be in that state of morbid stagnation and dissatisfaction, of which I mentioned previously. Certainly a change—a great change, has taken place within the last week, but it was such a change as was predicted and looked forward to by almost everyone. The ninth Parliament of New Zealand has been formally opened, and the long looked for Vice-Regal speech has been delivered, disclosing to the people the whole policy of the newly constructed Cabinet under Mr. Stout, but who have now suffered a most ignominious and disgraceful defeat at the hands of the combined Opposition after holding office only four or five days. They have received their deserts sooner than was expected, for it was fully anticipated their term of office would not be of so short duration, and that they could and would make some sort of a stand against their opponents. But they did not. They could see too well that the result must be inevitable defeat no matter how long they prolonged the struggle, and perceiving that, the Premier, on the plea of acting for the best interests of the State, took the only course left open to him, viz: — to challenege and to defy the House on a division. That challenge was accepted by the Opposition with the result of the Government being placed in the minority by nineteen. To say the least of it, the Opposition have displayed wise discretion in taking the step they did, and it is worthy to note amongst the Opposition those who spoke when the debate took place on the amendment were all new members with the exception of Mr. Thomson, the mover. This defeat will no doubt prove a sorry blow to Sir Julius, but perhaps it will be a lesson to him, and will teach him to exercise a wider and better judgment in the future, and not make his selection of a Cabinet to govern a colony like New Zealand out of one or two of its provinces. Then the policy he enunciated in the speech from the Throne was one not calculated to do much good to the country, but rather more harm, and to retard its advancement and progress considerably. It was, as Mr. Thomson stated, made up of two many promises, and most important questions, such as the education question, &c., were totally ignored. The Property Tax was to be abolished in preference to a land tax on a moderate scale, as was Mr. Bryce’s Native policy, which has been found to work so well. Altogether it was not the policy which the people of the country expected to receive from such an able statesmen as Sir Julius Vogel has the reputation of being. But there it is in black and white, and the verdict of the House has shown itself most emphatically averse to such a system of Government. When the House met on Wednesday afternoon it was not known who would be likely to move an amendment to the Address-in-Reply, and the usual conjectures and surmises were bandied about as to whom it would be. Mr Wakefield was considered by most to be the man in order to vent his spleen on Sir Vogel, as he fully expected to rank as one of the chosen few in aiding to administer the affairs of the Colony, an office which ne has sought after for a long time past; but in that he was disappointed, and it was therefore thought he would take that prominent part in the Opposition. But rumor was wrong that time, and considerable sensation and applause greeted the honorable member for Clutha, Mr. Thomson, when he rose as the proposer of the motion to ament the Address. This concluded, as it might be termed, the first act of the drama which has been sq badly presented, the positions taken by the performers being altogether far too ludicrous and farcical, though they deserve much credit for the brazen manner in which they |

took the various parts allotted them, and in I having the consummate impudence to at all face an audience, who very soon showed their disapproval of the performance. But perhaps the second act, on which the curtain is about to be raised, will show better and give greater appreciation, but that even is doubtful, and will most likely also be a failure. The leading character in it is all very well in his place, but is not competent to take a prominent part, and will not be able to draw forth that applause which will be required to make it a success. But if the caste should be altered from that at present anticipated, it might “ take,” if not, act two of the drama will be as unsuccessful as act one, and will be forced to take a “ back seat.” By that time the third act will nearly be ready for presentation to the public, and if that is carefully platformed, and does notj involve too many intricacies, and is not so full of absurdities as the former two, it might be looked on with favor, and merit a sufficient share of support to keep it in existence. Mr. Thomson has now been sent ;for by His Excellency and has agreed to form an administration ready to meet the House on Tuesday next, Who will compose that administration, it is hard to say ? but the Premiership should be given to some one more able and capable than Mr. Thompson, though he has already held office on the Ministerial benches in 1879 when the Grey Government was in power. On Thursday next, the Honorable G. M. Waterhouse has given notice that he will move :—“ That in the opinion of the Council, it is essential to the working of our constitutional system, and to the efficiency of this branch of the Legislature, that the Government should be represented in the Council by a Minister holding a portfolio.” This will probably receive a large amount of support. Mr. G. T. Wilson, Alexandra, the officer for the Native district in that locality, has sent in a report to the House of Parliament in reference to the conduct of the notorious murderer Te Kooti, who is now at large prowling about. It states that with the exception of one bout of drunkenness, he has done nothing to cause one to say that he has not changed for the better in his character since his former deeds were generously pardoned by His Excellency the Governor. Neither he nor his followers has committed objectionable acts during the past year, but have shown themselves thankful for the clemency extended by the Government. Although Te Kooti is such a confirmed tippler, he discountenances the habit amongst his people. He has made visits to the Thames and Tauranga without being guilty of any misconduct, and is evidently desirous of burying the past, and of living a different life in the future. He is now living on the banks of the Waipa River,. 12 miles from Kihikihi, but only on sufferance, as the land is not his own. He has, for some time past, been anxious to settle down upon some land of his own, and the action of the Government in allowing him and his people a small block of land will be received by them with thankfulness, and will be looked upon with satisfaction by the native land owners of this district as well as by a majority of Europeans. Before he was pardoned, and whilst he was living in a state of outlawry, the natives amongst whom he resided considered themselves bound to harbor and protect him, but since he has been pardoned they do not take so much interest in him, and consider their duty and responsibility towards him have ended. One of the great questions which the new administration will, most probably, be called on to consider, will be the reformation of the Civil Service, a question which, to all intents and purposes, is one of extreme vital importance, and calls for the most, grave and thoughtful consideration. The present method of management in the Civil Service is, without dispute, perfectly unsound, incurring unlimited expense which might and can well be done away with. It is necessary to work, it on a foundation which is not only sound, but lasting and permanent, and to carry that principle out it will be necessary to diminish the large amount of authority now exercised over the department by the various Cabinets holding office, who only tend, by their everlating whims, fancies, and fads, to cauqp greater dissatisfaction, to increase inconvenience and to create greater expense, instead of decreasing such evils. Each Ministry as it takes office has always some fresh arrangement to make, and frequently turn out old and experienced officials, filling up their vacancies by new ones, who are invariably their friends from amongst their con: stituences or possibly their relatives, and so keep on incessantly undoing that work which has been performed by their predecessors. Therefore on those grounds alone there is

sufficient reason for a reform in the service, and having it established on a thoroughly sound footing. Ministries are allowed by far too much influence in this direction, and are as they have ever proved themselves, totally unable and incapable of managing the department, and the responsibility which they have hitherto enjoyed, should be removed from off their shoulder. Another reason which can be urged in favour of that .couse being pursued in this, they (the Ministers) can always be gulled and led astray by what are called “Parliamentary clamourers ” whose voices are foolishly and unwisely listened to, and whose wishes are generally given effect to, as in the case of the recent ten per cent, reduction, which was, to say the least of it, a most unjust action. This power if taken away from political parties, as it were, would be an unquestionable improvement, but so long as it remains to* be worked at the discretion of those parties, so long will it remain in its present condition, continually calling forth loud cries of discontent from the people, and incurring and entailing endless expense, and draining the treasury of thousands of pounds annually which not only at the present juncture, but at all times can ill be spared. Now why should it be permitted that administrators, as they accede to power, should gratify their paltry fads by some new. and unnecessary alteration in this institution ? Such a system should be abolished, and at once. The dissatisfaction would then be removed, the constant drain on the public purse would not be so heavily felt, and to have it firmly and lastingly founded, would greatly help the officials employed in the service, who are always kept in constant dread of receiving a notice of dismissal for some unknown or trumped-up cause. It is only those who cannot help themselves that now seek positions in the service, who cannot find ought else to do, and who, as a last resource in order to live, are compelled to accept the office. Those are the people composing the service, which they enter discontcnedly, and so perform their duties, but such would not be if they were given to understand and knew that they were engaged permanently at a fixed salary under the control of one special body.

No, they could do their work more cheerfully, with greater facility, and in every respect much better, so much so as to decrease their number considerably, for it is well known that a person working voluntarily is worth ten times those who work because they are literally forced to do so. Of course the duties must be performed efficiently and with accuracy, and in order to do that it is necessary to have many hands at it, but without impeding the performance of* those duties in any way the foregoing alterations would undoubtedly be the means of largely reducing the number now employed in the Civil Service, and would be a wonderful improvement in its reformation. It is not easy to say how the combination ultimately to be appointed and to retain office will treat this great question. Their policy might be similar to that of the late Stout-Vogel Ministry, to considerably ~contract departmental expenses and to establish an equilibrium between expenditure and receipts. [Through pressure of other matter the above has been crowded out for several days.—Ed] .