THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Southland Times, Issue 1620, 16 August 1872, Page 2

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

SPJBCZAIi XJBI.EOIIA.IttS. "Wellington 1 , August 13. Papers laid on the table of the House of Ke preservatives, in accordance with Mr Donald Keid's motion relative to the engineer's estimate in detail for the Invercargill and Mataura line, and offers received by Government for construction of same from other parties than Messrs Brogden and Sons, show that a Victorian firm, Forest and Co., and Proudfoot and Co. of Dunedin, contractors, had offered to construct two hundred miles of railway annually at t2| per cent, below the engineer's estimate. They also offered to deposit 2| per cent, on the value of any contract undertaken by them, as security for its due performance, they to receive progress payments upon completion of each ten miles of railway. Notwithstanding this, the Invercargill and Mataura railway contract, given to Messrs Brogden and Sons, is above the engineer's

estimates. The matter is to come before the House. ' In the House to-day, Mr Yogel introduced a Bill providing for the service of certain notices by telegraph. The Marriage with a Deceased "Wife's Sister Bill has been further considered in, committee. August 15. In the House of Representatives last night, Mr Curtis moved — " That in the opinion of this House it is expedient that the Colonial Government, without divesting itself of responsibility for the proper conduct of the works authorised i by the Assembly, or of the sole control i of all moneys voted by Parliament, shall avail itself of the services of the existing Provincial organisation"; and that the duties of the Besident Ministers and General Agents of the Colonial; Government shall, in the respective^ 'Provinces, , devolve upon the Superintendents and j Executives, as the Agents of the Colonial Government, unless otherwise determined by the Colonial Government, upon its own responsibility." The Provincial machinery, he said, had been shelved. The Public "Works and Immigration; policy could not be satisfactorily administered from one centre. He quoted a resold, tion passed at a public meeting~in Auckland against the delay and waste of the General Government administration, and said that his resolution had : been misrepresented. It simply affirmed, the necessity of the General Government availing itself of the assistance of experienced local authorities. Mr Fox said that the resolution proposed to reverse the Public Works policy adopted in 1870, when the House affirmed the fundamental principle of leaving the sole control and responsibility to the General Government. He quoted Hansard, and read leading articles from newspapers, in support of his view. The Government would not treat the. motion as a vote of want of' confidence, bat if it were carried they would resign. This announcement was received with cheers. Mr Gillies said the resolution did not contemplate interference with the powers of the General Government. He upheld the Superintendents, and said that the resolution implied a protest against maladministration, referring to definite cases of faulty administration by the General Government ia the Province of Auckland. He deprecated the introduction of party spirit into the consideration of the question. Mr "Webster delivered a telling speech against Provincial institutions. He compared the Colony to a small engine with a number of useless cog-wheels working in conflict. Mr Harrison opposed the motion, and attacked Mr Curtis's Superintendental administration in Nelson. Mr CjlUqb defended Mr Curtis at Superintendent, but opposed the motion. Mr Bathgate condemned the whole administration of the General Government, especially in the matter of immigration in the Province of Otagpj- and their neglect of Scotch immigration. He condemned the system of letting contracts without public tender, and said the Mataura railway contract had been given to Messrs Brogden £30,000 or £40,000 above the Engineer's estimate. Mr O'Rorke moved the adjournment of the House (? debate) which was agreed to. Later. Mr Stafford has prepared an amendment expressing direct want of confidence. The Superintendents decline to accept the challenge by the Government to make Mr Curtia's motion a Ministerial question. Mr Fitzherbert, in a magnificent speech, moved, and Mr Macandrew seconded, the previous question. The Government were evidently greatly disconcerted. They accepted the amendment, and the debate lapsed. Mr Stafford will probably table his want of confidence motion to-morrow.