THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Southland Times, Issue 1631, 10 September 1872, Page 2

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

WANT-OF-CONFIDENCE DEBATE. DEFEAT OF THE MINISTRY. Wellington", Sept. 6. The debate was continued yesterday by Messrs Tolmie and Andrew, both for the Government. Mr Ormond followed with a three hours' speech. Mr Stafford then rose to reply. He said last session th6 Opposition supported the Brogden contract because they felt the honor of the Colony was pledged, and now Mr Beeves admitted that. He quoted .the estimates of C Fox and others, and the cost of railways in Queensland, to show that they could be constructed for about £2300 per mile, and reiterated the atatement that the Government had been warned of the rise in the price of iron. The immigration arrangements were unsatisfactory. Eleven thousand people were to arrive before the end of the year, and no provision for their settlement had been made. He said his idea of settlement, called by the Government confiscation, was to settle families at intervals along the lines of rail ways, in localities between the towns already established. He reckoned that for 20 villages there would be required 40,000 acres of land from the five provinces of the Middle Island. The owners of land would be glad to see the project carried out. He would propose a measure of a tentative and permissive character. He dwelt on the speeches of the Premier, and explained that when he (Mr Stafford) went to England he did so at his own expense. He drew no pay, and all the other Ministers remained at the seat of Government. He showed that he had not drifted into two wars, but stated that he found war was inevitable on his return from Eugland. He bad nothing whatever to do with the war of 186*3. He then

criticised the speeches of the members of the Government, and showed that he (Mr Stafford) had actually effected the saving which he promised in his " celebrated speech." The Native Minister, he aaid, had had a large fund at his disposal, but the expense of the Militia, Volunteers, and Nifcive department ought not to exceed one-third of the present cost. The ' Civil Service was getting demoralised. Permanent officers „ were becoming political parfcizans. Mr Stafford then referred to the necessity for some home i postal service. He showed that Mr* Vogel's statement as to the necessity for the issue of £300,000 of Treasury Bills was incorrect. He defended the member for Parnell (Mr Reader Wood) against the charge of having employed -1000 British troops at £40 a head. He had received many letters on Native matters, objecting to bhe Native Linda Courts. !A continuance of the present system, it was said, would end in creating a swarm . of pauper Maories in the Colony, who ! would be dangerous. They objested to Road Boards taxing unproductive Maori lands. If Native taxation were necessary, it should take the form of manual labor. These letters also objected to the power of buying Native land resting exclusively with the Government. The Native Keserves had been mismanaged. Th© Maories should be represented in the Upper House and in the Executive* The confiscated lands should be partly given lup for village reserves and schools, and partly returned to sundry tribes. The division on the first resolution " That in the opinion of this House the administration by the present Government of the Public Worka and Immigration policy has been unsatisfactory," *§- suited in its being carried by a majority of three. The announcement was received with great cheering. The following is the division list : — Ayes, 40— Sir David Monro, Sir J. C. Wilson, Messrs Bradshaw, Inglies, Stafford, Murray, Collins, Brandon, Gillies, Kenny, Richardson, Mervyn, Thomson, Williamson, Clark, Wakefield, Creighton, Parker (Canterbury), J. C. Brown, M'Leod, Hallenstein, Rolleston, Sheehan, Takamoana, Bunny, Curtis, Fitzherbert, Shepherd, Johnston, O'Conor, Bryce, Calder, Bucklacd, Reid, Webster, Munro, Swanson, White, Parata, Wood. Noes, 37— Messrs Kelly, T. L. Shepherd, Reynolds, Vogel, M'Ghshan, Steward, Bathgate, Studholme, Hunter, J. E. Brown, Rhodes, M'Gillivray, Bluett, Seymour, Reeves, Orraond, O'Neill, Andrew, Gisborue, Fox, O'Rorke, Harrison, Peacock, Richardson, Jackson, Henderson, Luckie, Kelly, Parker, M'Lean, Carrington, Tribe,- Pearce, Macau drew, Tolmie, Taiaroa, Katene. The second resolution — " That the habitual abseuce of Ministers from the seat of Government during the recess, which results in their conducting important operations without frequent opportunities of consulting each other, prevents that concert and unity of action between the several Departments, which is essential to the efficient direction of public affairs, either Executive or Legislative, and largely increases the cost of the Government" — was carried by 39 to 37 ; and the third — " That in order to administer the Public Works and Immigration policy in the most efficient and economical manner, the Colonial Government should retain the full responsibility for the proper conduct of all works authorised, and the sole control over all sums voted by Parliament ; and should, when practicable, avail itself of any existing Provincial or other local machinery in the supervision and execution of such works" — by 40 to 38.