MR FOX'S ADDRESS.

Southland Times, Issue 1734, 29 April 1873, Page 2

MR FOX'S ADDRESS.

The Hon. Mr Fox addressed a meeting of his constituents at Bull's (Bangitikei) on tbe 22nd inst. The following is an abstract of his remarks : — ln 1869, the affairs of the colony being in a very disastrous condition, a native war raging, and Mr Stafford proposing to raise half a miJlion sterling for war purposes, he (Mr Fox) tabled a motion of want of confidence, which was carried by the largest majority by which such a motion had j ever been carried in the colony. His Ministry adopted the policy in Native affairs of .^conciliation, firmness, and roadmaking through the Native districts ; and that policy was well carried out by Mr M'Lean, whose name acted like oil on the troubled waters. Mr M'Lean was still at the head of Native affairs, and now the colony was entirely peaceful from one end to the other, roads had been made, and the light of day let in upon the formerly rebellious country. With respect to the Public Works policy, his Government had found the country in a state of great stagnation, and the only remedy was to start public works. All the members acquiesced in this policy, but to Mr Yogel, who had been very unjustly maligned, the credit of the details was due. Mr Fox referred to Sir David Monro's speech at Waikouaiti, in which he compared railways in New Zealand to a steam-plough in a Scotch kail-yard. Minds like Sir David Monro's had caused Nelson to be designated " Sleepy Hollow ;" he was a Eip Van Winkle, who did not understand the benefit of railways, even if particular lines were not a commercial success. This truth in political economy was brought out by Mr Justice Chapman, one of the keenest political thinkers in the colony. Mr Stafford, too, had too much prescience to say that the policy would not be a success, but asserted that it was his own, and had been stolen by Mr Fox's Ministry. If the policy were Mr Stafford's why had he not brought it forward ? But the assertion was utterly groundless, and the only color for it was something Mr Stafford once said in a speech at Timaru about bridging the rivers from Auckland to Dunedin. In reference to the Broaden contracts, Mr Vogei had the authority of law for what he had done. His agreements with Messrs Brogden were subject to the sanction of Parliament. That sanction was not given, and the agreements both fell through, but the fact of an agreement on the basis of Mr Vogel's second proposition, only double the amount, being sanctioned by the House, showed that Mr Vogel's action had met with the approval of Parliament. The colony had i

received preat advantages from Mr Brogden'a presence, and had obtained the use of liis vast experience in fixing a scale for charges for future works, thus stopping imposition. An offer from a Dunedin firm to do all the work at 10 per cent, below the engineer's estimates proved, when looked into, to be a " duffer," having for its object probably to drive Messrs BrogdeD and others out of the field, and then the local firm would have had the contracts all their own way. The Public Works were progressing satisfactorily. The present Minister, Mr Richardson, was a man of great experience, and he was satisfied. The San Francisco service was a temporary failure, but it had not cost more than £12,000 per annum when the cost of the Suez service was deducted The Government would soon be able to arrange a satisfactory service, with New Zealand for terminus. His Government had introduced several social reforms, such as the Land Transfer Act, and the Life Assurance Scheme. The Education Bill had to be dropped on account of the irreconcilable differences between the denominationalists, the non-denomiua-tionalists, who wanted Bible-reading pure and simple, and the secularists, who object to religious teaching altogether. These three parties fought a triangular duel, and the Bill had to be dropped, and the Provinces left to pass their own measures. He did not think that any general measures would be passed in New Zealand for many yeara. He referred to the charge made by the Otago Daily Timea against the Government, of stealing a ' telegram, which had been proved groundless ; and a similar charge, made by the Wellington Evening Post, of detaining a telegram from Hokitika till it had been given to the Independent, was equally groundless. The Opposition last session could not find fault with the policy, but charged the Government with maladministration. The policy extends over ten years, and at that time the details had only been settled eight months, yet the Opposition proceeded to judge as if the ten years were passed. The four men in the House most capable of judging, Messrs Richardson, O'Neill, Carrington, and Bath gate, gave it as their opinion, after investigation, that the Government deserved praise rather than blame for the way the work was being done. When the jury decided at last that the charges were good, the new Government bad to come to the House and say, " The policy of our predecessors is bo good that we intend carrying it on." His (Mr Fox's) friends, however, were soon returned to power by a party who had loyally supported him. He retired, believing that the Premiership had been placed in worthy hands. In every way, except firmness of purpose, he thought Mr Waterhouse well qualified to fill that office, but for that gentleman's late action there was no excuse. He would say no more on this painful subject, than that the insinuations of the Opposition Press, that there was something behind the scenes, were utterly groundless. He believed there was a great future for the Coloay, especially for the Norfeb Island, if the policy inaugurated four years back were steadily carried out, and a just conduct observed to the Natives, »o as to secure peace. In answer to a question, Mr Fox said that in event of the Government beiag defeated by only a small majority tbey would appeal to the country by a dissolution, but that if the majority were a large one, no dissolution would be asked for. A vote of confidence in Mr Vox wa» carried unanimously.