THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT QUESTION.

Colonist, Issue 89, 27 August 1858, Page 2

THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT QUESTION.

In the House of Representatives on Tuesday the 27th July, Mr. Ward,, in accordance with notice, moved " That it is desirable that this House be informed of the intentions of the Government with respect to the Seat of the General Government, and to the place of Session of the General Assembly, for the future." The hon. member said he did not desire now to raise the question of where the Seat of Government should be placed, but simply asked that information as full as possible should be given on the views and intentions of the Government on the subject. The demand was put in the form of a resolution, that hon. members might have an opportunity of speaking to it if it was desirable, but chiefly because a simple question generally failed to elicit a full and satisfactory reply. It was generally understood that the next session of the Assembly was to be held at Wellington, but so far as he (Mr. W.) knew, even so much information as that had not yet been rendered officially or authoritively to the House. It was very important that hon. members should be distinctly assured of this intention, as well as of any others which might exist, but which had not been privately circulated. It was not only for the sake of members, however, but also for that of the public that explicit information, was required. There was nothing which offended the people of a y- distant province more than the want of information which it was supposed those nearer to head-quarters ppssessed. He (Mr. W.) could himself vividly recall the feelings of a resident in a distant Province, desiring information upon points of general policy, and his dissatisfaction when mail after mail arrived without a word of explanation which the public could get hold of. This feeling of irritation was the same whether the more favored Province were really in possession of satisfactory information or not :'• for it was always supposed, and in fact it was often

the case, that a question might be perfectly un" derstood in all its bearings by those near head quarters, without any authoritative statement having gone abroad. 'This was pretty much the state of things in the present.case, and he would urge that the fullest explanation should be given not only of what was intended, but of what was not intended, that the public anight be relieved ftom apprehension on the subject. Mr. Hall seconded the motion. Mr Stafford stated in reply that, as to the first portion of the question—the Seat of Government for the futura—the answer was simple;. for Government had actually no intention on the subject. As to the second povtioiir—the place of next session of the Assembly—his Excellency had entered into an undertaking, thai; the next session should be called at Wellington, and Ministers would not, advise a departure from that intention. Further than that the Government had no. intention on the subject. :' ' . ' Mr. Ward said that the information received was quite as extensive as he had expected. The motion had answered all the purposes for which intended, and he would therefore beg leave to withdraw it. Motion accordingly withdrawn.