THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1871.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 39, 21 November 1871, Page 2

THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1871.

Everything human lias an end ; and the first session of the fifth Parliament of New Zealand is 1 to be prorogued to-day. There .were serious fears, for several days past, that the prorogation would be indefinitely postponed, owing to the action of the Legislative Council in reference to the Public Works and Immigration Bill, and the Payment to Provinces Bill. A dead-lock between the Houses appeared imminent. The Council threatened to have “ a call,” which would have involved a delay of at least three weeks or a month, but in the end wiser counsels prevailed. The differences between the two Houses were temporarily arranged ; but the determination of the privileges of the Legislative Council will become an important feature in the proceedings of the next session. The dead-loek was imminent in relation to the payment to Provinces Bill. A few words will explain the point to your readers. The General Assembly passed an Act in 18(55 defining the privileges of Parliament, and through an oversight it was enacted that the House of Representatives and Legislative Council of New Zealand should enjoy and possesses all the rights, privileges, powers, and immunities as were then enjoyed and possessed by the British House of Commons. The Legislative Council have, since then, held that they have a right to amend money bills, the right of the House of Lords, which the Council are supposed to represent in our constitution, extending only to their rejection—a right which is rarely exercised. Every session since 18(55 the Legislative Council have practically asserted this right, but on any show of resistance, they have given way. This session, the Legislative Council displayed a greater amount of determination, owing to their opposition to Mr. Vogel’s financial policy. Hence their amendment in the Payment to Provinces Bill. It will be remembered that in 1870 Mr. Vogel passed an amendment of the Public Revenues Act substituting a capitation allowance for tlic surplus revenue, as the proportion of general revenue each province should receive for local purposes. This settlement was fixed by law for seven years ; but so utterly faulty was Mr. Vogel’s finance, that the system broke down six month’s after trial, and the provincial legislatures, which appropriated for- their respective services on the faith of the law of 1870, found themselves unable to meet their engagements for the remaining half of 1871. The Colonial Treasurer proposed to meet this temporary difficulty by applying £50,000 of the loan to meet such public works as might have been authorized by the provincial legislation, for tlic current year; and £50,000 additional of borrowed money was to be paid, by way of subsidy, to the Road Boards. The Legislative Council struck out the clause in the Bill which applied £50,000 in aid of Provincial appropriations. The House of Representatives insisted on its privilege of alone dealing with appropriations of money; even those who had most streneously opposed the Government scheme were firm on this point, so important'to the liberties of .the people. The Speaker (Mr. Dillon Bell ) was explicit on the point. The Legislative Council stood firm for a time. Ultimately a compromise was effected. It was agreed that words should be inserted in the clause limiting the appropriation to one year; and that legal opinions should he taken on the Privileges Act, as to the rights, powers, and privileges of the. . Legislative Council—said opinions not to be binding on either party. The conflict between, the Houses on the Public Works and Immigration Bill had reference to the extravagant • proposals for public works obtained in the Bill. It was conclusively shown that the Bill authorised the construction of works costing at least £1,200,000 in excess of the amount authorised to be borrowed, and the Council refused to become parties to it. They struck out the obnoxious clauses, and amended the schedule. A conference was appointed, when certain amendments were agreed to, tlic Council having in a marked manner maintained their point. Indeed, nothing could 'be more reckless than the conduct of the Government in the House of Representatives. They secured a majority by inviting all kinds of extravagant proposals for spending J

borrowed! money. They invited a general Scramble; and as the Opposition stamped out the corrupt proposal for a bodrd and sub-boards of works, tUe,Go\crnmcirt felt that their position was insecure unless they held out a hope to the constituencies that their members had only to ask and receive “ a large “ share of the Government expenditure “ for their districts.” The sections of the Public Works and Immigration Bill relative to aiding the construction of water works on goldfields, f at first rejected by the Legislative Council, were restored, with an important amendment, .which will prevent certain rumoured jobs on the West Coast being perfected. Tlic Thames may have a chauce. The Wellington Loan Bill has become law. A sum of £82,000, for which the Wellington Provincial Government, became responsible, and in a manner far from creditable to its former governing men, has been added to the permanent debt of the colony. The Thames Goldfield will help to pay its share of that money, whicli Wellington neither can nor will recoup; and I am sorry to say that the Thames representatives, as well as the other Auckland supporters of the Government, voted for it.

The Licensing Bill has been withdrawn. The Sharebrokers’ Bill, the Limited Liabilities Companies’ Act Amendment Bill, the Goldfields’ District Bill, the .Whitaker and Lundon Bill, are among the measures which have become law.. The.new Insolvency Bill fell through. Indeed, nearly all the bills promised in the Governor’s speech, and in the Financial Statement, have either been withdrawn in the teeth of opposition, or have not seen the light. Never has there been so weak a Government, with so large a majority. The reason is obvious. The Government were kept in office by those who hoped to profit by a lavish expenditure of borrowed money. To that end, and as fit tools in their hands, the majority retained them in office, while humiliating them in every other way—sneering at their policy, denouncing their measures, but ready to vote that black is white to retain them in their seats.

An effort which was made by the Government towards the close of the session to obtain eighteen months’ supplies, manifested their weakness and humiliation in an extraordinary manner. After having declared that six months’ extra supplies were absolutely essential, to enable them to inaugurate their policy of public works and immigration, they were fain to beg of the House to permit Mr Bathgate, whom they seduced from the Opposition, to withdraw his motion, and, although the House peremptorily refused to permit its withdrawal,,the Government saw it negatived without a dissentient voice. A strong feeling of resentment was expressed against the Government attempting, at such a juncture, ill .a thin House, and within a day of the prorogation, to deprive Parliament of all control over the expenditure practically for a period of two years. Mr Creighton’s motion, pledging the House to appropriate the funds necessary for holding the next session in Dunedin, was carried oil a division by 29 to 1(5. A good deal of strong feeling was manifested during this debate, and subsequently on the proposal to grant eighteen months’ supplies. The fact is, nearly everyone is becoming impressed with the conviction that unless the Assembly is removed out of Wellington, and lias to submit to the criticism of a healthy and independent public opinion, no reform, either in legislation or administration, can be effected. But those well able to form an opinion declare that a saving would be effected by going to Dunedin. Taking the session as a whole, it has been singularly barren of useful measures. I think the Province of Auckland has fared best—no thanks to Ministers, however. If tlic Government had been permitted to have had their way, Auckland would have gone pretty well to the wall. But mainly owing to the efforts of the members in opposition to the Government, a different result was accomplished. The local enactments for the construction of docks at Auckand,. for leasing mineral land, for placing the tenure of the Thames Goldfield oil a surer basis, as. well as the provision which has been made in respect of public works of recognised utility within the province, are attributable to the active, and zealous efforts of the Opposition section of the Auckland members in the Assembly, and of one or two gentlemen such as Mr. Swanson and Mr. o‘llorke, who acted throughout a thoroughly indipendent part. On tlic third reading of the Appropriation Bill an angry debate followed a short and temperate review of the session by Mr. Stafford. Mr. Fox replied in a speech which contained not a single argument, hut was simply a tirade of personal abuse from beginning to end. He attacked Mr. Stafford, Mr. Rolleston, and Mr. Gillies in a grossly personal manner, and was replied to by ML Rolleston, who gave, in a dignified tone, much more than he got. Mr. Gillies made a good speech, as did also Mr. Gisborne. Mr. Vogel wound up in a speech of considerable length and bitterness, in which he declared that the country had discovered Mr. Stafford to he a sham. Altogether the recrimination indulged in during this short debate is much to be regretted, and cannot tend to raise the Colonial Parliament in the eyes of the country.