LATEST SOUTHERN TELEGRAMS.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 273, 23 August 1872, Page 3

LATEST SOUTHERN TELEGRAMS.

Per New Zealand Press Association. 0 WELLINGTON. 11.25 a.m. Mp. Fox complained of the vagueness of the indictment preferred by Mr Stafford. There was nothing precise in it to answer. It was an empty declamation devoid of truth. Mr Stafford in saying that the provinces had been superseded entirely mistook the character of the public works policy. The provinces were still carrying on public works of a certain kind, such , as roads, bridges, &c., as they had always done, and would continue to do. The Government policy was instituted for the purpose of constructing a totally different class of public works. Mr Stafford complained of Vogel’s brilliant imaginations and want of prudent foresight. Stafford had neither of these qualifications himself. What had he ever done to show that he possessed the former, and as for the latter, the Governor's speech in 1867 stated that the colony has profound peace, and no probability of ever again having war, but in a few months wars were again "on the east and west coasts, while the Government was unprepared, and without resources. Was this prudent foresight. He denied that the San Francisco mail contract was either an expensive or inefficient one. The House had ratified all that Vogel had done in the matter last session. He believed advantages were to be secured from an American Company were far greater than any to be obtained from the employment of the English company. He would always remember with pride being a member of a Government which had established direct communication with America, from which untold advantages were sure to accrue. Mr Vogel’s negotiations with Mr Brogden had been ratified last session, and now in terms of the resolutions then passed, what was substantially number three contract had been entered on, and all contracts let were under it. He denied that the administration of the country in any way suffered from the absence of ministers. In 1859 Mr Staf- - ford, while Premier and Colonial Secretar}', went home for two years. In 1865 and 1866 Ministers had been constantly scattered abroad,yet now Stafford wanted to turn the Ministry out for doing what he and colleagues had done themselves for years. He admitted that the conduct of the Government in reference to immigration was not beyond criticism, but the subject was

one of great magnitude and difficulty, and was one regulated often by circumstances beyond the control of any Government. Wherever shortcomings were apparent the Ministers had done everything possible to remedy the defect. He was altogether sure that the House, on due consideration, would say that during the eight months in which alone it had been possible to

carry out the scheme, the Government had neither been lax, negligent, nor inefficient. Regarding the increase ot the floating debt, the Government in 1869, when it took office, obtained authority for L 300,000 Treasury bills to pay off liabilities of their predecessors. Since that only L 90,000 more Treasury bills had been issued. Last session LIOO,OOO deficiency hill was authorised LB,OOO of these had already been paid off, while the present estimates provided for the payment of

L 46,000. Stafford carefully avoided reference to native affairs. The reason was evident; buf he authorised him to stale that if the Ministry go out the Native Minister would do likewise, and

not, as rumoured, join a new Government. Stafford’s reference to local machinery was suspicious. Did he still wish the county system ? Did he still wish to conquer a peace ? Or had he offered any explanation of his Timaru speech about over-riding existing land laws? The present Government had established a peace-inspired confidence in the native mind, and initiated a large policy of colonisation, and the House would require greater justification than Stafford’s speech to turn them out.

Mr Reid supported the motion, and entered into details regarding the Otago railways which, he said, had cost L6G,000 more than if let by public tender. Mr MoGillivray supported the Government. He saw in- its members high principles and honesty of purpose, and would not displace them till he saw better men to take their places.

Mr Bunny supported the resolutions, as a change of Government was absolutely necessary to the successful administration of the policy. Affairs during the recess had been allowed to drift, and the Government practically had been left in the hands of a few under-secretaries. The Hutt railway cost L 1,500 a mile above what it could have been let by private tender for. The cost of the Civil Service could be reduced one-half. Parata condemned the conduct of the Government in native matters, and supported the resolution. Mr Tribe defended the Government. They had not had time for a fair trial yet. The charges brought against the Ministry were weak. The people of Westland would regret any change in the Government. Mr Brogden’s introduction was beneficial to the colony. For the first time in the colony the present Ministry had proposed to take off a tax already imposed. Mr Rivers moved the adjournment of the debate, which was carried.

Mr Reeves resumed the debate, and explained, at considerable length, the details of the Clutha and Mataura railway alluded to by Mr Reid, showing how the engineers’ estimates had been exceeded, and justifying the prices paid to Mr Brogden. He admitted that, if an open tender had been made, prices might have been less, but this course was not open to the Government, as the action of the House last session compelled the Government to give Brogden a certain amount of work at a fair price. In no cases had prices been more than fair and reasonable, and the «ngineers were quite satisfied. The interests of the colony had not suffered in the transactions. Mr Curtis supported the resolutions and and blamed the 0 Government for the delay and their action in reference to the Fox Hill and Grey Coal Mine Railways, and for spending the whole of the L 24,000 in making a double road from Reefton to Westport and Greymouth. He also accused the Government of giving 50 per cent more than authorised for the Picton and Blenheim line, while the work was 25 per cent inferior to the original intention. Mr Bathgate thought the Government had endeavoured honestly and fairly to carry out the decision forced on it by the majority, including Mr Stafford, last session. Mistakes from inexperience had been made, but this would have been done by any set of men. Talking of accumulated Provincial experience in such matters was uousense. He objected to taking the

administration policy out of the hands of its warmest and heartiest friends, and to entrust it to those of its consistent opponents.