The Tuapeka Times. THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 1870. "Measures, not Men."

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 116, 28 April 1870, Page 4

The Tuapeka Times. THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 1870. "Measures, not Men."

Mr. Stafford remains true to his colours and steadfast in the opinions he has held for many years with regard to the good government of New Zealand. He is clear and explicit in his ideas, and simple beyond measure in his expression ; says what he means, and means what he says. He is liberal enough to believe that the only wish of -the present ruling powers is to bring peace and happiness to the country ; at the same time he shows how very different their actions are compared with their promises; and that on the Native Question, however opposed to him while in office, they have literally been carrying out the very policy which he initiated. It is not often we have from one of our leading statesmen such a clear enunciation of the principles upon which the government of the country might or should be carried on. There is nothing vague or uncertain in Mr. Staffer's meaning) no beat-

ing about the bush, no special pleading, but a simple, ungarnished statement of a conscientious and intelligent man's matured thoughts on some very important questions affecting the welfare of this colony. Mr. Stafford, as is well known, is. a determined opponent of Provincialism, and has great faith in the ultimate triumph of his principles. He believes — and we believe he is right — that so long as there are two Treasuries, — a Provincial and a General one, — there will always be waste and confusion. He can work and wait with patience, knowing that no really good and permanent legislation was ever accomplished without long years of agitation. In his address at Timaru he points out the difficulty of overthrowing existing institutions, however rotten those institutions may be, owing to the many vested interests which naturally spring up under any form of Government, and which, as a matter of course, must prove great barriers to change and progress. On the question of immigration Mr. Stafford is thoroughly sound. He does not believe in the plan our Superintendent would carry out, and be a party to " shovel people within our borders and then abandon them." Neither would he be a party to vote sums of money by way of loan to be expended for these purposes by the provinces, and in paying sleepy-headed officials similar to those Otago has been favoured with for some years past. He considers immigration a General Government question, and would advocate some well-devised plan by which the Government could offer immigrants six or twelve months' employment on public works, at the same time leaving them free at any moment to adopt some permanent industry. Truly this is one of the most reasonable proposals to which any of our colonial statesmen have given utterance of late, and the subject is one which will inevitably force itself upon the Government at no distant date. It is not our intention to discuss the merits of Centralism as opposed to Provincialism, although it is generallyadmitted that one central government will sooner or later be the order of the day ; and we most firmly believe that Mr. Stafford's policy is not only the simplest, bub the least expensive, and the one which will give moat satisfaction to the country. Were his regime brought into full play, every district would have full control over its own local affairs, and the land fund would be spent in the district where it was realized. We believe Mr. Stafford will, during the next session of Assembly, muster a very strong Opposition to the Government, and probably overthrow it before its now very short term of office will naturally expire.