LATEST PARLIAMENTARY.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 875, 17 October 1871, Page 2

LATEST PARLIAMENTARY.

On Oct. 10, Mr Stafford made the first direct attack of the Opposition against the Government in a speech remarkable for its oratory but weak in argument. He denounced the Brogden contracts, he said that the proposed Board of Works was a most corrupt piece of machinery. He objected to the proposed reform of Provincial Governments as a half-measure which could only initiate, and did not provide a radical change. He attacked the financial policy of the Government generally, and predicted nothing but misfortune to the Colony as the result.

Mr Vogel followed, and stated that the Opposition bad nothing now to find fault with, as the Government had adopted the' safeguards and suggestions made by Mr Stafford last year. He upheld the Brogden contract No. 2 as most advantageous to the Colony, as all that the contractor could gain was a profit of per cent, on the cost of works. The Government intended to substitute cash payments in lieu of guarantees. Mr Gillies made a damaging speech against the Government ; but as no one on the Government side got up to reply to him, the debate lapsed, and the House went into Committee of Ways and Means, but made no progress.

The Opposition have quite abandoned any further hopes of unseating the Ministry. The Bill for annexing the G-rey, and which gives Local Boards a fixed share of the revenue, is now in the printer's hands, and will come on at an early day. Messrs Harrison, Tribe, White, and Lahrnan had an interview with Mr Vogel on the 11th, when the mail service via the Christchurch road was introduced, and the Government have consented to entertain a proposition to make the Christchurch and Hokitika service a Colonial charge, taking over also the maintenance of the road to be discharged out of the loan.

A conversation then ensued relative to the Government proposition to dismember the County. Mr Lahrnan said the people of Greymouth were opposed to it, and that the Government measure was unpopular. Mr Harrison denied this statement, and said that the necessity of uniting the whole of the Grey Valley under one Government was stronger than ever, and that by the Bill brought in by the Government proposing to give a fixed share of the local revenue to the Road Boards, which it was intended to establish on the Nelson Goldfields, all grounds of complaint which had hitherto been felt against the Nelson Provincial Government would be obviated.

Mr Lahman is very industrious in opposing the proposed movement for dismemberment. The Education Bill is withdrawn for this session.