GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Auckland Star, Volume III, Issue 811, 23 August 1872, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[Fbom Gbevixle's Telegeam Company.]

Want of Confidence Motion.

Debate Continued.

Mr Swanson's Speech.

WELLINGTON,

•This day; In the House, yesterday, Mr Reeves' replied to the statements of Mr Reid, shewing a difference of only £23,000 instead of £60,000.

Mr Bathgate followed against the resolutions, r v; HI

Mr Collins (Nelson) supported the resolutions in an able speech, and referred to the Government subsidizing ;the Press. He quoted the payment of the following sums for advertising: — ■Thames Guardian, £89 3s ,gdj Advertiser, £7 ITsCd"; Independent, .£731 9s 6d; Evening Post, £408 \_ Matches Bay Herald, £135 ; Telegraph, £58 ; Colonist, £482 15s 8d; Lyttelton Times, £415; Press, £284; Boss J¥eM,£6Ay | Guardian, £3; Grey Biver Argus, Msl; Star,'£ls. Wiremu Katene (Maori) opposed the resolutions.

I Mr Reynolds (Otago) also opposed jthe resolutions, and criticised memibers' opposition as likely to ibrmyfa 'new Ministry. Mr Murray (Otago) supported the 'resolutions.

Mr Steward (Oamaru) said the ivIdiqtment against the Government was

ot proven. If no further case Wafe made out he would vote against tlTe. ■, resolutions. Mr W. twanson made a splendid speech, and said he had not the slightest doubt gentlemen out of office wanted :to get in, and gentlemen in T wanted to stay in. The Government! practically pleaded guilty to the first indictment; but pleaded that they had been tied by the vote of the House*. In- making the singular bargains they had made all admitted that immigra-. tion had been totally mismanaged.-* The reply to Mr Reid's speech watf. very weak. Mr Reeves had rioF answered the charges; Mr Bunny had stated that a considerable number of W letters lay unopened for a month in the Treasury. The Government had not answered these serious charges. Letters lying w_. opened for that period caused seriousinconvenience and disaster. 'The Gof vernment was always speaking 0 f great schemes. If it repeated it so much it would come to be called the " great schemers." (Great laughter;:)? He was very much dissatisfied mife the Government. : . It had made promises which it had never fulfilled, and no attempts were being made to fulfil: them. It had gone into -office on the provincial ticket, and should have utilised local knowledge and the machinery of the provinces. .But if'-it-folio wed that course it would, lessen, its patronage, which the Government evidently desired to retain. He would like to see every member of that House prohibited from accepting any appointment for three years after his election. He bad in course of his experience generally seen that the men who voted with the Ministry managed to get some appointment. The country had an unlimited faith in the Native Minister. In the Middle Islandmen appeared to be satisfied that no man could be found to replace him without: war arising. He was perfectly con^ i vinced that the present Ministry' could not remain in office a single day; but if the Ministry passed through the present ordeal he felt satisfied that it would be entirety owing to the native minister. It had been said that Mr D. McLean would not accept his seat or any seat in the the new Ministry; but he asked the House to look upon him and aak him if he could deny that. Could any one believe that a gentleman who had conducted the. affairs of .the country through a series of perilous times, and gained the reputation he had, if the unanimous voice of the House were to offer him the position again that he now held he would refuse it ? Or would he be doing his duty to the country if he did refuse it? He (Mr Swanson) felt convinced from his own personal knowledge of Mr McLean that he was not the man to do such a thing. He would work for his party while in office, but not sacrifice the interests of the country for any party. (Great cheering.) He looked upon the Civil Service Bill as a swindle and a cheat. .He could not help remarking that he was. afraid the Government was more accustomed to have language more forcible than polite used towards it. * (Cheers.) The bill did not fulfil tHe intention.of the House last session. He thought that a change could be made in the Ministry with very great advantage, but: he would like.to hear what the Opposition proposed, and would also like to know what was really the policy of the Government. It was said that there were only two sets of; men in the House fit to form a new Ministry, and one played off against the other. He did not. think there was any necessity for such monopoly. There was a considerable amount of talent in the House. He wished to know the ppKey of the Government regarding representation,-educa-> tion, confiscated ' lands,; general 1 amnesty with natives and law service. The sooner the present civil service arrangements' were altered the better. The Government" must have some programme, and it could secure his and three or four* other indepen- j dent votesif.it would .'only bring down, a satisfactory policy; The first consideration of the Government was peace ; second, economic and judicious administration and the development of the resources of the country. No man in his estimation would manage the j natives like Mr McLean. With re■gard. to minister's, travelling, K tbgT might necessarily do so, but they ofign* :not to travel like princes. They should' ;not cut it too fat. v.(Great laughter.) Where he asked where the measures ;the Government had promised. There ■was not a man in that House who did not know that the Permissive Bill was mere gammon. The Government |had provoked this attack by bad ' administration and its- ignorance pf(i provinpial .machinery and | jlocal knowledge The provincial.^ ' institutions, he urged, were valuable training grounds. There were many men like himself ~,,.wh0 would never have occupied their seats in this. House if they, had not previously sat ■ in the Provincial Council. He would just like the Government to tell the 'House plainly what it really meant to Ido, and even if its past*offences were forgiven he would advise them then, that -if let off, to begin a new game arid go on regular. (Loud and prolonged cheering from all sides of the House.) i.'Mr McLean then moved an adjournment of the debate, which was agreed to on the voices.