The Lyttelton Times. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1866.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1785, 6 September 1866, Page 2

The Lyttelton Times. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1866.

The general position of affairs in the Assembly does not seem to promise a very lengthened session. The course of the events which have marked it will teach one important lesson to future Premiers—that if they can only stave off business at the beginning of a session, they may find the members glad to get through it anyhow as the end approaches. The only danger to be apprehended is that the members may also take the hint, and insist upon reasons being given why a Parliament is called before there is work to be done. While the present Government is meeting with no factious opposition, it is learning the opinions of the House in very decided language. The Auckland members are no longer its warm supporters. The Otago members have declared that they expect nothing from it. We shall, however, look with anxiety to see what is to he done about the hundred thousand pounds which have been advanced to the Auckland Provincial Government. We shall be glad to know how the promise of the late Treasurer is to be made good, that this money is in some way or other to be refunded before the end of the year. To simple-minded people in the Middle Island it looks as if there can be little use in an Assembly meeting at all, if the public money is to be paid away in an offhand fashion without the knowledge of our representatives, without guarantee, and without, to all appearance, the power of recovering it. It is true that Auckland deserves some sympathy at the hands of the other provinces, but are we not showing that sympathy in its most substantial form, by paying two hundred thousand pounds for the military settlers on the Waikato ? Political expediency and common honesty alike cry out against a wholesale lobby influence and the purchase of Bupport by unauthorised expenditure. We should like to believe, if possible, that Mr. Jollie meant what he said about the money being refunded ; and we shall be glad to find Mr. Fitzlierbert prepared to dispel our suspicions.

It seems that the suggestion we threw out some little time ago, about distributing the charge of two hundred thousand pounds for the Waikato settlers over a number of years, has been mooted in the Assembly from more than one quarter, and is likely to be carried out. We are pleased to find this so, as it is an indication that our representatives take a hopeful view of the progress of the Colony and the buoyancy of its resources and revenues. It must not be forgotten, however, that for this extra expenditure we are, according to Mr. Stafford, indebted to the Weld" Ministry. The present Treasurer, in his usual humorous and lively style, partially accepted the proposal to issue Exchequer Bills spreading over the next three years,, but Reminded the House that the weighty responsibilities of office would not allow him to take quite the same sanguine view of the future as some did who urged that'measure upon him,' It seemed to him to be something like a pleasant jest to keep the ball rolling, and to pass the debt along to any future Ministry that

might hereafter come into power. He laid himself open to the rejoinder that there are members of Assembly who, though not in office, do actually feel some responsibility in voting away the people's money, and who seek good reasons for the votes they give. This idea, that responsibility is connected only with office, seems to be held by others of Mr. Fitzherbert's former colleagues. We have wondered within ourselves how it is that, at the very period of the session when the real business of the country has to be transacted, the member for Christchurch continues to absent himself from his post. And we have been yet more surprised that our contemporary the Press has not ex-erted-its marvellous powers to awaken him to a sense of His duty. "We all recollect with what energy and affecting commiseration the case of poor neglected Mount Herbert was placed before the public. It was then clearly shown howgrievous was the loss to Canterbury of one single vote on which might depend the fate of a Ministry, the vindication of our rights, and the protection of our revenues. But now, at the very time when great questions are being agitated involving new experiments in Maori affairs, the imposition of new taxes, and the granting or withholding from the provinces their accustomed revenues, the unanimously elected member for Christchurch, the representative of a great policy, is abient from his place, and the Press utters no rebuke. But we think we understand Mr. EtzGrerald's motive. Like Mr. Etzherbert, he thinks that responsibility depends on office. But the conduct of the Press is altogether inexcusable. It can be defended only on the ground that in these times consistency has ceased to be a virtue, and that there are men to whom the process of changing their minds, is the only means left of showing that they have any.

After all, we hope rumour is right in saying that Mr. FitzGerald is likely to go up to Wellington, to resume his duties, and vote on the important questions we have named. It would gratify us to know that he had done so, as we believe he would be found substantially to represent the views of his constituents, and largely to assist in securing our immunity from the threatened taxation. Should he be able to present the petition now in course of signature, it would afford a good motive for his change of procedure.