GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3627, 31 August 1872, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Wellington, Aug. 30,7.45 p.m, THE NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION.

Mr Fitzherbert resumed the debate, speaking up to the time of adjournment. Ho blamed the Ministry for the delay re the Wairarapa railway, and for opposing the Wanganui Bridge Bill, as also for its attitude on Mr Ourtis’ motion. Mr Stafford’s third resolution was on all-fours with that of Mr Curtis, and he could not refuse to support it, even though coupled with resolutions condemnatory of the Ministry. He referred to Mr Fox’s scolding and angry tone in unfavourable contrast to Mr Stafford’s speech. Ministers called their policy an overshadowing one, but even in vegetable life there could be no vitality in anything overshadowed. If the policy did not overshadow the provinces, then it was only a shadow. Mr Fox achieved office on provincial professions, but his subsequent conduct had been entirely inconsistent and irreconcileable with those professions. He admitted that it was the duly of Ministers to visit different parts of the ( colony. What was complained of was, the habitual absence of which the former Ministry was not guilty, as a quorum always remained at Wellington. Then there was far less need for this than when Ministers had a vast business, demanding constant consultation at'length. He defended his own absence on a mission to England, showing what he accomplished during it. The conduct of the Ministry in foisting the Financial and Public Works’ statements on the. House in the face of Mr Stafford’s motion was unprecedented. In reference to tßs latter statement, he quoted Mr Fox’s 18SI speech, declaring immigration to be peculiarly provincial work. He accused the Ministry of ungenerous conduct in trying to throw blame ■on Dr Featherston, to whom they owed their political life. It was also improper to , try to throw the responsibility on their engineers, and absurd to blame the House for the Brogden contracts, when the House only authorised contracts within the limits prescribed, and which had been exceeded. By the Brogden agreement the Government were bound, within the next three weeks, to furnish Ms Brogden with all details, data,&c. If this were not done, and he did not believe thatj it could be done, the country would be involved •in an extra liability of £125,000, and the contractors would be given all the [advantages resulting from a breach of contract on the part of the colony. In fact, trpm want' of activity [and competence oh 4ie part of. Government, the colony was being handed °ve r to the contractors. To qiaj statement ho accorded a degree of praise above any of Mr Vogel’* previous statemecjtis; "It was most able, and exhibited a tone qf ; pniflence previously absent. The pari,comparing New Zealand with other countries, was specially admirable, but Mr Yogel had fail*! to adduce the practical fiesson from the fa|.ts ■«ated; ! ” He, in one word, .would toll the" what .the moral;was —Taxation. He ..Would bare -wished that Mr Vogel had gone further, and having created confidence in the •country had said you must Be taxed; with great works in progress', you must have :re- ; trenchment, taxation, or borrowing. He '■objected to the inode in which MV Vojjel dealt with the interest and sinking fund ■charges. These, by table A, were £3^7,(|00 •annually, but, in the statement, Mr Vogel oqLjr provided for £31,000, dropping £9fi,(|oo ■altogether out of consideration, in regard!) to the Consolidated Fund, to which, by Uw, it was chargeable. In dealing with this "ho had assumed an option which Vaa not open to any Treasurer to say whpa it should bo charged. Mr Vogel said tWi'

lit should not be charged until the works for which the money wae borrowed were •completed, and this might be sound as to railways or other reproductive works, but •could not be when applied to the expenditure •of euch items as roads in the North Islaild, immigration charges lor raising loans, and •departmental expenses. Such attempted alteration of the fund from which the money was payable would seriously injure the credit of the colony among financiers at ho ne. Holding over the charging such interest should •be done very sparingly, and strictly with regard to works of a reproductive character. ' So also objected to the Treasurer proposing to give what is termed a contribution of £2l 000 out of the consolidated fund towards this £96,000, and to making a moiety of the stamp duties £40,000, applicable towards the balance of the general interest and sinking fund, when by law that moiety was applicable only to milway works, and that rateably amongst the provinces. The law amounted to nothing, if such a thing were possible. The last budget was termed a retrenchment one, but the present showed an increase on il; of £21,000, which did not look like retrenchment. Nearly the wholeloan indebtedness of the col on j had been contracted under Mr Fox’s various administrations—£lo,42o,ooo out of a total of £11,339,000.. Mr Stafford hod not stopped provincial borrowing, but only irregular pro

vincial borrowing. Mr Vogel claimed to hare a credit balance of £IO,OOO to commence the year with, but he believed this balance was not a reality, but a myth, for amongst the assets he found two items that he could not recognise as such, at any rate within the year, although the latter might be if the colony were being wound up altogether. These items were recoveries from provinces £34,000, and confiscated lands £13,000. [Mr Eitzberbert was interrupted by the dinner adjournment.]