LORD STANLEY versus GOVERNOR FITZROY.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume IV, 10 May 1845, Page 38

LORD STANLEY versus GOVERNOR FITZROY.

The statements made last year by the Governor in Council, of the wonderful powers delegated to him by her Majesty, and the equally wonderful support that had been promised to him by her Majesty's Government, must be still fresh in the recollection of our readers. For the benefit of the curious, we have selected a few passages from these speeches, and,placed underneath them short extracts from Lord Stanley's rather unexpected despatch :—: —

"He bad sufficient authority from tie Queen to issue them [debentures] without the sanction of the Council." — G overrun Fitzßoy on introducing the Debenture Bil I, May 16th, 1844.

" Under ordinary circumstances, I should have felt it my duty to have expressed a decided disapprobatipn of the course which you pursued in issuing, in violation of your instructions, notes or debentures, such as those described in your despatch, with a view to raising the funds necessary to defray the expenditure of your Government." — Lord Stanley's Despatch to Governor Fhz Roy, October 27th, 1844.

" This measure [Bill to authorize the iisue of Debentures] I am induced to propose in order to save the colony from the extreme distress, if not utter ruin, which must inevitably follow such a want of any circulating medium as has been recently threatened." — Governor Fitzßoy's Speech on opening Qic Legislative Council, May 14th, 1844.

"By issuing debentures and by making them a legal tender, the present crisis may be passed without disaster, and the road kept open to a prosperous future." — Ibid.

"The only immediate want is a circulating medium of undoubted character. There could be no doubt that the debentures would be paid. They ought to be received as cash payments. The prosperity of the colony depended on the [Debenture] Bill." — Governor Fitzßoy on the first reading of the Debenture Bill, May 16th, 1844.

" Her Majesty's Government, however, deem it essentially necessary that measure! should be taken at the earliest period for the redemption of the notes which you have issued, the continued circulation of which must render hopeless any attempt to provide a sound circulating medium for the colony, and must deeply affect its future growth and prosperity." — Lord Stanley's Despatch to Governor Fitzßog, October 27th, 1844.

" By these means [the Customs, &c, and the proposed House and Land Tax of last year] £26,000 might be raised; for the remaining £10,000 [to cover the estimated expenditure] he looked to the Home Government. He expected more — less he did not think could be sent." — The Governor on discussing the Estimates for 1844- 5, May 21st, 1644.

" Revenue meant all moneys, whether raised in the colony or by other means. £16,000 would probably be sent by the Home Government." — Ib, May 28. | " He was ignorant of the amount of assistancestance the colony would receive from the Home Government. He knew £7,565 hs d been voted for it, but he was sure it woul d be assisted to a much larger amount. — The Governor, on proposing the abolition of Cu.ttoms, September 19.

" The expenditure for this year was estimated at £36,000; for the next, £26,000, from which we might deduct £10,000, which he was sure would be provided by tljis Home Government." — The Governor, on proposing a reduction in salaries, Sept. 26; *' Dr. Martin read extracts from a letter from Lord Stanley to the Officer administering the Government, to show that we had no reason to expect assistance from the Home Government.

" The Governor explained that the letter applied to Mr. Short land only, and not to the future Governor." — Discussion on passing the Appropriation of Revenue Billy May 30th, 1844. i

"The Goverment of New Zealand has already been warned not to place any further reliance on large and undefined assistance from the funds of this country ; and considering the more than ordinary resources possessed by that colony, in the extent and fertility of its soil and in its numerous population, her Majesty's Government feels convinced that, with proper management, the whole of the civil expenditure may be provided for at an early period from its local revenue, without any undue pressure upon local interests. — Lord Stanley's Despatch to Governor Fitzßoy, October 27th, 1844.