MR. STAFFORD AT TIMARU.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 226, 8 January 1876, Page 12

MR. STAFFORD AT TIMARU.

Mr. Stafford has addressed the electors of Timaru in a speech which will be found substantially reported elsewhere. Its perusal, we think, will disappoint most people. If any one looked for or expected a new idea, or any hint that might avail in the present crisis of the colony from Mr. Stafford, they will have looked in vain. As a speech it is conceived in the narrowest possible spirit. There is not a statesmanlike idea in it. Indeed, wo defy any one to point to a single hustings speech during the elections which is so peculiarly local and parochial— “ provincial ” would be far too dignified a term to apply to it—as Mr. Stafford’s. He is member for Timaru, and Timaru is New Zealand. Christchurch is a mistake, Port Lyttelton a blunder, therefore, the Government should spend hundreds of thousands of pounds to make a first-class port out of an open roadstead on the plan of Sir John Coode, the new-found providence of Timaru. If we had not read this part of Mr. Stafford’s speech, we could not have believed him capable of such pandering to local prejudice. But so it is. The father and godfather of provincial abolition goes in for the most exaggerated form of local antipathy, and is prepared to make, not 11 political railways ” only, but political harbors as well. The colony has now a pretty clear idea of the course Mr. Stafford is iirepared to take in the next Parliament. He leaves no one in doubt on the subject. “Only make the “ Timaru breakwater,” he says in effect, “ and connect the railways with the port, “ and you will have my vote and Mr. “ Wakefield’s vote, and I am certain we “ may also count upon the support of “ the other members from the southern “ division of the province.” Here we have the price of five or six Canterbury votes, at all events, unblushingly advertised. The consideration is a weighty one; and as it involves a vital principle as well as money we trust it will not be paid. The principle at stake is that of political morality. Public honor is involved in this matter. If there was no other outlet for South Canterbury, we should advocate the construction of this breakwater; but the colony has connected it by railway with the port of Lyttelton, a large and available harbor, and it is prepos-

terous to ask it to create a harbor at Timaru to compete with the railway line and port of Lyttelton. We had expected better things than this from Mr. Stafford.

Then, again, when he tells his constituents that he had great trouble in getting a second member for the district, does he mean that he had any trouble in the House, or was his difficulty with the Government? If the former, he mustsurely forget what transpired in the Assembly ; if the latter, we can only say,, after reading Mr. Stafford’s speech, that it would have been xvell if Ministers had stood firm and rejected his overtures. There are now two members to “ work up ” the Timaru “ Bill of Rights,” to wit, Sir John Coode’s plan and report on the proposed breakwater. When he came to colonial questions, Mr. Stafford did not show that he had in the least mastered the difficulties of the position. On the contrary, if properly reported, he appears to have been in a fog. He argued that it was necessary to abolish the provinces on account of the inequalities of colonial finance, caused by their continuance. So far good ; but does he propound any scheme of equalisation ? Not in the least. He thinks the financial proposals in the Abolition of Provinces Act the fairest that can be made, although the financial scheme embodied in that Act would perpetuate those very inequalities in finance to remove which the provinces have been abolished. This scheme was all very well last session, but it will not satisfy the country, and Mr. Stafford may take this assurance to< heart, that unless he gets beyond his present position he will not lead any powerful party in this country. The old landmarks of party have been removed. Old party ties have been relaxed. The General Assembly is now, for the first time, face to face with the people, and the leader who will command their confidence must hold other views than those promulgated by Mr. Stafford at Timaru. It will never do to risk the disruption of the colony to purchase the political support of any man, or any section, however respectable, in the General Assembly. It is needless perhaps to add, that except a few generalities Mr. Stafford had nothing to say regarding the settlement of immigrants on waste lands of the colony, but he was lucid and particular regarding the Canterbury runs. This was to be expected, however. With regard to the new taxes, he thought an income and property tax the fairest that could be imposed. In conclusion, he recanted nearly everything lie ever said in opposition regarding the financial ruin which the Government were bringing upon the colony. Mr. Stafford thinks New Zealand prosperous and its financial position sound. For this admission, at all events, the country has reason to be thankful.