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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4175, 7 August 1874, Page 2

If the object of the hon. member for the Hutt, in the virulent attack he made on tho Premier, was to divert attention from the real question at issue, he was very successful. During the past two or three days we have heard little about other forest trees than a description of Eucalyptus, which we may presume Mr. Vogel, were he Conservator of Forests, would scarcely think of planting to any great extent, nothwithstanding the valuable therapeutic properties it is said to possess. The main question of State forests seems almost to have dropped out of sight in the discussion, more immediately interesting, of the uses or tho contrary of this “peculiar ” blue gum ;■ and this, we presume, will be the case until tho Bill goes into Committee, and the nature of the alterations the Government intend to propose in it can be exactly ascertained. But the matter is not stripped of any of its ( importance in consequence of the altered phase it now presents. The paper containiilg information and' reports respecting State forests in divers parts of the world is as valuable a contribution to the Parliamentary literature of the day as ever it was. . Tho only difference ’ in respect to- it is that it will be more widely road, ■ and : will bo much more in demand. Practically, tho disposition of a most important part of the scheme . .of the Government has been relegated to the Provincial Councils for; therm to dispose of. Instead of the naper being road merely by members of Parliament, and by some of them but very cursorily, or a f ewpersons who take an interest in scientific affairs, it will be

perused with interest by many members of Provincial Councils, and by'the public ini many Athenaeums and reading roo'ms. So far this can scarcely be deemed unsatisfactory. : There are few persons who will rise from its study ; without understanding that a great deal more maybe said bn the subject than was dreamt of in their philosophy.. If the Premier wanted to make the people of New Zealand converts to his views he could scarcely have .de vised,- a . surer . plan The House of Representatives is already committed to the opinion that it is there should be State Forests, and this view the electors will ‘ endorse. There will be different opinions entertained of the discretion exercised by Mr. Vogel in surrendering clauses of the Bill to which he attached so much importance; but the general verdict will be that he has acted prudently. Ho has followed out the dictum of Burke, who said that “all government, indeed every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue, and every prudent act, is founded on compromise and barter.” Mr. Vogel, when he introduced his Bill, admitted that there was a possibility it might not become law this session, and therefore, if he should succeed in carrying its substance without its provisions—its spirit without its mechanism—we presume he will be very well satisfied. After all it is merely a delay of a year or perhaps less —time that may be very well expended by the Government in making preparations and developing details. For taking preliminary steps there is plenty of warrant, as next session there will be, almost for a certainty, a Bill with very similar clauses to those proposed to bo abandoned, introduced and carried. Probably, had the Premier been firm, and made the measure a vital one, he would have had a majority of hon. members at his backonTuesdaynight; but it is beyond question they preferred that he should adopt the more conciliatory policy he did. The whole subject is a very great and important one ; the voluminous papers collected by the Premier have not been in the hands of hon. members more than a month ; and they have had a good deal of other business to attend upon, and other papers equally interesting, exhaustive, and voluminous to study. And the public, far removed from the seat of Government, as yet know very little of the merits of the question at issue. Before many months are over it will have been much more generally discussed. Members like Mr. Stafford, very clearly understanding the scheme, appreciate it at its true value, and will not fail to give thair constituents the benefit of their knowledge and opinions. Mr. Vogel, it will have been observed, acknowledged in the most handsome manner the obligation he felt to the member for Timaru for the able speech he made in support of the Bill. It will be conceded that there is reason in the proposition of the Premier that the question of giving up acreage in the Provinces should be remitted to the various Councils, as these have hitherto had the disposition of waste lands. How they will receive it will be followed with interest throughout the entire Colony. The voices of the Superintendents, who could not in this case speak ex cathedraivom their places in Parliament, are no indication of what the Councils may be willing to agree upon. In Wellington, the discussion on the question in the next meeting of the Provincial Council will be watched with especial closeness because of the ultra views announced by the Superintendent and his principal adviser. Wo shall expect that his statement respecting the Government wishing to pounce upon an estate in the Province worth half a million of money will receive scrutiny. The inference cannot but be drawn that as the Province contains 6,820,000 acres, of which the Government asks 204,600, not of a description best adapted for agricultural and pastoral purposes, land is a good deal more valuable than we had supposed it to be. In fact, it would appear not to have any fixed value, but one that is both arbitrary and capricious. If Colonel Feilding or somo other person wanted a large tract, for the purpose of effecting a special settlement, a choice block could be obtained on easy terms. But directly the General Government want one for the welfare of this and future generations, land of a moderate description becomes worth 60s. per acre. We confess we are not able to understand this little anomaly. It certainly looks as if, in the eyes of the Provincial Executive, fish might bo made of ono party and flesh of another. But wo shall hear what the Council will, have to say. There is every reason to believe its members will give to the subject careful consideration, and that they will discuss it without importing 1 personal animus into the debate. Whatever the decision may be the Government will come to the House next session and ask for land, and they will be strengthened by the action of some Councils which will probably tender the amount required at their hands.