New Plymouth Harbor.

Opunake Times, Volume III, Issue 131, 4 October 1895, Page 2

New Plymouth Harbor.

Mr McGuire moved the adjournment of the House. He was not satisfied with the answer given by the Colonial Treasurer to his question with reference to -he claims of the New Plymouth bon :1 h >' 'ers. In fact, it was no answer* at all. The question he had asked wad this: If the Colonial Treasurer will state the result of his recommendation to his colleagues that the claims of the. New Plymouth bondholders as to the 200,000 acres given back to the Natives out of the lands in the Taranaki Land District should be referred to .arbitration ? He was sorry that the answer he received was unsatisfactory, and given evidently for the purpose of misleading him, but he would be more sorry still if any one in London had been misled. It was all very well to mislead him (Mr McGuire) or members of the House, or the people of the colony, but he had repeatedly warned the Government that it would not pay this colony to mislead the financial people in London. The Committee of the Council of Foreign Bondholders had thoroughly relied on the promises made by the Colonial Treasurer, and they believed that the honorable gentleman would leave nothing undone as far as he could to have them carried into effect. He asked the honorable gentleman, What would they now thmk after reading the correspondence? It was now some months since the Council of Foreign Bondholders communicated with the Government as to the result of the Conference which had taken place between the Colonial Treasurer, the Agent-General, and the representatives of the Council and the Committee of the New Plymouth Harbor Board Debenture-holders, with reference to this matter. The letter he referred to was written ou the 18th of June last. It must in the ordinary course have arrived here about the 25th of July. He asked the Colonial Treasurer again what was the nature of the answers sent to that letter. Would the honorable gentleman kindly state the reply sent for the information of the House ? Mr Ward said he could not answer a question like that offhand. If the honorable gentleman wanted the information he should take the proper course to get it. Mr McGuire said the honorable gentleman was simply warding off the question. Mr Ward said the honorable gentleman had just asked him if he would tell him what answer be had sent to the letter. The honorable gentleman knew he could not tell him that without giving him the correspondence, and he could not do that without having the correspondence by him.

Mr McGuire said this was a very serious matter, not only to the colony but to the bondholders and ratepayers affected. He was surprised that the Colonial Treasurer had not given all the information in his power for his own sake, for this was a question which involved the honor of the colony and also the House. Let them look at the position as business men, men who were anxious to do what was fair, just, and honorable. Mr McGuire read all the correspondence as published in the report which was presented to Parliament, that passed between the Treasurer whilst in London and the Premier, the Agent-General, and the Council of Foreign Bondholders. We .published the gist of this in a previous 'issue.

He came now to the cable sent by the Colonial Treasurer to the Premier : " Result conference bondholders is proposal made by Council arbitrate on single issue. Was the 200,000 acres restored to Natives part of endowment of Harbor Board ? All other allegations being withdrawn, I recommend you agree to this. Think it desirable settle this vexed question." This was sent by Mr Ward to the Prime Minister. Now, what did the Prime Minister do on receiving this ? Did he hesitate ? No ; he cabled back the next day stating that they were about to hold a Cabinet meeting to go into the matter, and this was the last cable received from him as published in the correspondence. He found, however, that the Prime Minister wrote a letter to the Colonial Treasurer a few days afterwards. He supposed the honorable gentleman thought the work was done in London, and he therefore sent a letter which appears in the correspondence, and he mentions in that letter of having sent a cable to Mr Ward which, I regret to say, does not appear in the correspondence. He (Mr McGuire) made use of an expression with reference to the Premier the other day which was about to be ruled unparliamentary, and he, therefore, would not repeat it; but no word was more appriate. Mr Reeves: Have you found them out ? Mr McGuire said it was some considerable time since he found the honorable gentleman out. He was dealing with a very important matter, and hoped the honorable gentleman would allow him to proceed with his remarks. This was a very serious matter, and, if the honorable gentlemau had any consideration for his honor aud the honor of the Ministry, he thought this question should be ventilated in all its aspects, as the honor of a colleague of the honorable gentleman was at stake. He might say that there was only one gentlemau he found in London who doubted the promises made by the Colonial Treasurer, aud, of course, it might be said this gentlemau was a New-Zealander. He was not, however ; he did not balong to the colouy. What was asked for was simply arbitration ; whether there was a claim or no claim ; whether these 200,000 acres of land had beeu taken out of the endowment or not. It was only just and honest that this question should be thoroughly investigated and arbitrated upon by a Judge

of the Supreme Court. The Premier had said the bondholders were getting their interest and backinterest; but that was not the question. If there was a bargain made, it should be carried out to the letter, and if a promise had been made it should be fulfilled. * * jp What did the Premier say in his cablegram of the lltK? Did he not cable to Mr Ward that the Cabinet was considering the question ? But in his letter of the 18l;h instant honorable members will note that he wound up with the following paragraph : "In view of what I have here said, I have no hesitation in cabling to the Colonial Treasurer my distinct refusal to allow on behalf of the colony, any reference to arbitration." Where was that cablegram that the Premier referred to in his letter of the 18th ? Did the Premier withhold it from this correspondence ? Was there a cablegram of nature sent ? If, there was, did the Colonial Treasurer bring it to the notice of the Council of Foreign Bondholders ? He waits for a reply. Why is it not in the correspondence laid on the table ? Mr Seddon. —In the words of the Scotch song, " Oh ! where, tell me where." Mr McGuire said that whatever happened this colony could afford to be honest. He asked the Colonial Treasurer where that cablegram was? Why was it withheld from its correspondence—from the paper laid on the table? Would the Premier produce this telegram ? Honorable gentleman who followed the Government might yell out and interrupt, as much as they thought proper, but the time would come when the country would have men who would have some backbone, who would think for themselves, and above all things conserve the honor of this country. This was a very serious matter he was speaking about, and he hoped he would not be further interrupted. * * * It was at first decided that Mr Ward should cable the Government on the matter, but it was suggested by the Agent-General, as-Mr Ward was about returning to the colony, it would be better to give him the opportunity of explaining the question fully to his colleagues. In his (Mr McGuire's) opinion, the Council of Foreign Bondholders did not -act prudently and in the best interests of the New Plymouth debenture-holders. They should not have accepted the suggestion of the Agent-General. The Minister of Labor might laugh. He might tell the Minister of Labor he was there at a very opportune time, at a time when he was very much wanted ; and, perhaps, if he had not been there the 8-per-cent loan would have cost a great deal more than it has cost the oolony. He hoped, when the present wretched system of party government was dead and buried, that Mr Ward would give him that credit which was due to him. Mr Ward knew that on that occasion he rendered good service to New Zealand. He felt convinced that it was the duty of the Government to act in a straightforward and honorable way. Mr Ward, when in London, made certain promises as to arbitration. He had no doubt in his mind at the time but Mr Ward would, on his return, to the colony, carry them out in such a manner as would reflect credit upon himself and the colony. He hoped the Prime Minister would not place Mr Ward, or any other Colonial Treasurer who might happen to go to London on business, in a false position in future. It appeared from the letter of the 18th that the cables sent by him (the Prime Minister, were sent for the purpose of misleading his colleague to the Colonial Treasurer, the Agent-General, and the bondholders. He therefore trusted Mr Ward, for his own honor and the honor of thi3 young colony, would see that the promises' he made to the bondholders in London would be given effect to.