THE COLONIST.

Colonist, Volume XVI, Issue 1653, 22 July 1873, Page 2

THE COLONIST.

NELSON, TUESDAY, JULY 22, 1873.

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

The policy of the Ministry is now before the country, and it must have been learnt with no small sense of relief. After the bitter censures on the management of native affairs so frequent in Opposition journals during the last few months, and the endeavors by hot headed and reckless men to force the country into a war of which the beginning might be known, though the effects and termination could not possibly be foreseen, the announcement that while every effort will be made to bring the murderers of Sullivan to justice, a firm stand will be taken, and much as the act must be lamented, it is not regarded as necessarily leading to a conflict of races, has been hailed with satisfaction by all who are not blind to the evils into which a different ■ course would plunge the Colony. Our views on this important subject have so recently been stated, that we refrain from doing more than expressing entire satisfaction with the line taken by the Government, which, whenever it comes to be discussed in Parliament, will be approved by all but those irreconcilables who would willingly sacrifice the Colony to obtain revenge for their own humiliation. The final settlement of the native difficulty rapidly approaches, and the construction of roads through native districts, useful in peace and of priceless value iv war, is a fit subject for congratulation. The Maori is not insensible to the charms of money and all it will buy. As tribe after tribe discovers that lands along a line of road have for the first time a value for sale, or if let will furnish a handsome income, it will be found that those who reap the benefit will ere long become too strong for their discontented fellows, and peace will be preserved by th 9 Maori himself in order that he may retain the luxuries peace alone will furnish him with the means of purchasing., The paramount importance of immigration is fully recognised by the Government, and tho warning that public works will fail of their anticipated effect unless the settlement of the country proceeds concurrently, ought to convince the Assembly of the urgent need for taking decided means to rectify what ii defective in the prweat organisation,

and insisting ou efficiency, let; who will feel himself aggrieved. Should it be proved that the Agent-General has not done and will not do his duty, then, reluctant as hia old political associates will be to adopt harsh measures, he cannot be suffered to stand in the way of Colonial prosperity. Better far to make a sacrifice of personal feelings than risk the future of the Colony from mistaken tenderness to a high official. Danger begins to appear in another direction also. The overflowing treasuries of Canterbury and Otago from land sales have been frequentlynoticed, and if the large receipts were from men purchasing to settle down, cultivate and people these Provinces, then, indeed, cause of rejoicing would exist. Unhappily this is not the case. Most of the purchases hare been made either by runholders from the recent large increase of their incomes in the hope of being able to shut out^men and increase sheep, or by speculators buying in advance of the railway in order to extort ruinous prices from those who may be induced to immigrate for the purpose of farming. The question is of vital importance, and should be promptly dealt with, cr it will be found when too late that the public estate is gone, that speculators have, realised profits properly belonging to the Colony as part of its assets, and as the land fund would no longer exist, and as a large increase of population would not have been secured, direct taxation must be resorted to for the payment of interest which wiser or it may with truth be said more honest dealing with the waste lands of the Crown would have provided for in another way. The Intercolonial Conference is likely to be followed by far more beneficial results than Mr. Vogel's detractors were willing to admit. He has long struggled for the right of the Australasian Colonies to enter into reciprocal tariff arrangements, and this claim has from the unanimous desire of the Conference been at last conceded by the Home Government. There is now reason to expect a confederation bein^ commenced by agreement on questions of trade and customs duties, which, if followed by the telegraphic connection of New Zealand with the other Colonies and -with England, and the settlement of some satisfactory postal scheme will in the future secure the greatest benefits to all the associated Colouies. Last session the time not consumed in party fights was, from the evenly balanced state of parties, productive of little useful result. There is now bo little prospect of any serious content, that legislation essential to the peace and good government of the country may once more be undertaken. Mr. Stafford's retirement from the leadership of the Opposition, though coming late for his own reputation, and disappointing to. a few adherents, places him in a position to promote, if he can so far condescend, the welfare of the Colony, instead of being bound down by men who, destitute of bis ability, thirst after office which they can never attain without hia aid. Beconstruction of the Legislative Council is promised in the speech, but the mea*ure brought in is so trivial as not to be worth the time certain to be spent in its discussion. An Education Bill is to be brought in, as to which all that Nelson desires is to be let alone. In some parts of the Colony the Provincial Governments have entirely neglected the duty of providing efficient teaching for the rising generation, and to them it is proper that pressure should be applied. Where systems of more or less merit are already in active operation, interference would be worse than foolish ; it would be a positive wrong, and could have no other effect than producing discontent. So many and great are the differences in the character of the population, and the conditions under which the Proi vinces were settled, that measures which in one are working satisfactorily to the people, would in others be regarded with repugnance. The Electoral laws are to be dealt with, but it would appear that the extent of change has not been definitely decided by the Cabinet. . The little movement for a

lodger franchise has not elicited much popular sympathy, and the hope we recently expressed that a serious effort would be made to obtain manhood suffrage with registration, the only complete and satisfactory solution, will not be disappointed. Possibly it may not be won at once, but the time of success is not distant. Should there be delay, it will be caused by members who class themselves with that spurious aristocracy which has . been the curse of the Colony. The insolvency laws aw to .be amended, and jt will be necessary to see that while the honest but unfortunate debtor receives fairplay, trading in bankruptcy, which has of late years injured the mercantile community, will be checked, That no harsh measure need be feared is pretty sure from the fact that it is proposed to abolish that detestable relic of barbarism, imprisonment for debt. Almost last in order, but inferior to nothing in importance, is the intende4 amendment of the Jaws affecting native lan da. Last JViday there was a short debate on this subject, produced by a motion to prevent Europeans making purchases direct from the natives, and sufficient was said by the Native Minister to show how completely the Government realises the dangers to which the peace of the country is at present exposed by land jobbers, as well as the disastrous influence on the Public Works policy of permitting speculators to acquire at a nominal price lands which, if they passed into the possession of the Government, would furnish funds for roads and other works important to the public. One case was mentioned by Mr. Fitzherbert where 50,000 acres had just been bought for four pence per acre, and doubtless the spirited purchaser will expect to have his property rendered accessible at the cost of the taxpayer. Ministers cannot be charged with evincing any desire for an idle life, though it is fancied there is just a little too much of the new broom disposition exhibited. Legislation on many subjects is requisite, but the haste to put everything in order in one session is hardly the wisest way. To do a few things well would be much better than crowding work so as to forbid wholesome, discui»io&,