THE COLONIST. PUBLISHED TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS, AND SATURDAYS. NELSON, SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1877. THE HON. E. RICHARDSON.

Colonist, Volume XIX, Issue 2248, 23 June 1877, Page 3

THE COLONIST. PUBLISHED TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS, AND SATURDAYS. NELSON, SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1877. THE HON. E. RICHARDSON.

Speeches to constituents are rarely interesting out of the immediate electoral district, unless they are delivered by men recognised as leaders of thought, and who may be expected to indicate, if even they do not distinctly express, the line of policy likely to be adopted by at least a considerable portion of the House. Perhaps more when free from the restraints of office, than while holding even the highest position, whatever is said, say by Mr Fox or Mr Stafford, is attentively read as coming from a high authority in colonial politics, and more than once the future has beeu accurately foretold from! such speeches at piaces in themselves of little importance. No such position can be claimed for Mr Edward .Richardson, and yet his long tenure of the office he recently vacated, and the known confidential relations still existing between him and the Ministry, give at present a significance to what; he Bays entirely out of proportion to his ability or standing in Parliament. At the outset it must be remarked that weight can only be allowed where he communicates information, and that opinions, when they are really his own, do not merit even a passing notice. He was never more than the spoilt child of the Ministry, who had deceived themselves into fancying that a smattering of engineering knowledge—a smattering, that is, as to science, for possibly mere mechanical skill may be possessed — qualified him to direct the operations of men who had studied their profession under its acknowledged masters. It will not be contended that he ever added one original thought of the slightest value to the discussion of any political question, nor did his sensible friends ever consider him more than a superior kind of foreman, however they gave way to a certain dull obstinacy in questions where their judgment was in truth of more value than could be that of any mere expert. In treating of the Counties Act, he gives sufficient proof that its universal adoption was eagerly desired by the Government, and that the permissive clauses were unwillingly conceded to stifle opposition that otherwise would have rendered the passage of the measure at the be&fc extremely doubtful. Members disliking the whole Bill ceased to take much interest in its provisions when they had protected their districts from having it forced upon them, and tl#3> where it is in operation, as Mr Siphardson admits, " many flaws have already ' been found.'' There is a quaint absurdity characteristic'of the man jn his lamentation that the Act was "not put" "into operation in this district," because he cannot " go up to Wellington" primed with knowledge gained from the sufferings of his friends. They ought, he thinks, to have subjected themselves to a painful experiment for the instruction of legislative dunces, and certainly in more instances it might have been done, were it not that once adopted there was no opportunity of the step being retraced. Had it not been for this cunning device to bring in time the whole Colony into the net, it is not improbable that most districts would have given the scheme at least a short trial, but the very cleverness of its promoters defeated themselves.

Mr Richardson says, "I do protess at the Jipesent time to know something about the evenue of the country,!' and, presuming hat he is to some extent the mouth-piece of his former colleagues in a matter of the deepest interest, that a proper official reserve forbids them Bpeakiug about till Parliament meets, it is satisfactory to hear that the alarming deficiency predicted by the Li/Uelton Times exists only in the imaginaJiipn. of the amateur financier, who has \n its columns of late proved to his own satisfaction the impending bankruptcy of the Colony. Even as to the Customs revenue, Mr Eichardson affirmß that the deficiency will not be more than £30,000 to £40,000, which he believes will be partially made up by an increase from Post-office and Stamps. On Kailway revenue he is undoubtedly entitled to be heard with respect, and while the In/ttelton Times showed " a deficiency of £93,000," he proves by apparently authentic figures, " that there will be an absolute profit on the working of the railway lines of the Colony of about £100,000." As to the whole, he declares, that "from a pretty intimate knowledge of, the items of revenue and. expenditure, we shall find at the cud of the year that the revenue and expenditure —aiwaye excepting Treasury biUs—are

nearly at balance." So far then as he knows and has been informed, it may-be'assumed that the ruin of the Colony will be further postponed, however gr at the disappointment of the prophets who delight in announcing the approach of every financial Vvoe. The time cannot bo long before the "pening of railways now in course of construction, and for whose cost large sums are ■ 1 ready being paid for interest, will add .uaterially to the general revenue, while the rapid growth of traffic on those already in operation will aid in relieving the overburdened Consolidated Fund. The pressure, always foreseen to lv unavoidable at some stage of the Public Works policy, has been both hastened and rendered more serere by needless hurry, by blunders and extravagance, and most of all by undertaking unprofitable lines to Jbuy the support of importunate members. The worst is upon us,and,giviug credit to the speaker for truthfulness, there is nothing to warrant any particular dismay. Before referring to Mr Kichardson's probably "inspired" anticipations about the measures of next session, a disclosure he artlessly makes as to the way in which the Auckland volunteers have been outwitted, deserves notice. It seems a large amount of land scrip is held by persons who have sacrificed much time and assisted tn defend the Colony on the faith of the Government allowing them to select land worth occupying. At present there is none of value to be obtained, and as " the time for which tins scrip has been issued expires iv a few months," it is intended to delay till then bringing- land into the market. A more shameless evasion of pledges was never known, and still less openly announced with unctuous satisfaction at its adroitness. After tin's they will indeed be simpletons who trust the honor, of a Government in want of their service*. Education, Mr Eichardson thinks, cannot at present be made free without further taxation, and in preference he favors the payment of school fees. This, however, will be mainly dependent on what is done as to the Land Fund, which it is significant is never alluded to. In whatever way it may be proposed to increase the burdens of the people, whether by extracting fees from parents, cr some scheme of dirflct taxation, the first objection to be raised is that, no brauch of colonial revenue can be suffered to continue localised, while districts outside that favored by fortune'are oppressed. The speech of Mr Eichardson is narrow, bub nob on that account disappointing. From him nothing better could be expected, and, when a man gives the best he possesses, no fault should be found. Though an accident made him a Minister in place of one whose ability was unquestioned, it could not endow him with qualities becoming his position. He remained the mere foreman his Dature fitted him to be, and now he has secured for life in the Colony the prefix of" honorable," his ambitiou ought to be content with so much beyond his deserts. He is free, and admits he intends once more to prosecute his claim against Canterbury on account of an old railway contract. Rejected before, and suspended while enjoying the emoluments and, what was far dearer to such a person, the outward honor of Minister, he ends where he began, the ravenous contractor clamoring for his beloved extras.