The Star. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 1869.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 352, 30 June 1869, Page 2

The Star. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 1869.

The policy of the new Government is beforo the country, and ifc is" desirable that the public should, give it their earnest consideration. Mr Fox has not been able to complete his Cabinet. Dr Featherston and Mr Dillon Bell are said to have consented, in case their cervices are absolutely required, but in the meantime the Government consists of Mr Fox, Mr Yogel, and Mr M'Lean. Mr Yogel, it is said, has agreed to take office for the session i only, and the fact that Mr M'Lsan defers tho resignation of his Superintendency till the close of the session may, we think, be fairly taken as an indication- th-tfc he does not believe in tho continued existence of fche Administration which he has joined. As the Ministry stands, therefore, the Middle Island is unrepresented, for although Mr Yogel is an Otago member his interests are now identified with the .North Island.

Although we do not think there is much probability of the new Government being permanent, it ia still necessary to examine the policy which they have enunciated. Mr Fox appears to have began hia statement with an intimation which, if substantially correct, justifies tbe worst fears of the Middle Island. The Government, he said, " were dismayed on discovering the " extensive nature of the military " operations in W3ich the colony was '* embarked, and the enormous eo3t of " them." If this means that the extent of the military operations, and their cost, are beyond even what Mr Fox and his friends must have judged them to be, we may be sure that the bill against the colony is a very heavy one indeed. But Mr Fox may havo meant to imply— indeed it seems pretty certain that he did — that he was prepared to do the necessary work for a much smaller sum. Such promises, as has been abundantly proved to our cost, are not to be relied upon. Mr Stafford took office ou the understanding that he would manage the Natives at a much less expense than Mr Weld had thought necessary. We know the result too well. We are bound to say that we do not see anything in the position of affairs in the North Island which would justify belief in Mr Fox.'* ability to conduct Native affairs on a scale which the colony can -afford to pay, more especially when we look at the course he intends to adopt. Mr Fox's Native policy rests on exactly the 3arae basis aa Mr Stafford's when he took office, though ifc is expressed in different terms. He will abandon "aggressive" operations, and give up some of the out-sefcfclements "temporarily," though not " prematurely." This, it is scarcely necessary to say, is a half-hearted adoption of the policy advocated by Mr ZRolleston, and that showed nothing so clearly as a weak halting between two opinions — au attempt to form a fresh combination of totally irreconcilable elements. Mr Fox insists on the employment of Imperial troops, and has apparently tried to catch Mr Cracroft Wilson by the regiment "specially enlisted and officered " for the service. Well, suppose that course is adopted; what will ifc coat ? That. is the question. Let us see. We are to haye — 1. A small colonial force. 2. One regiment of Imperial troops. 3. A regiment. , specially enlisted and officered. . . Ifc is a pity Mr Fox did not say what number of colonial troops he will require. As we are told that the present force will be reduced "considerably," we may fairly assume that about one-half will be retained' — say 1000 men; or, for we are not particular on this point, say 500' men. We kuow that a colonial force of this strength costs, in time of peace, about £80,000 a year. The one .Imperial regiment would cost £40,000 a year, and the special regiment could nofc cost less at any rate. Here, then, we'have an expenditure of, cay £160,000 a year. A ll that tlie colony .can scrape up, as matters stand, for war is about £50,000 a year. -How is Mr Fox going to manage ? Where will he get tho difference between £50,000 and £160,000? Mr Fox may mean, however, that as soon as he gets the one Imperial regiment and the special regiment there shall be no colonial force. Well, even then, his policy would cost £100,000 a year. We are forced back on the inevitable question — Where is the money to come from ? We can't get rid of that element. Its all very well to say we should not be always counting the cost. But we must do so. There is no escape from liability when once we enter on a bargain, except the Bankruptcy Court, and ifc may just be as well to think the matter calmly'over before we agree to any proposal. . . Money, then, is the great difficulty. Borrow. Exactly, bufc on whose credit ? Mr Fox is nofc quite certain about the finances yefc. " If," he says, a war loan is necessary, " ifc should be borne " by the colony as a whole," and " tho " colony as a whole would have to " pledge its credit." It is simply ridiculous to make a distinction between a loan for war and a loan for opening up the North Island. The two things mean exactly the same, and Mr Fox must surely think the people of this- island great aimpletons

if he expects them to be gulled in that way. And why, in the name of all that's just, should we "be asked to pledge onr credit for " opening up " the North Island ? Besides, does Mr Fox really suppose that we are such noodles as not to see that we should have to pay as well as pledge our credit ? The fact seems to be this. We have allowed ourselves to be cozened and cheated so long, that Mr Fox and his friends evidently come to the conclusion, either that we will permit it again, or that we can't help ourselves. We warned the public that MrFox's policy, when it came to the light, would be as injurious to the interests of the Middle Island as Mr Stafford's. Is it not so ? Mr Stafford boldly declared his iutention of raising money on the credit of the Middle Island land fund. Mr Fox doesn't say he will do that, but his policy must force him to do ifc. He can't help himself. What conclusion, then, do we arrive afc ? Why, that the islands must agree to separate. Ifc is impossible to avoid arriving at this conclusion. The strongest Government the colony has had for yearsMr Stafford's— landed us all in a terrible mess. They have told us that they cannofc go on unless the Middle Island permits fchom to raise money on what belongs to it exclusively. Mr Fox comes down with substantially the same tale. If, theu, the uuifced colony cannot be governed unless fche South allows itself to be robbed, we think ife is high time to button our pockets tightly on what little is left us, to say " No " to any fresh demand, and to insist on separation.