MR. FOX AT MARTON.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 736, 12 November 1870, Page 2

MR. FOX AT MARTON.

His Honor Mr Fox met his constituents on the 2nd inst, Ho stated that he thought it best to take, as his text, the speech of the Governor in proroguing the A ssembly, as embodying all the matters which had engaged the attention of Parliament. The general policy of the Government, he said, and that which had absorbed the attention of the Assembly and agitated the Colony, had been those proposals which embraced a system of public works and immigration. The Government had become painfully aware of the great prostration affecting the Colony, owing not only to stagnation in trade, but also because the colonizing spirit which had actuated the early settlers had died out. To the enterprising energy which had characterised the iirat settlement had succeeded a feeling of inactive satisfaction with the work achieved ; the first settlers had done tbeir work, but no new blood was comiug to mix with and assist the old. The Government considered that the only way of developing the hidden resources of the colony and arousing the dormant energies of the settlers was to devise a scheme which would introduce capital aud people into the country. The Ministry held long consultations on this subject as early as October last year, and it then appeared to them that the construction of the roads and railways was tho meaus which was best fitted to effect this desirable end. The Ministry proposed their plans to the Assembly, and although two years before the House had declared against any further borrowing, the proposals met with a cordial support. Their policy was affirmed by large majorities He believed the Government had last session the most cordial support ever accorded to a government in a country possessing the same legislative institutions. Their plans among others, included one for penetrating the disturbed native districts, as the Highlands of Scotland had been penetrated a century ago, by making roads which would answer the same end, and also overawing turbulent tribes. When proposing money to be expended on such works, it was necessary to remember that the Middle Island members were in a proportion of almost two to one against the "North, and that the Middle Island moreover had long eudured expenses of a native difficulty in which it had no direct interest. In proposing then, that a sum of £200,000 should be expended in opening up the disturbed districts of the North Island, the Government also proposed a sum of £400,000, for railways in the South. Theu, another matter forced itself on tho attention of the Government. It was absolutely essential that money should be forthcoming to buy up native lands for the purpose of locating immigrants, as well as tending to extinguish the native 1 title in certain parts of the island. It was proverbially difficult to get butter out of a dog's mouth, and yet he (Mr Fox) was bound to admit that the southern members had come down liberally in granting this sum of £200,000 for the purpose mentioned. To further balance this, it was also agreed that a sum of £200,000 (afterwards increased to £300,000) should be devoted to the very necessary purpose of procuring a supply of water on the goldfields of the Middle Island as also of the Thames. But the Government was not satisfied with this only. They wished to look ahead, and were influenced by more ambitious views than the achievement of almost immediate benefits. Mr Fox here entered at some length into an argument in support of a policy of borrowing as proposed by the Government, giving it as his opinion, that ten times ten millions would not satisfy the colony. He adduced in supp'ort of his views, tho examples of Victoria, America, and France, showing how these countries had developed their resources to their infinito advantage on borrowed money. Tho two millions (and not ten millions as certain oppo-

sition papers had circulated) extended over a period of ten years, and was, in great part, to be devoted to the construction of railways. Besides actually paying for the construction of twenty railways, the Government had a second proposal of granting land along the lines to such companies as would undertake the necessary work. A. third method intended in some cases was that of guaranteeing a certain per centage of profit upon the capital expended. The dreadful howl raised by certain newspapers that ten millions were to be raised was not correct. Four millions only were to be borrowed, and six more represented by the other means indicated. The remaining two millions, after devoting a like sum to railways, were to he spent in introducing immigrants. Mr Pox gave it as his opinion that the two millions might advantageously be expended in increasing population faster than children can be born. He complained that the measures of the Government had been much misrepresented by a few newspapers and half a dozen members in the House. But he explained that the very Actß which authorised the raising of the four millions also preyented thorn borrowing at above a certain rate of interest. It appeared a prevalent opinion in certain quarters that the money was to bo raised to-day and spend, to morrow, wheras the expenditure of it was to extend over several years, and it was at present extremely doubtful, by reason of the European war, if a loan could be raised at all. With reference to the proposed system of immigration, he had heard it objected that it was unwise to introduce more people while wages were so low, and men actually without employment in the colony. Ho believed the idea thus expressed, to be a mistake. He held on the other hand, that the more people the more work, as inversely the over-population of Great Britain had no actual connection with the large amount of privation there, but that if the population were reduced, the misery would be so only relatively. His maxim was, that the more people, the more money, the more employment, the less taxation. The charge had beeu extensively circulated that he (Mr Fox) had set his face against the Province of Wellington participating in the Railway Scheme. He explained that the Government had merely proposed a policy without going into details. The scheme had not been a day old before the Government were beset with deputations, armed with plans and specifications, advocating railways in all their own peculiar districts. There were several of these railway schemes either in a state of progression or actually completed. The deputations in those cases stated that here were railways actually in existence, and they were prepared, if the Government did not agree to assist them, to go iuto the money market themselves. Under the circumstances the Government could not refuse their assistance. But in the case of the Wellington Province, there was only abundance of proposal, but no survey or any decided plan of operations. The most, therefore, that the Government could, do was to place its proposed lines in the second schedule of the Act, and during its recess have tho lines surveyed. At the very first Cabinet Council, after the prorogation, Mr Gisborue, acting as ad, interim Commissioner of public works, was instructed to communicate with Mr Blackett, of Nelson, (believed to be the most experienced engineer in the colony), and request that gentleman to immediately send competent bauds to survey tho Waiararripa, the Wellington and Wanganui, and other lines in the province. That he understood was now actually being done. A sum of £IOO,OOO of the £400,000 was now in course of expenditure in Wellington Province. There were two matters in which he believed tho Government had reason for satisfaction if not congratulation. The first of these was their native policy—a defensive policy—which had succeeded so as to extort expressions of confidence from opponents in the House. They had found the King an enemy, but friendly relations had now been established, and within a week or two the King and Rewi were to meet Mr McLean SO miles up the Wanganui river. Te Kooti was vanquished but not captured. He (Mr Fox) believed Te' Kooti was a3 broken as Napoleon is! The other matter of congratulation was the successful inauguration of the San Francisco mail service which promised, in bringing about close commercial and political relations with tho American Republic, further benefit to New Zealand than its postal advantages.

Young Hopeful, to papa, who is sending off his beloved belongings to the sea-side : —" Look here Pa," holding up fourpenny piece. Paterfamilias : " What now ?" Young Hopeful : " What cobbler's implement does this represent, Pa?" Paterfamilias, impatiently: " Asking riddles now?" Perceiving and forking out. "Ob, that's your all, is it ? There ! Now will you please to be off." Tho Evidence of the Senses.— Mamma: " How dare you slap your sister, George?" George: "She kicked me when my hack was turned, aud hurl me very much, I can tell you!" Mamma: -'Where did she hurt you?" George: "Well, I can't azacly say where, because my back was turned, and I was looking another wav!" A sporting gent, at a supper-party lately, wished ho was a bed. Ho was laid upon heavily.