THE Wellington Independent "Nothing extenuate; Nor set down aught in malice." THURSDAY MORNING, 27th JULY. OPENING OF PARLIAMENT THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Wellington Independent, Volume XX, Issue 2237, 27 July 1865, Page 3

THE Wellington Independent "Nothing extenuate; Nor set down aught in malice." THURSDAY MORNING, 27th JULY. OPENING OF PARLIAMENT THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Vice-Regal speeches usually tell people a good deal of what they knew before, but the statements are not officially recognised till they have thus formally been uttered.

" Make it twelve o'clock," says the captain of a ship of war on hearing the announcement that it is so by the sun, and twelve o'clock it accordingly is made. In the speech which His Excellency delivered yesterday on the occasion of opening Parliament, there was a good deal of this. Peace lias been partially established. Insurrection, has been ' partially suppressed in several disturbed districts. Tlic Wunganui-Taranaki campaign j has not been a great success. The slate of I Taivuialci is improved. The friendly natives have done good service. Our financial embarrassments have been somewhat relieved, but the credit of the Colony is slill to some extent unfavorably affected by the manner and extent to which Provincial Loans have been placed for negotiation on the English Money Market. The Panama Contract has been ratified, and Australia is to share iv its benefits. Such are some of the assertions made in the Speech, which are no novelty to anybody, but there is something besides on ' which to comment. No special policy is in- J dicated, except in the expression of a hope " that while outrages are suppressed, measures will also be taken to ensure the future peace of the country by facilitating the admission of Her Majesty's subjects of the native race to a full and equal participation in the privileges of self-government." This is coupled with the statement that a Bill will shortly be laid before the House to appoint a Commissioner of Native Chiefs to consider the best means of obtaining a Parliamentary representation for the native race. We con- | fess that some more definite indication of a policy would have been more to our taste. "Repression of outrages " is absolutely necessary, but how is the rebellion itsef to be put to an end ; how are the tribes on the West Coast between Wanganui and Taranaki, to be coerced into submission ? Perhaps, however, under present circumstances, with five regiments to leave immediately and the prospect that the remainder of the Imperial troops will shortly follow, it would have been premature to expect that much should bo said of an intended native policy. The assertion of this will more fittingly devolve upon Ministers, who, we have reason to believe, will act up to the letter and spirit of the sentiments expressed in Mr Weld's memorandum, where he states that he is prepared to raise an armed force of 1,500 men, for the internal defence of the Colony — a force to be exclusively under the control of the Ministry, and to be employed in a different fashion from that which has hitherto been adopted in New Zealand. We earnestly trust with his Excellency, that the day is not far distant when all the Imperial j troops will take their departure for England. Till that timo has arrived, it is hopeless to expect that a colonial policy can be carried out unfettered, or without constant liability to Imperial interference ; while not till then willjthe colony possess constitutional Government in its fullest sense— responsibility and control over native, as well as ordinary affairs. It will be the duty of the Assembly to express their opinion relative to this in plain and decided terms. Though orders are to be given for the removal of five regiments, yctit is evident from the tenor of recent despatches, and the appointment of a new General in command that the Imperial Government contemplates leaving a certain portion of the troops for some time } r et in New Zealand, under restrictions which will make them almost absolutely useless. The worst of this is not, that we are expected to pay for them at the rate of £40 a-head — although with our straitened resources that would be a ruinous burden — but it is, that so ' long as a single soldier i-eniains in the colony we will not have fair play in trying to deal with our greatest trouble. We expect, then, that there will be no hesitation shown by the Assembly in dealing with this question. As the first condition of success in whatever is proposed to be done, the troops must go as speedily as possible. For the past expenses incurred by a war, the failure of which has been solely the result of Imperial mismanagement, the Colony is not liable either morally or legally, and except in those cases where a distinct agreement has been entered into and certain pecuniary responsibilities incurred it should not pay a single farthing. The claim of £40 a-head for the services of the troops is not one of these, and should be repudiated. We think the Assembly might even go a step further, and tell Mr Cardwell that unless the troops are all removed within a limited period, no further contribution will bo paid at all. While it is a matter of satisfaction, thafc a large number of the loyal Natives have done us good service, and shown by devoted courage their loyalty to the Crown ; while wo can congratulate ourselves that the Wei'eroa Pa has been taken by the Colonial Forces, on whose skill and gallantry the most firm reliance can bo placed, yet there are other matters in this speech which are by nojmeans so pleasing. It is not pleasant to learn that though the Colony has been relieved in some measure from financial embarrassment by the disposal of Colonial securities, yet further taxation will be required to provide for pressing burdens, and that afc least a portion ' of the General Kevenuo which has hitherto been allocated to the Provinces is now likely * to be taken from them. Before anything is done, the whole subject will of course, bo discussed in Parliament, and, perhaps, some scheme of taxation may bo adopted which will still secure to the Provinces their 3-Blhs of the Customs Revenue. But at the best, the taxation screw must bo applied, and in whatever mode it is done, the pressure will bo felt. There is no help for this, so we must bear it with the best grace possible. It is true that the Imperial Government, by mis management and inconsistent action, has been mainly instrumental in bringing about tho present state of affairs, but rightly or wrongly we must bear a share in the disastrous result of their proceedings. Tho Colony however

can gain a lesson from the past which, if rightly read may prove of value in the future. Let it take care not again to become the victim of Imperial interference. If there is to be any more fighting — any further efforts at suppressing the rebellion, let its action be entirely free and unfettered. Whateverpoliey the Colony has to pay for in the future, let that policy be its own, and carried out exclusively under the control of its Legislature. In that case- there would be every chance of success, and if we did fail then we would be responsible for the cost of our own mistakes, but uot those of the Imperial Government. It is consolatory to reflect that our present financial position can only be temporary. Daily the resources of the colony are bi ing developed, daily it is advancing in' population and wealth. We may then cheerfully endure present burdens, and faceourdifficulties with a stout heart, in the confident hope that they will soon be overcome, and that a bright and glorious future is in store for the Britain of tho South.