Wellington Independent "NOTHING EXTENUATE; NOR SET DOWN AUGHT IN MALICE." SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1868.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXIII, Issue 2731, 12 September 1868, Page 4

Wellington Independent "NOTHING EXTENUATE; NOR SET DOWN AUGHT IN MALICE." SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1868.

WEdonotyet knowwhatmaybethe result of the debate on Mr Fox's want of -confidence motion. It is, indeed, difficult to say how far Ministers maybe able to succeed in coercing or cajoling members of the Assembly. In the original proposals contained in the Colonial Treasurer's financial statement, it will be remembered, that Nelson was promised £90,000 ; that Wellington was promised £15,000; and that O fcago was to get nothing. " The Truly Eural" party were, however, intensely disgusted with the proposals of Ministers, and therefore brought pressure to bear upon them. It was necessary that that party should be bribed into submission, and its support secured. The original proposals of Ministers were not sufficiently liberal to satisfy the wants of cormorants who would be supporters if adequately subsidized, but bitter opponents unless their greedy maws were satisfied. Tho first bribe was not sufficient, and it has therefore been increased. It is now proposed to give Nelson £150,000; Wellington £58,000; and Otago (which formerly was to get nothing) is to obtain a bonus of £40,000. We cannot fully or adequately describe all the details of this Ministerial scheme of corruption. By and bye the particulars of these lobby arrangements will crop up ; but in the meantime it is sufficient to say that Mr Stafford and his colleagues are endeavoring to keep office by using means which would have dis- j graced even the days of Castlereagh and Sidmouth. Ministers have twitted Mr Fox with proposing to reduce taxation, while he, at tho same time, iutends to increase the amount of money to be given j

to the provinces. "Where, they say, is 1 the £18,000 to come from that is to help the provinces r "We venture to ask Ministers from what source the sum of .£200,000 with which they propose to bribe the Provincos is to be obtained ? We are not speaking " without book." If a comparison be made between, the proposals of the Government, as contained in the financial statement — which were boldly brought before the House — and the secret arrangements in lobbies and committee rooms, which the outside public can know nothing of— -then-it would bo clearly seen that the Provinces are now offered £200,000 more than Ministers were previously prepared to give. If the statements made by Ministers, that their financial arrangements enable them to make a large number of savings, be true, how comes it that they cannot under such circumstances reduce the existing amount of taxation ? They tell us that they have been very economical, and made wise reductions ; yet it appears from Mr Hall's official announcement that the taxation of the country cannot possibly be reduced. It is unfortunately too true that taxation in New Zealand has reached its utmost limit. Trade is depressed; stagnation prevails ; consumption is gradually lessening ; while from those articles which bear high duties the amount of revenue obtained has fallen off. In truth, avo have reached and passed tho culminating point of taxation. If any attempt is made to obtain an increase of revenue by imposing higher Customs' duties we venture to prophesy that it will be an utter failure. When Customs are unduly high, the temptations to evasion and smuggling become irresistible, and so ib happens that excessive taxation results in a decreased revenue. If we pass from that question to the now all-important one of native affairs, what do we see ? The native policy of the Government is hurrying the colony to ruin. We havo called it a " policy," but it is questionable, after all, if-it deserves such a title. We can scarcely believe that Mr Stafford's Government ever had a policy. The members of the Ministry have temporised and vacillated until events hurried them into a war which will probably be long, expensive, and disastrous. There has been an utter want of brain-power in the management of tho Native and Dcfeuce Offices. Friendly tribes have been insulted and neglected : natives disposed to rebel against our rule have been exasperated into open hostilities, and when war broke out — -when settlers were murdered — when our West Coast frontiers were threatened by an armed horde of savages — the Government was utterly unprepared to take vigorous action on the defensive. They had enlisted and trained men two years before only to disband them when they had become perfect at their work. Thus it happened that when the hour of danger came, men had to be picked up in the streets and sent to the Front there — untrained and inexperienced — to become the victims of a savage foe. The results of this admirable system have been seen in the events of the last few days. Led into the bush, our men bravely fighting against an unseen foe, have been slaughtered, while no sufficient reprisals have been made upon the enemy.

In the interests of the colony, we fervently trust that the present Government will be driven, from office. We are tired of aj Ministry composed of " artful dodgers." No doubt Mr Stafford is himself a tower of strength ; but his colleagues are but a sorry ruck. Indeed the same may bo said of the Ministerial " tail" in the Assembly. The hon. member for Hanipden must have a hard and onerous task in keeping that "tail" together. His duties as a shepherd are very difficult, because many of his sheep are continually going astray. There are many doubtful members in the Assembly and poor Mr Haughton has to watch them closely. It must be hard work this " shepherding" business and we trust Mr Haughton will obtain his reward Moreover, Mr Haughton has a further claim upon the gratitude of the present Government. Whoever may be the supporters of the Government, they certainly do not include those members who represent the education and intellect of the House. Mr Haughtou must therefore have a difficult task in furnishing ideas to stupid people and trying to put a little brains into the empty heads of the rank and'file of Mr Stafford's followers.

There is much to be disgusted at in the present aspect of political affairs. No legitimate or proper form of Parliarnen- ! tary Government at present exists. The tactics of the Ministry are nothing more than a carefully conceived system of " dodges." They do not boldly come forward in the House, and, stating their policy, resolve to stand or fall by it. In the home country we have been accußtomed to see political battles fairly fought out on the floor of the House ; but in New Zealand under the Stafford regime, things are managed very differently. Grovernment is carried on by means of secret circulars, by solicitations in the lobbies, and by "talks" in the Committee rooms. Simple, unsophisticated people may suppose^ that our parliamentary reports give a fair idea of what is being done in tho political world ; but if they do so, they are very much mistaken. The history of the rise, progress, and decline of Parliamentary corruption in New Zealand has yet to be written, and its most flagrant episodes will be found in the closiug acts of Mr Stafford's government. At tho present moment the retention of power by Mr Stafford is only possible by a profuse and judicious system of bribery. If Nelson has not enough, then more is offered ; if Wellington be dissatisfied, then its share of the revenue must bo inoreased; if Otago threatens opposition, then Otago must also have ft " sop." We are very doubtful, whether this system will succeed. Somehow or other members and parties in the Houso thoroughly distrust Mr Stafford. They believe that, at any

moment, he would " sell" them, and thus a large party in the Assembly, comprising within, its ranks many of those who, at the beginning of the Session, were supporters of the G-orernraent, are now inclined to eject him from office, and to give their adhesion to a successor on whose honour and good faith they can rely.