PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1021, 14 August 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Monday, August 13. The House met at 2.30. THE PREMIER.

On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Sir George Grey moved—“ That this House is of opinion that the Premier of New Zealand should not be a director or manager of any bank or company trading in the colony, nor should he receive any salary, pay fees, or any remuneration whatever for any services rendered to any such bank or company.” He believed that a few monetary establishments exerted undue influence on their Legislature, and that the present Government was kept in office by that influence. In Europe it would be deemed incredible that the solicitor of such company should be the Premier of the land. He instanced the Bank of New Zealand, the Trust and Loan and Mercantile Company, and the new Mortgage Company. The representative of these companies was now virtually the Governor of New Zealand. He would then ask what could the Governor, or rather his Chief Minister, do in the Legislature. He could assent or dissent to every measure Parliament passed. That was a dangerous power to vest in a man so mixed up with these institutions. All the valuators of properties wore appointed by the same person, so that even taxation was not removed beyond his powers. These same institutions exercised the same influence over the press that was exercised over other constitutions. It was the great central power in New Zealand which ruled every department of the colony from end to end. The Premier was the solicitor to or a director of all these great monetary institutions, and was it possible under these circumstances for any individual man to do justice ? No, it was not to be thought of. As long as this system continued he saw no hope for the country. The Premier ought to be a free man, unfettered by bonds of this kind.

The Hon Mr Rolleston said that the action of the Government in the point showed that these monetary institutions did not operate as the power behind the throne. He had always understood that the whole system of legislation was antagonistic to the creation of an autocrat such as the Premier had been represented to be. He was not aware the Premier had ever in the most remote degree attempted to assert a position of the kind. He did not believe anyone imagined the Government owed its position to the Bank or the institutions named. Their actions must have belied any such impression, if it could even have existed. The Premier was no doubt responsible for the policy of the country, but he denied that ho was in any respect the autocrat he had been depicted by Sir George Grey. No Government would hold office under such a constitution, and it was the very essence of their form of administration that all appointments of any importance were made by the Cabinet. If they were going to disfranchise anyone they would have to begin at the bottom, and that 'meant that no one connected with such institutions was to be eligible to be returned as a representative in Parliament. All they could interfere with in the matter was if they found that the Premier's public duties were rendered subordinate to his private duties. Until that was shown this House had no right to, and no cause was shown why it should, interfere at all. Mr Fish supported the motion, and endorsed the remarks made by Sir George Grey, Mr Joyce pointed out that the correspondence re direct steam service showed that while the Premier corresponded with one Company, the Colonial Secretary corresponded with the other, and there appeared to be no harmony of action between them.

Mr Turnbull and Mr Seddon supported the motion. Mr Bathgate said the motion was an abstract one, and did not impute abuse to the Premier or any other officer. All that he sought to affirm was that the two positions where wholly incompatible. He argusd that the motion should recommend itself to their attention, so that dangers of this kind might be averted. Mr Montgomery said that in order to avoid giving the motion the appearance of a personal matter he would move as an amendment that the motion be made more comprehensive and general, and that it should apply to all the members of the Government. His amendment would read—“ That no Minister of the Crown in New Zealand should be a Director or Manager of any Banking Company in the colony.” Mr DeLactour argued that it was singularly unfortunate the Premier was not a member of that House, in order that he might be there to defend his Government. He acquiesced in Sir George Grey’s motion, contending that the amendment should be separated altogether from, and be made distinct from, the resolution. Mr J. Buchanan supported Sir George Grey’s motion, and reflected on the Public Accounts Committee for not having brought down reports as to what it was doing, the same as other Committees. The House divided on the motion for going into Committee as against Sir G. Grey’s amendment ;— Ayes, 44 ; noes, 26. SUPPLY. The House went into Committee of Supply. Public Works Estimates—Class 1; immigration, L 78.706. Interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. IN SUPPLY. The immigration vote passed as printed after considerable discussion. Class 2—Public Works Department, Head Office, L 6,060. —Passed. Head Office, North Island, L 3,947. Item, Inspecting Engineer, L 770. Mr Turnbull moved that the item be reduced Ll5O. The Committee divided on the question of the reduction.—Ayes, 26 ; noes, 30. Item, contingencies and travelling expenses LSO and item instruments L 250. Passed as printed. Head Office, Middle Island, L 4,145. Item/ Engineer, L9OO. Mr J. Mackenzie moved a reduction of LIOO. The question for deduction was put, and the Committee divided Ayes, 8 j noes, 41. Mr J. MaoKenzib moved that it be reduced LSO. The motion for reduction was negatived on the voices. Item, architect, L 125 ; also, Dunedin office, L2oo.—Passed. Class 3—Railways. The following votes were put and passed:—Kawati, L 16,000 ; Whangarei to Kamo, L 5,050; Kaipara to Waikato, L 75,000 ; Waikato to Thames. L 80,000; Wellington to Napier, L 115,000; Bunnythorpe to Gorge. L 10 1; Wellington to Foxton, L 3,600; Foxton to New Plymouth, LBO,OOO ; Nelson to Round Hill, L 13.000; Greymouih to Nelson Creek, L 29,000 ; Greymouth to Hokitika, L 6,000 ; Westport to Ngakawau, L 4,000. A discussion took place on the vote—Picton to Hurunui, L 55,000. Mr Fish, Mr Lbvbstam, Captain Mackenzie and others maintained that the sections Picton to Awatere, and Hurunui to Pahaw were not really extensions of the northern trunk line, as the route of that line was not yet settled. The Hon Mr Johnston defended the extension of the line to the Red Post, and

to the Aawtore, no matter what route was ultimately adopted as the trunk line. Mr Montgomery urged stopping any northern extension for this year at least. Mr Pearson, Mr O’Callaghan, Mr Dodson, and others supported the vote as it stood, and ultimately it passed as printed. A motion to'report progress being lost, the following votes wore also passed:— Hurunui to Waitaki, with branches, LI 62,000 ; Canterbury interior main line, L 11,000; Waitaki to Bluff, w.th branches, L 241,000; Otago Central, L 130.000; I .vercargill to Kingston, LII,OOO ; Western Railways, L 29.500 ; contingent expenses, L 3,000 ; expenses railway commissioners, LSO. Class 4—Surveys of newlines of railway. The following votes were passed ;—North Island, L 10,000; Middle island, L 4.000. Prograss was reported and the House rose at 2.25.