HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1687, 14 October 1887, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The Hoase met at 2.30 p.m. THE CONSTITUTION ACT. Mr Joyce gave notioe to aak if the Government would introduce a Bill to amend the Constitution Aot la the direction of making the Governor elective* bf colonists. NOTKJEB OF MOTION. Mr Oirroll gave notl:e of a aeries of reaolutlona about the abolition of all unnecessary distinctions between nest living lv the colony. Mr Fulton gave notioe to introduce the Bible Reading In Sohoo's Bill; QUESTIONS. Replying to questions it was stated that the Government oonld not at present grant a half-holiday on Saturday to surface men on the railway lines, bat the matter would receive consideration ; that Railway Boards of Appeal for railway employees would shortly be established at Wellington and Auokland ; that no further appointments would be made to the Legislative Council, unless necessity arose for doing bo ; that tha Wellington Post office whs well within the estimate, but the Government could not Bay whether it would be accept id till they knew something more about the finances of the colony ; that there was always a quantity of o'd powder m stock and the Government saw no harm In using it to fire salutei At ; the opening of Parliament. NEW BILLS, A large number of Bills were Introduced, ADDBESSIN-BBPLY. Majrt Atkinson moved that the Addrese-ln-Reply be taken at half-past 7 o'clock. He thought it would be more convenient fcr members generally. Sir Julius Yogel said that the Premies hai not yet made a general statement of the Government policy which he had promised to make. M- jor Atkinson said that he would make a definite statement of the policy of the Government, on Friday fortnight If the House waa good enough to grant him the adjournment lie asked for. Sir Julius Vogol ea'.d it was a very unuaual coarse that the Government ahouid occupy the benches for several weekH without making a general statement of policy, which tras expected of all Governments. The motion was agreed to. CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES. M>jor Atkinson moved that Mr Himlln be elected Chairman of Committees, Sir Juliua Yogel said he should support Mr Hamlin's appointment He must sty, however, that he did not think it desirable that a gentleman occupying the office of Chairman of Committees Bhou'd ttke an active part m political discussion m the House, or that he should endeavor to influence votes. In regard to the manner m which Mr Hamlin had fulfilled the duties of obairman, he (Sir Julius Yogel) was quite willing to bear testimony to the f act that Mr Hamlin had discharged those duties efficiently. Tin motion was agreed to. The House rose at 4 p m. The House resumed at 730 p.m. ADDBESS Iff BEFLY, Mr Graham moved the Address In Reply. The result of the Imperial Conferenoe was particularly gratifying m showing that the colonies would soon take their proper place m the oounaels of the Empire. He sympathised with that portion of the speeoh regarding retrenchment. No feuoh opportunity had been offered before, and he urged that the Government should be backed up In any reasonable measures they proposed for reduoing expenditure. The settlement of the land was also a vital question. In his district they particularly felt this, foe »hey had something like 4,000,000 lorei of land not opened up. The laud at present was offered for settlement under impossible conditions. He would resist the rumoured abolition of the Grown and Native Lands Rating Act, as it would do great harm to districts like the East Coast unless a suitable substitute were found for it He did not know muoh about the railways, as there was non» within 100 miles of hla county. Bat ha was of opinion that they ought to be made to pay. He deprecated the want of finality m the past m dealing with titles to Native land, and hoped to sea legislation civing life m this direction. Every facility should be given to complete titles, and natives ought to be allowed to deal with their lands as they liked. It had cost the Jffia9t Ooast about £100,000 to try and find out what the various Native Acts of late years really meant. Future legislation should aim at sweeping away all differences between the two raoet. If any saving could be made In the cost of eduoation let it be done, but he begged MiDisters to oonslder the ocuntry dlstrlots m the matter. He complimented the Premier on the rapidity with whloh he had formed his Ministry, and thought It was a good one, Mr Macgregor, In seconding the motion said that they would be arrant humbugs if thay did Dot help the Government with all their might to carry out retrenchment which was so urgently needed, beginning with themselves and going down through every grade* He felt that Ministers were sincere m their professions on this head, and the Premier was the right man at thia juncture for the plaoe he held. He believed the proper course m connection with Crown Lands was to open them np for settlement to the profit of the country, and the Government also held this belief. He proclaimed himself a thorough* going Freetrader, and he give his party to understand that if there was any attempt to tamper with the Tariff m the direction of Protection he would not be with them, lie conoluded by Baying that the men vow oocupying the Government benches would, he thought, rise to the occasion. Sir Julius Yogel characterised th§ nanner m whloh the present Government iad been formed undesirable. It reminded lim of the manner m whloh sheep were ed to the slaughter before being frczan, iVby, at the l&lt oaucnj, tbe PfimJey btf

*. hi win 111 1 .._.:.. ■ • Hat of the new Goven mant m his pocket cut and dried. Did the hon gentleman deny It ! Yet a.l ths whs! I.* was trying to get pled fe es of aupport i.om wen who had been returned to vote •gainst him He proceeded to orit cisc the personnel of the Government, remarking that it would have been better to drop the Native portfolio altdgfetber than lack it on to Public Works. Bo approved of the selection of Mr Fergus, Mr Richardson, and Ml Mitchelaon, but sa?d It was notorious that Mr Fisher had threatened to make It hot unless he had a seat m the Ministry. This was the first be bad ever heard of a man asking for a place m a Ministry. Such a system of bounce waa moßt objectionable. Aa to Mr Hlslop he quoted f/om bis election speeches to show that he had characterised M»j«»r Atkinson as too vaoilatiog and communistic to ba Premier, yet he had joined that honorable member a Government. Why had old and faithful followers been thrown over to make room for these two ? It was because fear was felt of their turning against their party unless their claims were recognised. Taming to the speech he reviewed it m detail, and admitted that there was a universal desire for retrenchment, which WM not confined to the Government side. Begirding the Tariff to which allusion ma made, why did they keep the House In suspense about what they admitted to be a pressing matter 1 Members had been elected to give all the time demanded to the business of the country, and the excuse there was not time, was metely a cloak to evade dealing wi h a very disagreeable question. The Customs Tariff ought to be dealt with this session, even if they had to sit long after Christmas. With regard to the education question, he reminded them that the gentleman now holding that portfolio had expressed himself m favor of altering the school age, and appropriating endowments for secondary education. He objected to the lonu adjoornment asked for. The figures were already m the Treasury and of oonrse ministers had not taken office without making up their minds before band as to the course they intended to adopt. Supposing the Financial Statement was not ready, why should all the Other busiae«s stop still on that account. Either the Government had nut sufficient ability or the Premier oould not tmßt his eolleagnes while he was busy preparing the Statement. He would say for himself be waa not anxious to sit on the Government benches, and possibly the Premier might find more support from him than from his own party, especially if his policy commended hitself to him (Sir Julius Vogelj. They hsd heard of possible changes m the Government after a time, and they ought to be convinced not only of the value of its policy, but also of ita ability to carry it out. Personally, he did not think it would laßt many weeka. Major Atkinson said that Sir Julioß Vogel'a criticism of the peraonnei of the Ministry was degrading to the House, and unworthy of ench a debate. Its object was easily seen, but he was not going to be drawn, nor did be think Sir Julius Yogel would succeed m making a breach between him and bis supporters. If he made his Financial Statement a« the exTreasurer had done he cou'.d easily do it In a day or two by putting on extra taxation, but he scarcely thooght that was what the Houso wanted. As for stopping the business of the country, Us business wai to select a suitable Government, and if they did nothing more tais session It would be time well Bpent. With regard to tha Tariff if the Bouse would pass a resolution on the subject, and was prepared to ait a sufficient length of time, he was quite willing to take it m hand, but it would require several months to revise it. It was the system of railway management, and not the manager which was at fault, and if they desired improvement the former must be changed. He believed that they wanted to get to the real work of the session, and that could only be disclosed m the Financial Statement, and if they were wise they would grant an adjournment as sooq as posßible to enable him to bring it down. Mr Ballance said that it was laid down §& the lost Financial Statement that further economies were to be brought about as time permitted, and Major Atkinson had overlooked this. Major Atkinson had asserted that the sole question of the election was retrenchment, but m reality the Tariff question bad been thoroughly threshed out, with the reßult that a large majority had come there pledged to eneour&ge local industries. let the Premier refused to include this among the questions to be decided this session. He was afraid there was a section of bis party pledged to oppose any revision except m {he direction of Freetrade, and it was m deference to them that this attempt w^s/j made to stifle the subject. He defended the land policy of the last Government, but insisted that if they went ia for Freetrade m Native lands they would give satisfaction to none There were indications that the Government was m beaich of a policy with regard to education, bnt he was satisfied that an attempt to interfere with it- would be cheeseparing m character. Mr Fuher complimented the last speaker on the difference between the tone of his speech and Sir Julius Vogel'a. The mission of the Government was re trenebment, and if they did nothing else it would be time well spent. Protection was a question no doubt of great interest, bat it was over- shadowed by the importance of putting their confused finances Into a satisfactory condition. He wished to say he had been misrepresented on the education question, but he would take another opportunity of putting himseif right. Mr Seddon complimented Mr Fisher on bis improved bearing, and Major Atkinson with being eager for retrenchment now, where»s, wten last m power, he had peremptorily refused to make ar>y reduclions. He did not believe they could make such great savings as they fancied. He would like to know whether the wages of tie working*men were to coffer He warned the Minister of Education that if he intended to enforce the views be had formerly expreeaed m "Hansard" be would coon find himself driven from these benches. Mr Mackenzie (Walhcmo) moved an amendment to the Addreea In-Keply to the effect that m view of the financial condition of the colony the ncmbsr of paid jlinlsters should be reduced to five. Mr Taylor supported the amendment. Mr Batron said it waß a clever attempt, bnt the Financial Statement was the right place m which to diacues it. Mr Fish protested against the delay asked for by the Government. Dr Hodgltlnaon s»id he.was m favor of a reduction of the number of Ministers, - bnt at the present moment it was only a party dodge. Sir Julius Yogel said that he was unaware of Mr McKeczie's Intention, and would not support the amendment, as it was a direot attack on the Government.^ The debate was continued by Major Steward, Mr Mitchell, Mr Allao, air Mackenzie (Olutha), Mr Eraser, Mr Korr, Mr Seddon, and others, all of wnom spoke briefly, and said little more than was necessary to intimate whether they Intended to vote for the amendment or not. Mr Mackenzie tald be would withdraw the amendment if the Premier would give a pledge to allow the matter to be discussed later on. Major Atklnsou deolined to do so. The amendment was lost by 57 to 7. The Address-in-Beply was voted on the f oloes. IMPREST. A message from the Governor asking for a supply of £160,000, was introduced. The House then adjourned at 1,30 a.m, JUj^Opm to-day,*