PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1722, 29 November 1887, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPr-Kfc ENTATIVES.

Monday, November 28.

The H^usa met Xt 2.30 p m. GOVERNMENT BUSINESS. The Pc m er ___o v.d mat tha Gove^nI ment bu ideas take precedenoa for thn I remainder of this session. He said bo should also like to ask for Thursday for Government business, as it whs evident that the private Bills ou the Order P..p. r wou'd not be allowed a chance of beiog considered this cession. He should, : however, if possible, give a further op- | portunliy at a later period to those members who bad Bills on the Order Paper. Mr G. F. Blohard-on moved that Thursday be included, m the naotlon, whioh was oarrled after a long discussion. TARIFJT REVISION. The Premier moved the resolution regarding the tariff, of which he had given notice latt week. Personally he desired that the Oustomß duties should be revised without delay, but he had oome to the j deliberate conclusion that it could not be i done this session as time would not j allow both that and the retrenchment j scheme to be properly thought out. He | reminded the Honse that every day the 1 session was prolonged added to the expense j of the country. I Sir George Grey asked whether any ' other member would be allowed to make a motion on the bu bject, The Pr.mier said if it was conneoted with a ..vision of the tariff tho Government would regard it as a JNo Confidence motion. Sir Julius Yogel repudiated Mr Fisher's aoonsktion m the previous debate that he had been wasting the time of tha Honae, which was a piece of grossest preenmptlon on that gentleman's part. He had only spoken three timeß on the question of policy. During the seventeen sessions he had sat ln Parliament he had never seen the buisness bd terribly mi-managed by Government. It had taken tbem a whole , week to bring down the present resolution. Aa to tbe tariff be pointed out that, even if the whole tariff could not be revised, there were several items whioh could be dealt with withont any trouble or delay Such were tbe ad valorem duties whloh might be advanced four or five per oent on rice, corrugated iron, and iron and brass work, spirits and cement. From some of these extra revenues might properly be raised, and iv othera local industry oonld be helped. He characterised the resolution as being an Imitation of the French practice of Government moving a vote of confidence m themselves. He could not congratulate these Auokland members who were committed to alteration iv tbe tariff on the way m whloh they had allowed the Government to smooth them over, or the position m which they now found tbem elves. He read the resolution to which the Opposition had come which was to the effeot that tbey would neither debate nor vote upon the Premier's motion. The fact was that the Premier had no Idea of the real state of the oolony, and thought tbat all that was wanted waa retrenchment instead of development of ooal Industries. He (Sir Juliua Yogel) had thought carefully over the position, and wss prepared to bring down proposals which would redaoe taxation, enable him to do without a loan for years, and go on with the railways, but he was actually afraid to doao because of the personal hostility whloh had been excited against him. They were of a different character to tboae last brought forward, and more suited to the different circumstances of the colony. He appealed to the Honee not to awallow the Govern? mert premises without firßt having the details of the pr< poeed retrenchment laid before them If he and those with him thought there was any po ß.ible means of farcing the Government to revbe the ta iff tbiß session the Opposition would not act as tbey were now doing, but tbey reoogn.Bed that they were not strong enough to do so. Sir. Julias Yogel and other members then left the chamber. Mr Faldwick said he Intended to call for a division, because he did not believe tbe statement waß correct that the tariff conld not be revised this session. Seven or eight hours' work would effact all that was required. Mr O'Oonor said that he did not walk out because It was ab-iird to believe that the House c~>uld dp anything mn.e this year than was already set before them. Ho believed their right course m the present financial position was to Btop the railways and baud over their construction to private companies. It was the railways which had landed tbem ln their __onet_ry difficulties. He was In hopes the Government would fhlnk over this propo-itlou, and to that end would endeavor to keep tbem on their benches Bomewhat longer till he paw how their proposals tended. Mr Ward would walk cut If the resolution was put m as a whole but would vote for one section of it, He considered there had been a great waste of time. Mr Samuel thought it was as well Government" had not the extra revenue arising from fresh duties as its Absence I would be an incentive to economy. Mr Grimmond Intended to give bis voice, as he believed m members recording ! their vote.Mr Filjzherbert was opposed to both absolute Protection and absolute Freetrade. He waß surprised Government had not attempted to bring down a revised tariff, and wonld vote against them. Mr Kerr eaid the tariff was the question on which the lata Government had gone to the country. He had pledged himself to try and get the tariff revised at the same time that retrenchment was carried out. The Government was afraid to tonch the matter. The Premier said tbat Sir Jnlius Vogel's aotion was just what they might have expected from hiß previous behavior this session, but he would reoelve no consideration frora them. The proposals Sir Julius Yogel announced were a mere sha-a, and hfo followers knew it. The resolution of the Opposition wan tho opinion of half-a-draon men, for many of the party wonld not go to the meeting. If the Opposition bad su-*h a scheme aB , Sir Julius Yogel alleged, they should certalnJy bring it down, but the faot waa . that they had no such plan. It was a I niere myth. ''Sir Jullub Yogel was going to regenerate the oountry with his scheme . of 1884, but here they were with tbo . sinking' fund gone, and the oountry worofi i off than ever. There w&s a eoheme of lair. 1 year. If they had adopted that tbey would have led the country to Ita ruin. Any revision of tbe tarifjf must be eare- > fully done, end, moreover, there waß go i one la the Honoe who could pretend to \ I say what additional revenue would come m. 1 ( The Premier was Interrupted by tho r p3O adjournment. _ On the House reßuming at 730 p.m. fc tbe Premier continued. They cou'd not Interfere with one or two articles, B golvanleed Iron, etc. What was wanted r was a genera* revision of the whole. The J proposed retrenchments were continued j m the financial statement, and tho Bill o brought down by the Government, b I. seemed to him that notoriety wai t the essence of Sir JhHub "Vogel's life II J b 9 epnld nnfc g«t notoriety he would die c appear from political life. He had got . & .oheme for the regeneration of tht c country, but It was loakgd In his breast it and be was a.raid to bring it forth lea c they Bhonld laugh it out of the House o Where was Sir J. Vngel's patrioiiem if h coqld refuse to divulge a plan that ooul< save the country beea nee he was afraid o 3 » hostility towards himself ? Sir Jullu 9, Vogel's whole effort had been dlreote< ,t towards a ooalition, but be (the Premier tad long wade up his (Bind that he *egb

1 never be a party to it. For hlmßelf h j would say, and all his friend* knew It, that tho position he now held was no seeking of hie, for he bad distinctly said he wonld Dtand asido and support any Government which w^ald go m for r»trenchment Never had the finances of 'he o 1 ny, and they were bad enough m 1874, been so badly managed aa during the last three ypar_. No wonder New Zealand stocks had fallen, and he ventured i to aay they would (all B'.itl further whbn I the finanoial conduct of the late Government became fuby known. He laughed at the idea that he did noi understand ♦he condition of the oountry. Sir Julius Yogel was now posing as a patriot and constitutional-.., attacking him violently both aa the head of the Government and as member f-.»r E'gtnont foe want of oourtesy. Where was his own courtesy 1 Let the empty benches opposite answer. If the hoaorable gentleman continued as he wis doing the benches round him would alwaya be empty. In conclusion he hoped that after the division whloh had been called for, the Houae would address Itself to the business on the Order Paper. It had already done good work by dlfplooing the late Government The House divided— Aya 44, noes 4, The latter consisted ff Mr Fi-ldwlok. Mr Fitj-herbe.t, Mr Stewart, and MrDu o»n. THB 00VBRM0R'8 SALAJCY. The Premier m >ved ths aec-nd reading of the Governor's Salary and Allow* noes Aot Amendment Bill. Anticipating tho objection that the reduction would be derogatory to the dignity of the Governor, he pointed out that the salary would Bctoally remain at the same amount, £5000. but they proposed to Btrlke off the £25C0 of allowances. Mr Seddon wanted to know why the fioauolal debate was not finished before going on with these Bills. To test the question he moved the adjournment of the debits till tbe Financial Statement was finished with. Mr Fisher accused Mr Seddon of merely wasting time. There was no pleasing some honorable members. The financial debate waß dead; Sir George Grey also complained of the postponement of the financial debate. He had had certain proposals to bring forward, whloh he thought might be worth the while of the House to consider, and he hoped an opportunity would yet be given him to do so. , Sir Julius Yogel, by way of personal explanation, denied that he had ever made any overtures to Mrjor Atkinson fer a coalition, or given anyone authority to do bo. He proceeded to Bay that all the difficulties whiob the Premier had got himself into were through not pushing the financial debate along every day* If he did not now allow it to be finished he wonld find the members talking round every one of the Government Bills, With j regard to this Bill he warned them that it would be a mfstake. They would always be involved iv quarrels about money matters with their Governor sodas they had experienced In the past. Ha suggested that they had better make the salary £4000 and allowances £1000 if it must be cut down, and with view of getting thia done m Committee, he would vote for the second reading. Mr Seddon withdrew his motion for the adjournment. Sir George Grey said that exactly ten years ago he had introduced a Bill to redctce the salaries of Ministers, which Major Atkinson bad Bncoesafully opposed. As this Bill was of a financial character, he claimed tl c right ta speak on the i whole financial question. The honorable gentleman proceeded lo debate the aspect of tho finances tf the country. Amongst other things ho contended the property tax ought to be collected on pension*, and the bondholder ought to be tox^d, whioh alone would produced £143,000 a yewr. Further reductions could easily be ___dein the Legislative department, and four Ministers would be enough. Mr Turiibull also spoke at some length m favor of taxing absentees. He would support borrowing prop s.ls, bb money was urgently required to complete railways. Messrs Taylor and Ward spoke briefly, and Mr Walk tr supgested that the financial debate ahonld be allowed to go on. The Premier said it was useless going over the ground twice.' They cou'd spy all they wanted on each Bill as It came up. The thin att-nd.noe Bhowcd little intereßt was being taken m the proceedings. Beplyiog to Sir George Grey, he eaid he resi. ted the reduction of members' salaries 11. 1877 because be thought they were not I .oo low and he thought so still, but the country could not afford them m Its present state. The Bill was then read a seoond time on the voices. SALABIES AJSD ALT-OWANOKS BILL. The Premier moved the second reading of tho Ministers salaries and Allowances Bill. Sir George Gify opposed these reductions. They wot. a mere affectation of economy. Mr Barron hoped the number of paid Ministers would be reduoed to six instead of seven. Mr Moss thought tbat £1000 was ample for any Minister* All allowances ought to be abolished. Mr Turnbull said from the returns laid on the table that night it appeared that one-tenth of the tnxabls real and personal property of New Zealand was owned by 114Q absentees living m England. That alone showed the necessity for getting at these people lv some way. Mr Levestam opposed the reductions, and Messrs Fraser, Newman, Sooble Mackenzie, Allan, Perceval, Beeves (3t. Aiban_), Walker, Menteath, Smith, Ward and Goldlo also spoke. The Bill was read a second iimo on the voices, and the House rose at 1.5 a.m.