PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 406, 25 June 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

In the Council on Tuesday, The Hon P. Whitakef; laid on the table the report of the inquiry into Volunteer misconduct Sft the late review, with all papers relative,, tHereto. • , ... ; Colonel therefore, v withdreiV • his motion \ fof inquiry l ; promising to re- • introduce it if after reading the t papers.-'' ■- •■'■'""■y f - ■_ ; . 'Colonel Brett ! 'Baid" he had important letters on the subject,' which he would plage in member's hands. The Hon W. Mantel I moved the second reading of the Deceased Wife's Sister Marriage Bill. Captain Fraser supported the measure. Colonel Whitmb're opposed the Bill in a speech of some length, concluding by moving-—"That it should be thrown out." On a division, 16 voted for the Bill, and 12 against. The result was received with cheers. Some Bills were passed through Committee, and

The HbnW.S. Peter gave notice to introduce a Deceased Husband's Brother Marriage Bill. (Laughter). The Council adjourned at 5 p.m. In the House of Representatives, The No-confidence Debate was resumed by Dγ Wallis. He strongly urged the admission of females to pnlitical privileges, and protected against the growth of protection under the guise "of enco'jraging , native industries.' TheyFree. Trade, and nil the other items,of the- •' Liberal programme, which'Sir,George orey > was the proper, mah.'ro, as ,.«, Premier.' "•''•■■' • ' ' ';)'''?'. \ ■'.■■' r'i,\i' » The Hon' W. GieWOrne crjijcijjed the. various political 'changes which characterised the career "b'i the , metfibep. for ,Waiteinata. Whatever errdrs or accidents jn its administrationmfty-haW occurred, the Public Works 'yotibfyi was .■;■ statesmanlike: -pptlfyj ahtf |rad(Hj&'ne.,-») jjfih;- M towards the : adVa'nc6ment 'th's Colony. .preßsion.4rtight be, ',ifhi: sound ;at%earti/a'nd^;,,,' J iWfipjuld y.et. rise to'aW'l^enijpprii^.j , ... difficulties. ( Be criticisedl , - in'lhe eetimafes. 10 sljQijrHhat th'o; w?|nsr—-; , i lineint , \Bok^ fly ; T '■'.. Cffthie clteß|KHea*it cerfaiii'-eulmicliee which i|ia«J pbtybey'rr , paid. ; Biit; these subjidiea ■iVrouid-have, to be paid. ' ()«e''itiighi.' a» ;■ '■well grant proiniseory note for his debt,: ami then claim that ho hud effected a money Saying; •Tho renl saving did not ■exceed some £700 or £800 in departmental expensed, and that was all despite the '. great amount of the credit Government had taken to itself. This whole fiscal policy of .Government whs shadowy, and not what the Colony demanded at, a period ; like' this .in. Us hintory.

Mr Mur-iay defended the Property Tax as being even loss inquisitorial than an Income Tax, in favour of which the other side spoke so strongly. He supported the proposals for local finance-on economic principles, as localities, if left to their own resources , in* that way, would tnke good care not to Ux higher than absolutely necessary, and expend it to the very best advantage. He approved of Native lands being taxed, but did not approve ,of the tax proposed to be levied on Crown lands.

Mr Montgomery said that ojie point at least whb plain front the Financial Statement, namely, that there was a deficit* of £25,000, which the Treasurer proposed to turn over till, next year. He regretted thai a questk>» nf each serious moment ehonld be dealt with in a party spirit. Last year the Government professed that they had not Had to fmmo reduced estir mates, promising to do ro during tho recess.- Now they* emid that the thing , would occupy thorn until nest session. Considering the pressing iinportanco of making a reduction, the subject ought not to bare been put off from time to timein this way. All the Treasurer's promises of financial reform irindo last session had been br6ken.' He very'strongly condemned '• the manner in which the Government, proposed to treat local bodice, and espeoially the constitution and. functions of the Board—wbicTV s lfiul beep defined as one to 1 encourage bi'ibery'. He differed from many of bis party in thinking that all real properly, including improvements, should be taxed. Such a tax would be ! preferable to either the Land Tax or the Property Tax as at present; but if the low : were enforced, then certainly the incomes of those whom it did not reach should bo taxed also. Referring to the Beer Tax, he said he had voted ngainst it two years ago as an attempt to introduce an excise, and he would vote against'it r agairi.. The objection to it being 'a tdx on Joeal industries was mitigated by fhti Miy'&n imported beer being also-raised. ThV-raiHOtint/pro-posed to be levied was excessive,,, but, he would not vole for it or any other tax, anlese he saw very con&irfefable reductions made in the departmental expenditure. Not £50,000, but nearer £200,000 Would have, to be struck off, irrespective of personal or party feeling. He counselled members to lay aside party spirit and do all they possibly could, to assist th#t3olony out of its present difficulties. lit the paW they had been intoxicated with prosperity, but those days had gorio by, arid v the most rigid economy would be necessary to keep' things straight. If the House was true to itself in carrying out that principle they would yet ba able to pull through their difficulty and make things come out right. He.regretted that such a false issue an the present motion had been raised, but at the eifcme time when the motion came to a vote he\should 1\»! ln»nn>> f.o vof.~ for it. Mr Hurst took a very gloomy vie*' of

the financial position of >the Colony. He agreed with Mr Montgomery that all party consideration should be , thrown aside in trying to find a remedy. He attributed the depression under which the Colony laboured only to the two succeeding harvests which turned out bad, and the low price of wool, together with an indiscriminate system of free immigration. He would always be found, ready and willing to assist this or any other party to whom he might be attached in an honost endeavour to carry out retrenchment—not a panic retrenchment, but a settled determination to do this work effectually.

Mr Saunders said he sympathised with the amendment, and would espouse it if he could divest his mind of the idea that its real object was to bring about a change of Government. With the financial proposals brought forward he disagreed, and lie hoped they would be in many respects modified. What he desired to see was an honest, earnest desire to remedy the evils brought on by past extravagances. It was really necessary that a very determined stand should be made against the horde of civil servants by whom they were surrounded. What ho would advise was that Parliament should vote a moderate amount, and say to the Government " You must make that suffice for departmental purposes." The position of the Colony was such that any treasurer who would bring things right again deserved the I>est thanks they could give him. Regarding what they could tax he pentioned'land so as to make it touch the improvers as little as possible. Then, again, they might tax accumulated wealth, furniture, carriages, &c., but when they attempted to tax machinery the agency by which wealth was produced, they attempted a very dangerous experiment. He believed in taxing the professions. It would be all the better if there were fewer lawyers amongst them, and also fewer parsons, so that they might all be able to meet for' devotional purposes without being pestered with those nice theological distinctions by which they wero kept apart from each other. Then there were the doctors. He thought they would be better if there were none of them at all; of course he ■did not refer to surgeons. Mr Reid opposed the principle of the Property Tax, which he said was condemned by all political writers as opposed to progrese, and the general welfare of the country. He next referred to the various Eoyal Commissions. Heat first thought their appointment was wrong, but since he saw the report of the Civil Service Commission he had changed his mind. Government was bound to follow up that report. There were a gieat number in the service ■who could be well dispensed with. He also believed that the Native Industries Commission would present a valuable report. He had no faith in the Railway Commission. He complained that' the gold mining interest was being neglected. On the motion of Mr Macandrew, the debate was adjourned till the following day and the House rose at 11.15 p.m.

On Wednesday the Council threw out the Mporhouse Services Recognition Bill by 17 to 9. ■■■"■. ..„.',,. On the motion to go into Cqmmittt* on the Deceased Wife's Sietet* [Bill;' the opponents of the measur* , its, progress by various means, a-Bsef tihjir'ihal; it was attempted to be hurrie'd/WotfgK, while those most opposed <#,«'" Were away, not knowing it would be ( brought on. Ultimately, after thudi,; discussion and half a dozen divisions, in Uvo of which the {Speaker was obliged to give a casting vote, the committal of the measure was postponed to July 1, for which date Mr Menzies gave notice for a, •'call "of the Council.

In the Hoxiste of Represeritativee. Mr Macandrew aßked certain quention& as to the production of the evidence in which the report of the Civil Service Commission was based. Under cover of a motion for adjournment an animated debate ensued on the report, from which, we regret to my, it waa abundantly evident that members cared a great deal more about defending the privileges of their friends in the service than effecting any reforms, however urgently needed. The Non-confidence Debate was resumed by Mr Thomson, but flagged greatly owing to the counter attraction of a ball given by Lady Robinson, and the House adjourned at 10.2 C p.m.