Debate en the Abolition Bills.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1711, 12 August 1875, Page 3

Debate en the Abolition Bills.

The House resuming at 7.30, Mr Lnckie ddressed the House at considerable length. ~ty Tidiculed the puerile attempts of P«o----vincial Councils to imitate Parliaments, but t the same time admitted they have perormed some good -work. He referred to the 8 orjd Taranaki war, and paid a tribute of Praise to the policy of Sir George Grey (then Governor), who advocated the verj best >icy regarding the dealings -with natives - viz , that of temporising. Reverting to the Provincial Governments, he said the first blow was the new Provinces Act, the second, the Consolidation of Loans, the third and greatest of all the Public "Works Policy. He considered the old Parliament could deal with the abolition question better than the new one. Those who objected appeared to him ]iie asking a child to pet form the duty n f a man. Be was supported -by the opinion of Disraeli, Gladstone, Todd, 3 ii<l others on this. Re the .Auckland province, it was true the Provincial Government had" discharged its liabilities and had a balance to its credit, but at the expense of stopping all Public Works and merely paying departmental expenses. He deprecated delay in passing the Government Bills. He considered nothing could be gained. He combated Grey's argument that because the average taxation was £4 12s per head, therefore the labourer with his wife and four childreri paid 27 per annum taxation. This ■was perfectly delusive though £4 10s iDJght be the average the poor labourer did not pay that amount. Be the Upper House and its want of affinity with the people, he said he was surprised at Sir George Grey, who fiamed the constitution, and who therefore provided for a nominee chamber, and who himself nominated many of the present members, should now sneer at hiß own creation. He was surprised at Sir George Grey's bad taste. With regard to the eiippc-sed programme of the < pposition he had no objection to a property tax, especially where it affects absentees. He concluded by saying that from his 12 years' colonial experience, he had come to the conclusion it would be impossible to carry out their great policy to a successful issue if subject to all the antagonism of Provincial GovernMr. Montgomery followed. He considered the bill an imperfect measure, though it contained many good provisions. He doubted the possibility of the general revenue yield ing pound per pound to local Boards. If the laud fund has to pay interest on loan, how would it be with the provinces having no land fund ? About this they had not sufficient information. He did not think municipalities would have been so enthusiastic of the Government proposals if such large inducements had not been held out to them. The policy of Government looked like a sapping of the provinces : it was an attempt on their land fund. He then gave a calculation tending to show the bill was not one to meet the requirements of the outlying districts. He instanced Banks Peninsula, which, last year, received £9,252 from the Provincial Government, but, under the provisions of the bill, they would only have received £2,000. Other boards would be treated similarly. He concluded by saying that, while he was convinced that constitutional changes were necessary,he thought a bill of this importance should be relegated to the decision of the people. He would vote against the second reading, and, if the Bill is sent to committee, will endeavour to effect amendments.

Mr Tribe £ad somewhat changed his views since last session, but not in the same way as Mr Wood, last session he said he thought it sufficient for the Government to bring the Abolition Bill to second reading, and then to let it go to the country, but since then, and from what he knew and heard of the feeling of the country generally, he was now convinced the Government would be absolutely criminal if they did not dnring the present session push on to completion their several measures. The country was ripe for them, and great injury would accrue to it from any longer delay. Mr Gibbs said he would vote for a second reading reser/ing the right to vote as he may deem ri£,ht in what the Government propose to substitute in their place. Tlit abolition would be a boon to the colony for Provincial Governments had fulfilled their destiny. From his remarks apparently the speaker does not approve of all the provisions of the Bill, but hopes it will be amended in committee.

The debate was then adjourned to be resumed on Friday at 2 30.

Tairua Inquiry. The Tairua Committee is examining wit nesses under oath to day.