PARLIAMENTARY

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 21, 6 August 1892, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, August 4. The Minister for Agriculture, replying to Mr Valentine, said the officers of the department had discovered an error in a : a circular issued by the department giving | directions for the treatment of lambs for worms, and had sent other circulars pointing out the mistake. Mr E. M. Smith asked the Government the following question :— lf they will take into consideration the valnable services rendered to this Colony by the late Sir Harry Atkinson, both in the field as an officer commanding and as a statesman, and, as a recognition of those individual services, will they grant a pension or gratuity to his widow and young family ; and in so doing, will they bring down their proposals dealing with the same without delay, so that hon members may have an opportunity of showing their respect, and of acknowledging the value of his long and faithful services rendered to this Colony ? The Premier, in reply said the Government ngreed with the terms and spirit of the question, and after the fullest consideration, had decided to place a sum of money on the Estimates for the purpose mentioned in the question. They hoped such sum, the amount of which had not yet been settled, would be sujiicient to meet with the appreciation of the House. Mr Hall-Joues resumed the debate on the Budget. Mr Taipua opposed the proposals of the Government with regard to Native legislation. Sir John Hall said it was quite true the Opposition had had to borrow £5,000,000 between 1878 and 1884, but when they came into office affairs had been left in such a state for them that they had no alternative, and he ventured to say the Colony was never in such a dangerous state as it was when they took office. Dealing with the Financial Statement, he said credit was due to the Colonial Treasurer for the early period ot the debate in which it was brought down, and remarked the existence of the surplus was due to natural causes. He contended that part of the saving wap due to overestimation and the fact that certain sums money had not been paid, and in that of respect, he said, the statement was misleading, as it was also in regard to that portion of it which said that, there was a decrease in the liabilities of the Colony. Neither was there any real decrease in the expenditure, and he contended that the surplus was only £'80,000 as £150,000 was due to the Government's predecessors, and nearly half was due to the postponement of the payment of half a year's interest on debentures. Mr Saunders denied that the Government had put one penny on the tax upon improvements. All they had clone was to take them off some and make them affect the previous speaker and his class. He objected to agricultural improvements above £3000 being taxed at nil, and instead he suggested that buildings and dwellinghouses should be taxed, which would make the tax fairer as between cities and the country. Mr Jackson-Palmer moved the adjournment at 12.40 a.m., and the House then rose. August 5. Mr Palmer resumed the debate on the Financial Statement. Mr Eapa said the Native Minister had stated that the present Government was supported by the native people more than any previous Government, but he would point out that the presence of a large number of native chiefs in Wellington just now should not be taken as a sign that they supported the Government. Mr Parata could not agree with Mr Taipua that natives should be put on the same footing as Europeans. Mr Swan and Mr Fergus. also, spoke. Mr Ballance replied and the House rose at 12.15 a.m.