GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 707, 25 September 1876, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

(Per Press Agency.) HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, September 22. The House resumed at 7.30. IMPREST SUPPLY. Mr Delatour and Mr R. Wood reiterated the request that Government should tell them what they intended to do with regard to providing for the provinces, and preventing the country being thrown into confusion by the stoppage of public works and public services. The Premier said Government intended steadily to pursue the policy they had laid down for themselves, and when it became their duty to take over the local administration they would do it. As the law now stood, the Superintendents were responsible, and it rested with them to make representations as to their provinces. As a matter of f act,the Superintendents of some of the largest provinces had come to the Government to see about future arrangements for their provinces, but the responsibility did not rest with the Government until Abolition came into force. Of course, if the Government saw that the Superintendents neglected tneir duty, Government would see that the machinery of the provinces did not come to a standstill. Had the Government interfered in these matters before they would have been told they were meddling with their neighbor's duty. The House might rest assured that the Government would see that the country would not be thrown into confusion. Mr Tole moved the adjournment of the debate. Sir G. Grey recurred to the question of what was to be done for the provinces. He said if something was not done the people of Auckland would be justified in solemn convention to look after themselves, and he believed the other provinces would do the same. It appeared to him that the only course to pursue was to prevent this money being granted until they were told what was to be done for the provinces. If he, and those who were acting with him were to be ruined to-morrow week, then the ruin should be general. Desperate men resorted to desperate remedies. If ruin was to overcome them, let it date from that night. They had robbed the people of their rights and were doing nothing for them, They had reduced the House to a state of degradation that no other Assembly in the world had ever fallen to, while the lands, that should be preserved for the people, were made away to friends of the Government. Under these circumstances he would oppose the granting of any money, if he stood alone, until they were told what was to be given to the provinces. The best part of his life had been spent in studying history, and he distinctly saw as clearly as if he were in the midst of the scenes, the descendants of those who had manipulated large tracts of land, trampling upon millions of the future people of New Zealand. Let Government make abolition permissive, and he would render them all

the assistance in his power to make their Counties Biil attractive. Unless they gave him some assurance of what was to be done, he would sit in the House as long as his strength permitted to oppose going into committee of supply, until he had to be carried out. The House went into committee of ways and means. Mr Rbes again raised the question as to providing for the provinces, and the Premier making a similar reply to his previous one, Sir G. Grey asked would the Premier distinctly promise to use his best endeavors to force through a Bill continuing provincialism to the end of the session 1 The Premier—He would give no such promise. After the Bill was read first time the second reading was opposed by Sir G. Grey, Messrs Macandrew and Rees, all of whom wanted to know what the money was wanted for, and why they should not wait until Monday. The Premier said that they wanted a large sum of money to remit to Englandmoney that had to be provided three months beforehand. He had also to remit money to the various provinces, and he could not do it if this Bill were not passed. Mr Rolleston, though not in accord with Ministers as to abolition, would do all he could to promote the business of the House, and get the Bill through, which if not done would be a calamity to the country. Sir G. Grey opposed the third reading, and the first clause of the Bill when put. Further discussion ensued, in the course of which Sir G. Grey said that if this money were not forwarded to England it would be the means of getting the Imperial Government to send out Commissioners to inquire into the finances of the colony. There never was anything great achieved under such circumstances except by stopping supplies. On the clause being again put, Sir G. Grey said if he stood alone he would continue to oppose the Bill at every step, and made a long speech much in the same strain as his previous remarks. The Premier explained that all the Superintendents but those of Auckland and Otago had been in communication with the Government as to the future government of their provinces, but no bargain or private arrangement had been come to. The administration of the provinces should be carried on jointly by Superintendents, Provincial Councils, and the General Government, and until abolition came into effect the Superintendents should do their duty. < After a great deal of opposition from Sir G. Grey, the Bill passed through all its stages. committee of supply. Before going into committee of supply, Mr Montgomery asked if the Premier would inform the House to what extent and in what direction he was prepared to reduce the estimates. The Premier said he would make such a statement before he asked them to pass any e itimates. BRANCH RAILWAYS, Mr Bastings moved—" That Government call for tenders to construct a railway from Waipuhi to Tapanui." There were 17,000 acres of land on the line now ready for sale, and if it was known that a line was to be| constructed, the price of the land would bej so enhanced as to pay for the construction of I the line. J Mr Macandrew seconded. Hon;P. the House was not then in a position to advance any money for new railways at present, and several were asked for; but as soon as they were in a position that line would be the first they would construct. A great deal of discussion ensued, but the balance of opinion was with those who held that the main lines should be first constructed, unless money could be provided for the construction of branch lines. The motion for going into committee having been put, it was lost by 27 to 24. Upon the resolution being put, the Premier pointed out the great difficulty ex° perienced in getting money for the ordinary wants of the country, and said that if the-House was going to vote for branch lines which must necessarily be constructed—if they were to be forced into construction of lines of this kind—the Government would have to exceed the borrowing powers they proposed themselves. A division was then taken upon the resolution, which was lost by 28 against 27. The House adjourned at 11.25.