GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 988, 25 August 1877, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Telegeaph.] [pee peess agency.] gHOTJSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, Attgdst 24. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr Swanson moved an adjournment to 7.30 p.m., to enable members to attend the football match. A division took place—Ayes, 14; noes, 43. NEW HILLS. The following new Bills were introduced — Wellington Municipal Loans Consolidation Amendment (Travers), Crown Grant Act Amendment (Brandon), Canterbury Rivers Act Amendment (Fitzroy). ME HEADER WOOD'S MOTION. On the motion for going into Supply and Mr Reader Wood's Land Fund Amendment, Mr Kelly said he could not agree with Mr Wood, as the time was inopportune to consider the" question. The Government should during the recess consider the question, and how to promote settlement by setting aside a fixed proportion of all land revenue for opening up the land for settlement, by making roads and bridges. Dr Wallis, referring to the former debate, thought that property and income were already sufficiently taxed, and he did not coneider himself at all pledged on the subject. Mr Gisboene opposed Mr Wood's resolution. He did not understand the reference to clause 16 of the Abolition Act, which was repealed by the Financial Arrangements Act. He did not think land revenue should be mixed with general revenue, but should be devoted to promoting settlement and colonisation by the local bodies in districts in which it arose.

Mr Woolcock moved an amendment to make Mr Wood's read —" That in the opinion of the House, owing to necessity there was last year of meeting' part of the ordinary, expenditure of the country by the issue of Treasury bills, the land fund shoidd after, the present year, be made part of the ordinary revenue appropriated annually by the House." Mr Rowe sympathised with Mr Wood, and would have supported him if the motion had been made in the ordinary way, but, as proposed, it was a vote of want of confidence. The land fund should be made colonial revenue, but at the same time the whole subject of land administration should be considered and the price throughout the colony equalised. The Government were taking the land fund in bits, like the man who out of mercy cut off his dog's tail a little bit at the time, although it would suffer less if it were all taken at once. He held, however, that a certain portion should be left for the purpose of settlement to local bodies. He had more confidence in the present Government than any Ministry which the Opposition could form.

Major Atkinson said the Government would not accept the motion or any amendment on it. They joined direct issue on it, and would resign if beaten. He did not propose to discuss the question now, as it was utterly impossible at present to do anything on the subject. Mr Reynolds characterised the motion as dishonest. The .House would break faith with the South by making any alteration in regard to ownership of the land fund under the bargain which the Abolition Act rectified last year. If such a motion were carried the South could make Government responsible till separation were granted. He objected to postpone the settlement of the question from year to year till an opportune time arrived. Before that arrived they must have equitable representation in proportion to population, so as to discuss it fairly, which could not be done while Taranaki and Napier had each three members. Mr Giubs did not think it desirable to discuss the question this year, or make the land fund colonial revenue.

Mi' Joyck was prepared to accept the natural consequence of abolition, which was generalisation of the land funds. Dv HODGKIN3ON thought Llie sound principle was to treat the land fund as capital, not revenue, and return it to the land from which it was derived. Although the necessities of the colony might use a portion of it, the local appropriation of a portion should be settled by law. The colony was now reduced to a state of chaos only to be remedied by the reconstruction of the constitution.

Mr LtraiSDKN thought it painful to see those who formerly fought For the preservation of the land fund, now eating their own words. He would prefer separation to this. He would oppose the. motion. Mr Beown (Tuapeka) protested against the Government putting everything off for a year. It was very well for them after that day's meeting to take a stand. He would heartily support Mr Wood's motion.

Mr Fisher opposed taking the land fund, but, if his tail were to be cut off, he would prefer to have it done at once. The colony was now learning to regret abolition. Mr Wood asked Mr Woolcock to withdraw his amendment, so as to allow a direct vote between himself and the Government. If Government got a certain warning they would not be so bold. He had not buttonholed and lobbied for support. Nothing in his resolution prevented a portion of the land fund from being returned for local purposes, and the House could appropriate what it could spare for local purposes. Mr Woolcock refused to withdraw his amendment.

Mr Wood (Mataura) opposed the motion. Mr Shrimski opposed the motion. He thought half a loaf better then no bread, and and giving up part of the land revenue better than giving it all.

Mr Stout thought the question really one of money. As far as Otago was concerned it meant only whether the counties should have £IOO,OOO divided amongst them this year. If a fair tax were imposed on real property he would not object to give up the land fund, but not otherwise. He believed next year the Government would take the land fund in preference to imposing a land tax. This would fall heaviest on Otago, which alone had conserved its land. The Government had deluded Canterbury into sanctioning abolition, and it was now breaking faith with the colony. There was, howevei', a grim satisfaction in seeing those who had forced on abolition, especially the monied Legislative Councillors, deceived and punished. They would soon have a democracy which they would be powerless to stem. He coidd not support the motion. The only remedy for the present unsatisfactory condition of affairs was an appeal to the people, and lie intended to give notice of a motion for an address to the Governor to dissolve the House, so that people of the colony might be able to consider these questions of taxation and land fund, and say who they wished to govern them. The question of the constitution of the Upper House would also soon have to go to the people, as that Chamber now only represented a monied class. Mr Rees commented sti-ongly on the inconsistency shown by many members in regard to this motion. The debate was interrupted by adjournment. Saturday, 12.16 a.m. The following is the result of the division on Mr Eeader Wood's land fund resolution : Fob, 13—Dignan, Grey, Hamlin, Nahe, O'Borke, Eees, Sharp, Sheehan, Swanson, Takamoana, Tole, Wallis, Wood (Parnell). Ag-ainst, 46—Atkinson, Ballance, Barff, Beetham, Bowen, Brandon, Evans Brown, Bryce, Burns, Cox, Fisher, Fitzroy, Gibbs, Gisborne, Harper, Henry, Hodgkinson, Hunter, Hursthouse, Johnston, Kelly, Kennedy, Lumsden, Macandrew, McLean, Montgomery, Moorhouse, Morris, Murray-Aynsley, Ormond, Pyke, Eeid, Eeynolds, Eowe, Eussell, Seymour, Shrimski, Stafford, Stevens, Sutton, Tawiti, Teschemaker, Wason, Whitaker, W. Wood, Woolcock. Pairs : For —Curtis, Eichmond, McFarlane, Baigent, Lusk, Joyce, Travers. Against— Larnach, Bastings, Murray, Fox, Button, Eichai'dson, Seaton. Mr Manders, who intended to vote against the resolution, was locked out.

PARLIAMENTARY INCIDENTS.

[PEOM THE COKEESPONDENT OF THE PEESS.] Wellington, August 24. Mr Header Wood's motion as to the generalisation of the land fund will result n a mere flash in the pan. The Government held a caucus to-day, attended hy 46 members, representing 52, who decided to reject the motion. It was said that the Otago members had decided to support Mr Wood, and possibly they might have done so had they felt sure of ousting the Ministry, but finding they cannot do so, I expect to sec them all voting with the Government. Mr Wood introduced his motion in the usual way. The Opposition worked this session without consulting his friends, and he will be found with a very small following on the division. Thus the land question will probably be set at rest for the session. Mr Wood's speech was a forced attempt at eloquence, assisted largely by gesticulation and quotations. A division was expected all this afternoon, but did not take place. Mr Rces spoke till the adjournment, and has resumed since dinner with his usual assertions and charges. Each time he speaks his audience in the House gets thinner. On this motion being negatived the House will go into Committee of Supply, thus shelving Wakefield's resolution. Mr Eowc spoke this afternoon, and compared the Southern provinces to a dog having its tail cut off joint by joint, instead of at one operation, the comparison causing much laughter.