PARLIAMENTARY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1063, 23 November 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

Last Night's Proceedings.

Wellington, November 23

Mr Reid strongly condemned the seizure of the Land Fund, and expressed want of conScience in Mr Larnach on account of his squatting connections. It was because of his refusal to agree to the extension of tenure in Southland that Mr Larnach ceased to support the late Q-overnment. Mr Stout replied at length to the various Opposition speeches. He ridiculed the idea of the Opposition making the Ministerial policy an open question. He declared Major Atkinson's figures incorrect, and reviewed the!finance of the late Ministry to show its unreliable character. It was shifting from year to year to catch votes. If Otago now suffered it was owing to Mr Eeid deserting his party. He denied the statements of Mr Reid about Mr Larnach. Mr Reid and his party were the real favorites (of the squatters. Settlement on land was more important than the Land Fund. Mr Montgomery desired to see the Government Bills before making up his mind fully on the policy. Canterbury should assist, if the Land Fund was colonalised, in having one land law and a uniform price of land throughout the colony. The bold policy of the present Government was preferable to the petty pilfering policy of the late one, but he would not pledge himself to it till he knew details. He urged direct taxation of 'property as the only really sound economical finance. He urged that this session a tax of say a half-penny in the £, like the Wellington education rate, should be imposed. He had some confidence in the present but none in the late Ministry. He thought the proposed loan rather too large. Mr Ormond considered a uniform price for land utterly impossible. He declared the so-called provincial liabilities and supplementary estimates found by the present Government were only schedules prepared to be considered by the late Ministry. He would strongly oppose most of the former being carried on, and the public money wasted on them. They were chiefly bogus estimates from Otago. He would also oppose the four million loan as unnecessary, and only to be obtained at millions of sacrifice. He condemned Sir G. Grey's reference in his first speech after taking office to £170,000, claims outstanding by contractors, and which Sir G Grey said would probably be found, that most of these were attempts on Messrs Brogden't part to take advantage of the terms of contracts to make the colony pay for works never done. These claims were simply monstrous, and it waa a significant fact that Messrs Brogden's firm were strenuous supporters of the present Ministry, and mainly instrumental

in putting them on the Treaßury Bench. Sir G. Grey said it was utterly false. Mr Ormond repeated the statement. Sir G. Q-rev 3«id he would ask for a committee to investigate the charge, and moved that the words be taken down. The "Hansard" reporters' notes were sent for and the word> taken down. After some alteration, Mi Ormond admitted the words used, and coitended that he was justified in using them lie then withdrew. Mr Stout moved th»e the words were derogatory to the privileges oi i he House, as implying a charge that members' votes were influenced by the contractors, ain that Mr Ormond be required to apologise. Nearly two hours of very warm and rather disorderly discussion ensued, the Speaker several times appealing to the House to preserve order, and at last to let the affair drop. Sir G. Grey denied having had any communication with Messrs Brogden about their claims and said he thought the firm hostile to him upon Captain Holt's former connection with it. Several resolutions and amendments were proposed. Ultimately all were withdrawn in favor of one by Mr Stafford expressing regret that Mr Ormond should have used such words, and asking him to withdraw them. On entering the House Mr Ormond complied with this request and continued his speech. He strongly supported the generalising of the Land Fund now that it could be done without endangering the unity of the colony. He would support the present Ministry in taking the Land Fund and then do his best to pu fcn another Ministry to administer. The motion for going into Committee of Supply was then agreed to. The vote for the Legislative Departments was passed. Progress was reported and the House rose at 1.30 a.m.