GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2605, 12 August 1882, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

f PRESS ASSOCIATION TILIOKIM. ] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Fbidav, August 11. The House met at 2.39 p.m. this ofter noon. SKILLED LABOB IN PBISON3. Mr Hutchison gave notice that on going into Committee of Supply he would move “ That the teaching of trades and the employment of skilled labor in gaols are regarded by this House os inimical _to an enlightened system of prison discipline, and prejudicial to tho interest of the skilled labor in this country, and that it is desirable that such teaching shall be discontinued as soon as possible.” THB NO CONFIDENCE! DEBATB.

The debate on the second reading of the North Island Main Trunk Railway Loan Bill was resumed by Mr Stbvbns, who said he believed he would be doing Government an injustice if ho did anything to prevent them carrying out their policy, even although he did not acquiesce in that policy in every respect. In a new House it was unfair that an Opposition should expect that they were to fall into its arts without knowing more about them. They were told that none of tho members of the late Government wore to hold office, consequently tho new Government was to be composed entirely of new and unknown men. He asked them to imagine what it would be if the like of Mr Fish, who occupied tbe House the previous night for three hours, was to get a seat on those benches. His speech throughout was a tirade of vulgar abuse, and he asked what else they might expect if ouch as ha got into the Government P The worst that could bo said about the Government was that it had retarded the country in consequence of its extreme carefulness. Although he would vote for the Government on this occasion, he wished it to be distinctly understood he did not fall into the arms of the latter any more than ha did into those of tbe Opposition. The Native Minister had done good service, but ho had a piece of legislation in hand, the Native Reserves Bill, which would work great havoc. Mr Peacock announced his intention of voting for tbe Government. Ho believed that the colony was not unmindful of the great service they had rendered in introducing a firm and determined retrenchment at a time when it was most required. Now that that firmness had brought about an improvement in the general aspect of affairs, it would be unfair and ungenerous to unseat them.

Mr Georgb profaned himself an independent member, who had been brought to vote for Mr Montgomery’s resolution on the ground that he was entirely opposed to borrowing. He criticised the Treasurer in support of the loan, and argued that these would to a very large extent damage their credit in the money market, Mr Dodson disclaimed knowing anything whatever about the paper said to have been signed pledging Mr Montgomery support. He believed in the efficacy of Government by parly, but still he would not sacrifice every, thing to party. He meant to follow Mr Montgomery into the lobby, but on the other hand he was not prepared to support any Government that might be formed by the Opposition, or, as they called themselves, the Liberal party. That party if it got into power had announced its intention of imposing a land tax instead of the property tax. He wished them distinctly to understand he was not with them on that point. He had repeatedly called upon Ministers in reference to the wants of his district, and be had always met with respectful attention, and on no occasion did he ever see the slightest disposition on their part to influence him in the exercise of his vote. That fact had recommended them to him a good deal. He was a party man, and as such he was going to give a party vote. He had every confidence in the member for Akaroa, believing that whether in the Opposition or the Government he would be a good useful man. With his vote to-day ended his obligation to the Opposition. From that time henceforth he would vote for measures on their own merits and get the remainder of the session completed, On no account would be assist in any further attempt to upset the Government. As regarded the next session, he would watoh carefully the effect of legislation during the recess, and bo guided accordingly. The debate adjourned at 5 30. BYENINgTsITTINO. The House resumed at 7.30., when the debate was continued by Mr Fergus. He denied that any case of impeachment had been made against the Government deserving of censure or deposition from office. So far as he could see, the object of the Opposition was to have an “innings,” on the ground that they had been in office long enongh. He had analysed the Financial Statement in the light of the speeches delivered by Mr DeLautour and Sir John Hall, bat he could find nothing in it to support the condemnation launched at it by the former. They had been told that the members of the late Government did not and would not take office. That was a statement that that might gull the galleries, but it could not gull the representatives. The member for Auckland City East, Sir G. Grey, was as essential to any new Government that might be formed as the sun was to noonday. He contrasted the state of the colony now with what it was when the Government took office, and drew a most flattering and satisfactory picture in favor of the latter. The Grey Government he also held responsible for the Native difficulty and its huge expenditure. That had been swept away by the present Government. He gave them the credit also of adjusting the representation and the extension of the franchise. He reviewed the legislation of the present session, which he eulogised as of the most complete and liberal character. If they stopped borrowing proposals wages would go down all over the colony. Mr Bracken spoke against the Government. Every principle and idea of the Opposition had been shamefully filched by the Government. They had all along thrived on the ideas of the Opposition. There was a time when it was otherwise, but now the Government was dead; its body was there, but it had nothing in the shape of intellectual emotion. But for the ideas given to them by Sir George Grey they would be absolutely motionless. Even its beat friends could only claim for it that it was a highly respectable Government. The functions of a Government were to lead publio opinion as well as to adminicles, and the fact was they had not done so i but that, on the contrary, publio opinion had been led by Sir George Grey. The inoompetency of the Government had been most conclusively established. They took a good measure the other evening from Mr Seddon. Had they been competent the session would have been concluded. They were never tired boasting of the improved finances, but that was the case all over the Australian colonies; so that was evidence

that it was not due to the Government of the colony. In the other colonies the Government took no sredit for this improvement. The loan was the motive power that had kept them in office. With the exception of two years they had ruled the colony since 1869. During that time they had borrowed £23,000,000 of money, only £10,000,000 of which had been spent on railways. Now they ware in the field crying out ior another

loan. Their retrenchment policy wt» next alluded to, and fault was found with the irregular manner in which it was carried out. The best men of the service had been turned adrift, under paid clerks and porters had their wages reduced to starvation point, while well paid officers were not interfered with. Goaded by this state of things the telegraphists went out on strike, and this very respectable Government, to punish them, took steps to prevent them getting employment elsewhere. If the Government had a majority, how was that majority gained. The fact was, the simple little word “no ” was expunged from the Ministerial vocabulary. Their motto was, “Askand you will receive.” He was not opposed to loans. What he wanted was to know how it was to bo spent F They might force them to give them a loan, but he could assure them the Opposition would not let them alone until they had got

them removed from those benches and a more competent Government plaoed thereon. Mr Hubbthotsb spoke in favor of a distinct party being formed to put an end to this system of borrowing. He denied that he looked at the question from a local standpoint, He had looked at the question in the light of the coming generation, and the picture he saw was the reverse of flattering. I He denied the statement that taxation was [ lighter how than it was ten years ago; on the contrary, it was largely increased to

what it had been. Alluding to the unsatisfactory state of the colony when the Government took office, he said that that state of things was ths result of want of foresight on the part of the Grey Government rather than to its evil doing or want of capacity. Mr Montgomery wsa in a false position. His speech was designed to catch the non-borrowing members, whereas his policy was not of that nature. Their borrowing schemes in the past had been most demoralising in their effects; their liberal franchises had cot produced the great improvement it was imagined they would do. They had produced no manner of real talent around which parliamentary polities might gather. Had the Public Works policy as propounded by Sir Julius Vogel been carried out in its entirety, they would have been very different from what they were now found to be. He would finish up works absolutely necessary, but he would undertake no new works. By that means he would put an end completely to borrowing, the present time being most opportune. He did not believe the completion of any one of the main trunk lines would be a complete success, at least for many years to □ome. He had oome to Parliament pledged to his constituents to turn out the Hall Government. It was a question with him whether that was the Hall Government or not. It had changed its name, but he could not find it had changed its principles, and he must, therefore, yield his convictions to these higher principles. Hr Smith was opposed to borrowing. He reminded them that tbe last time they were in the loan market they were pledged not to borrow again till the end of the present year. If they hurried in that way at tho very earliest moment they were allowed to do it, it would most certainly operate against their credit. An increase to the loan fund meant an increase of the customs duties. "That was wrong, the extra burden ought to be imposed on the land benefited by the projected works. He objected to the_ North Island loan, alleging that the bulk of it would be expended in Taranaki, through which the main trunk line was proposed to be taken. He recognised the importance of taking it through Waikato, by way of the King Country, but it should be taken across tho country and brought in by tho Bust Coast. In that way it would open »p the Rotorua, and thereby induce a vast influx of tourists from all parts of the country. Along the Coast line, by way of Castlepoint, the settlers reaped no benefit from these loans. Naturally enough these persons were dissatisfied, and argued very properly that tho lands benefited by the loans should be made to bear tho burdens. He further objected to three years’ appropriations being put into this one year’s loan. The oironmstanoes of tVe colony were always changing, and yet this hard and fast rule was made for the period of not lees than three years. Mr MoKejtzib spoke against the Government. He questioned the soundness of the Treasurer’s finance, and denied that restored confidence in the colony was due to the careful management of the Government. Mr W. O. Buchanan supported the Government.

Hr Watt likewise spoke on the same side, and Mr IvE’B on the other.

Mr FitzGbbaij) spoke in favor of the Government. The motion for the second reading was then put, and a division called for by Mr Montgomery.

MINISTERIAL VICTORY. The Home then div Against Ur Uontgi Messrs Atkiaaon Beethim Bryce Buchanan, W. 0. (Wairarapi South) Conolly Dick Driver Fergus Fitz Gerald Fulton Green, J. (Waikouaiti) Hamlin Hobbs Hurst Johnston,C. J. (Te Are) Johnston, W. (Mauawatu) Kelly Levin Mcllraith McMillan For Mr Montgor Messrs Barron Bracken Brown, J. C, (Tuapeka) Buchanan (Napier) Daniel Dargaville Dodson Duncan Feldwick Fish George Harris Hursthouse Hutchison Ivesa Levistam Maoandrew Macdonald Paibs—. Messrs Mitchelson Capt. McKenzie Messrs Morris Williams Hall, Sir John Fulton

Messrs Cadmsn DeLantonr Te Wheoro Moss Bathgate Seddcn

ided, imery's motion—4o. Messrs Macro O’Callaghan Peacock Pearson I Petrie Pilliet

Postlethwaite Rutherford Stevens Sutter Sutton Swanson Thomson, H. (Christchurch North) Trimble Watt Whitaker Whyte. J. B. (Waikato) Wilson, I. (Kaiapoi) Wilson, W. Q. (Foxton) Wright ery’a motion—34, Messrs McKenzie, J. (Moeraki) Montgomery Pyka

Sodden Sheehan Shepherd Bhrimski Smith Steward Taiaroa Tawhai Thomson, J. W. (Clntha) Tomoana Tnmbnll Weston White, W., (Sydenham)

.GAINST. Messrs Mason Allwright Brown, J. E. Whyte, J. B. Eolleston

Messrs Seaton Grey, Sir Geo. Tolo Holmes Green, M. W.

After the division there was considerable confusion about pairs. It appeared Mr Hutton’s “ aye ” had been paired with Mr Joyce’s “no,” and Mr J. B. Whyte’s “aye” with Mr Holmes’ “no” through some misunderstanding, Both Mr Sutton and Mr Whyte voted with Mr Joyce, and Mr Holmes did not vote. The Speaker allowed the explanation to be given, but said that, of course, the House took no official cognizance of pairs, and the numbers recorded could not be altered. On the question that the Bill be now read a second time, Mr DABGAviiiiiß explained that be had voted against the Government because he thought the loan might have been done without till next year, and because the. question was a trial of party strength. He would now support the Bill. Mr Lbvistam announced tha*, now there had been a fair trial of strength, he would be no party to any further opposition. After some further discussion, the motion for the second reading was carried by 45 to

24. . . The following was the second division hit. The numbers were given as 45 to 24, but Mr Isaac Wilson, teller for the ayes, appears to have had his own name omitted, so that the correct n ember should be 46 to 24.

Ayes,

Messrs Atkinson Beet ham Bryce Buchanan, W. C. Connolly Dargaville Dick Dodson Driver Fergus Fish Fitzgerald Green, J. Hamlin Harris Hobbs Hnnt Johnston, G. Johnston, 8. Kelly Levistam McDonald Mollraith

Messrs McKenzie, J. McMillan Moss Munro O’Callaghan Peacock Petrie Pilliet

Poatlethwaite Pyke Rutherford Shepherd Stevens Steward Sutter Thompson, H. Trimble Watt Whitaker , iVhyte, J. B. Wilson. I. Wilson, J, Q, Wright.

Messrs Allwright Barron Bracken Brown, J. C Buchanan, J. Daniel Duncan Feldwick Holmes Hursthouse Ivess Joyce Montgomery

IBS. Messrs [Sheehan Shrimski Smith Button Swanson Taiaroa Tawhai Thompson, J. „ w. ITomoana Turnbull White, W.