PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 34, 30 August 1851, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

The receipt of English papers by the l£ Bangalore " enables us to continue into May our abstract of the proceedings in the Imperial Parliament.

On the 7tli of April Mi1. Herries moved that the income tax should be continued in such proportion only as might he necessary for the discharge of the public services, and the due maintenance of the national credit. Although opposed to the tax in toto, he shewed that it might be reduced from 7d. to od. in the pound, and would then afford an addition to the revenue of 1,550,0002., whereas the measure proposed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer would only afford a relief of 1,200,000. The sanitary objections to the window-tax might be obviated by a mode of assessment irrespective of the number of windows. At any rate the income tax had the first claim for abolition. Mr. Prinsep objected to the tax as falling upon realisation rather than expenditure. Mr. Baring supported Mr. Herries on account of the injustice of the tax, although he could not desire so much of the surplus to be made away with. Sir R. Inglis, Mr. F. Peel, and other members spoke against the amendment, which, on a division, was lost, the majority for the ministers being forty-eight.

Lord Ashley brought in a bill on the Bth, to encourage the construction of lodging-houses for the working classes. The bill, he observed, would be simply permissive, being nearly a transcript of the former measure for the establishment of baths and washhouses. The council of any borough were to be empowered to charge the expenses on the borough fund, and vestries of two or more parishes might concur in adopting the act, which was to be carried out by commissioners.

A lengthened debate ensued on a motion by Sir 11. W. Barron, " that this House resolve itself into a committee for considering the state of Ireland, with a view to relieve the distress there existing." This motion was lost by a majority of only nine.

The Corporation Bill for the enlargement of Smithfielcl market was thrown out o"ii the 9th by a majority of 122. The Government Bill for its removal tjien passed its second reading-, and was committed. It is predicted that it will meet with opposition in the Lords, on the ground of its violating ancient charters. On the 10th of April Sir William Moleswortb

brought on his motion upon the Colonial expenditure of the United Kingdom, which he declared to be excessive. He shewed from statistics, that for the year 1846-7, (since which time there were no complete colonial returns,) the whole colonial military expenditure amounted to four millions sterling. He argued that no troops should be maintained in the colonies except for strictly imperial purposes, and the expence of troops for local requirements be paid by the colonists; that the colonial policy hitherto had not tended to teach them self-reliance. After commenting at great length upon the government of Sir Harry Smith, who,he said, was, with Lord Grey, responsible for the present Kaffir war, he described the Cape of Good Hope as not worth the price we should have to pay for it, and concluded by moving two resolutions, one to the effect that steps should be taken to relieve the country from such expences as he had denounced; and the other to the effect that it was expedient to give to such of the colonies as were not military stations, or convict settlements, ample powers for their local self-govern-ment. Mr. Urquhart seconded the motion, declaring that if the government of this countrydid not put down the colonial department, that department would put down the colonial empire. The proposition was advocated by Mr. Cobden, and Mr. Adderly, and opposed by Mr. Hawes and Lord John Russell, his lordship contending that on the removal of the military forces the colonies would fall into the hands of other countries, and become, in times of war, hostile stations. Mr. Adderley, in his speech, referring to the Constitutional Association of New Zealand, described it as a sort of Convention Parliament, which sat side by side with the Legislative Council, and seemed to feel more in accordance with the interests of the colony, than the Governor and Council did. That Association had lately stated, in an address to Earl Grey, that they were ready to abandon the pecuniary advantages which might flow from a large government expenditure, if they could obtain the full establishment of a free system in the colony. In its remarks upon this debate, which was adjourned, the Morning Chronicle says, " If Sir W. Molesworth's moderate and safe proposition cannot command a hearing now, with a Kaffir war and a missing surplus, colonial reform is a chimsera."

(To he continued.)