PARLIAMENTARY.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 133, 29 June 1880, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

(From our Own Correspondent.; Wellington', June 2G. The past week lias been one of surprise, The member for Clive, Mr Ormond, whose voice has not been heard on the floor of

the House for a period of nearly three years, took speech in hand the evening of Thursday, and it is not saying too much to add, that he astonished both friends and foes—the former by the unquestionable attack he made on their policy, and the latter by the unexpected countenance, if not support, he gave to their opposition. The No Confidence debate, which stiff drags its weary, winding course, showed palpable symptoms of running to seed. It set out with virulent personal attack and recrimination, and although later its progress was marked with less bitterness and vituperation, it lacked novelty, the one speecli being in a great measure an echo of the other. Altogehter, the debate was becoming stale and unprofitable ; the current opinion being that it would die of attenuation. Ormond however, gave quite a different turn to events, and instead of the debate closing, as was anticipated, a couple of days since, it will extend some distance into next week. The telegraphic summary liss already placed you in possession of an outline of his remarks. 5\ itliout expressing any very decided opinion regarding their practical value, I have no hesitation in asserting that there was a boldness, a freshness about them which cannot fail to arrest the attention of the country, and open out a new direction for thought and speculation. His wholesale condemnation of the Property Tax will not bear out a close investigation. The fact is, that under the exemptions provided for by the Act, not more than one-third of the population will he brought within its operations. Mr Ormond himself does not happen to be one of tbo exempted ones, and being moreover what is commonly known as a “ closefisted ” individual, it is shrewdly suspected bis hostility was prompted more by personal than public considerations. All this talk about the inquisitorial aspect of the affair is nothing more tliad a mere myth ; a cry got up purely for party purposes. Taxation under the most favorable conditions is not an inviting affair, and surrounded as it is in this instance by commercial depression and a badly distressed labor market, it is even less attractive than it otherwise would be. Striking however, as it does, at accumulated wealth—at those whose big profits justify the impost, or whose frugal habits enable them in a great measure to evade the Customs duties, nothing could be fairer and more equitable in its application. Of eourse, ready reckoners like a Ballance or subtle reasoners like a Grey—men whose every argument is designed to twist and turn the natural current of events, can prove to the satisfaction of a blinded following that tiie provisions of the Act are muclEloss just and equitable in their operations. If men would just exercise their own perceptions, however, they would readily perceive that these Mentors are dealing with a class of remote probabilities which might arise under the most righteous dispensation, and that no earthly foresight or human prudence could, by any probability, provide against such ultimatums. Ormond’s proposals about the waste lands and the railways are, to my mind, a trifle more reasonable. Dealing with the former, he suggests that the landed estate should be subdivided into two classes. The land of a nature and selection likely to advance rapidly ill value, to be conserved, and made available as the occasion arose, as land of special value. The other class, lie would dispose of at once ; that is, the class not likely to increase. in value during the present, or even during the next generation. lam just afraid that su""cstion is more plausible than sound. Could purchasers bo had for that description of land ? If they could, I should fancy no proposal, under existing circumstances could be more feasible. Then again, bis remarks quoad the railway. There is something in them worth speculating upon. It is a well ascertained fact that no commercial transaction ever was, or is at all likely to be, conducted wirh the same economy by a Government as it is by a private individual or company. Our railway system stself is a case in point. Nothing can exceed its maladministration. as shown by the report of the Civil Service Commissioners. These two sources alone, Ormond argued, would yield a sum equal to 50 per cent, of the public debt, thereby relieving the nesossity for additional taxation, and leaving Govern meat free to deal with the more legitimate business of colonisation. These are Ormond’s proposals, and I think you will agree with me in saying the least we can do is to thank him for having opened up a new vein of thought and deliberation. Ormond is a benefactor on the principle of the man who makes two blades of grass to "row, instead of one, and that one, as in the case of this no-confidence debate, was in imminent danger of running to waste. The Opposition applauded his remaks to the echo.. They no doubt thought thev had made a convert, and for a time at least, tiie wildest possible speculations were afloat as to probable results. Later developcments, however, proved that although lie was dissatisfied with his own party, °he was not by any means satisfied with their opponents. Instead, therefore, of now hearing about the probabilities of a strong coalescent Opposition, powerful enough to overthrow the administration, we are told Grey would prefer going into the lobbies with the Government party, rather than risk common cause, with that of Ormond, &c. Government, nevertheless, thought the speecli sufficiently important to warrant a trifle more vigilance, and accordingly no fewer than three of its better class of men were put up last night, one after the other. lii these times when so much is talked about economy in the public service, it is "ratifying to hear of a bit of real retrenchment. Your readers will probably remember that the Estimates as brought down cantai net! extra pay to the Chairman of Committees (Mr Seymour), I have good authority for stating that Mr Seymour remonstrated with the Treasurer, for having put him down for extra pay in the present state of finances, and was informed that this vote had been put down by the Speaker, on the ground that while the salary of Chairman, which was fixed by statute, remained the same, the honorarium to members and the length of the session had been doubled, Mr Seymour, as lam informed, thanked Sir Maurice o‘Rorke, hut requested him to state in committee that he (Mr Seymour) desired that the extra pay should not be voted to him in the present financial position of the Colony. This is real economy, and is an honorable piece of self-sacri-fice on the part of the member for \Yairau, which his constituents are not likely to forget. It is said that the report of the Civil Service Commissiones, as regards the allegations against Mr Conyers, the Railway Commissioner, has been somewhat hastily arrived at, and that the conclusions drawn are unfair tothisgcutleman. If this is proved it may tend to weaken the effect of the report.

[By Telegraph.] Monday. The goldfields members are moving in the direction of getting mines placed under the control of a separate Mfnister. There is a report that Government has agreed to re-model the Estimates, making

a reduction of £150,000, but it lacks conUrination.

There is no prospect of the Government defection joining the Opposition. It is reported that Grey and Macau drew want to keep Government in office in the hope that their retrenchment policy will render them unpopular. The Re-distribution of Seats Bill is not finally settled, and may not be circulated for a week.

There is a vague talk about an attempt to repeal the Triennial Parliaments Bill.