PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 11 July 1891, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

» HOUSE OF BEPBESENTATIVES. TUESDAY, JULY 7. The Hon the Speaker took the 3hair at 2.30 p.m. THE FINANCIAL DEBATE Mr Wilson resumed the debate, saying that settlemant was not likely to be promoted by the regulatings brought in by the Minister for Lands and giving instances where they had not worked well in his locality (Palmei'ston). With regard to the totalisator, he not exactly agree with it but as gambling could not be prevented, the totalisator was the best form, and should be taxed. He thought however it was too high. He approved of the reduotion of postage, but thought something might ha\e been done to reduce the taxation on the necessaries of life. He had hoped, too, that some of the surplus would have been devoted to electing school buildings in country districts, and lie hoped that the Minister would yet do.so.^ With regard go the incidence of taxation, he said that the Government had not only put a graduated tax on the large estates but upon all farmers, because money on mortgage paid Is 8d income tax, whereas niq;*ey on any security paid only Is. / There would hus ba an inducement for people to .vithdvaw their money from mortgage investments, and there would be a jreat difficulty for farmers to get money at all. He also objected to one income tax proposals, considerno: that they were not fair to the lifterent classes. He could not supiort the financial proposals of the Government. Mr Valentine spoke against the proposals. At the Evening Sitting, Mr G. Fisher spoke t-trongly against the Government, but concluded by saying that he should support Mr Fish's amendment because it affirmed the desirability of introducing into the country the abolition of the property tax and the introduction of a land and income tax. As an abstract principle, and on no other account whatever, he should support it. Sir John Hall objected to the proposals but would endeavour to make them as little harmful as possible. Messrs Rhodes and Wright also spoke and then the House rose at 1.45.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8. The Speaker took the chair at 2.80. . ' - Mr Dawson resumed the discussion on ths finansial proposals of the Government. Messrs Saunders, Buchanan, Duncan, Taylor and the Hon. Mr Fergus also spoke and then Mr Duthie said he rose to move an amandment, which was " to omit ■ill the words of the amendment after the word ' Government,' with a view to make it read as follows i — that it would bo more in the in fcerests of tho public, in view ,of the surplus estimated to ba available by the Financial Statement and the 1 proposal to reduce the postage rates, that any relief to be given should bi in the direction of a reduction of the duties on the necessaries of life." The Colonial Treasurer, who was received with applause, asked the leader of the Opposition whether it was moved with his approval or not. Mivßryce said it was not moved as a vote of want of confidence. It was not proposed to discuss the amendment at any great length. Further questioned by the Colonial Treasurer, he said he approved of the amendment. The Colonial Treasurer said they accepted it as a vote of want of confidence and they accepted it as a hos t\le motion. The country would see through the amendment, and they were prepared to vote on it at once. , . , A few other members having had a say, the amendment proposed by Mr Duthie was then put, and a division taken. The figures were — Ayes, 88 ; noes, 16. The original resolution was then put, and carried on the voices. The following is the division list :— • 4 yes, 88. -Messrs Ballance, Blake, Buick, Cadman, Carncross, Duncan, Earnshaw, Fish, (teller), Fisher, Guiness, (teller), Hall, Jones, Hogg, Houston, G. Hufcchinson, W. Hutchison, Kapa, J. Kelly, W. Kelly, Macdonald, MacGuire, J. McKenzie, Meredith, ' . H. Mills, Parata, Perceval, Pinkerton, Rees, W. P. Reeves Saunders, seddon, Shera, E. M. Smith, W. C. Smith, Tanner, "Taylor, R. Thompson, T. Thompson, Ward. . Noes, 16. — Messrs Bryce, Buckland, Dufchie. 'teller), Hall, Harknfiss, M. J. S. Mackenzie, Mackenzie, Moore, Newman, Richardson, Rolleston, Swan, Taipua, J. W. Thompson, Valentine, Wright, (teller). The Premier moved that the Speaker leave the chair, and the House resolve itself into a Com* niittee of Supply. The motion was carried on the i

voices. The Minister for Public Works moved the adjournment of the House, which was carried. The House rose at 1.50,

THURSD\Y, JULY 9. The Speaker took the chair at 2.80 p.m. Mr Tanner resumed the debate on the motion " That the Speaker do now leave the chair in order to go into Committee of Supply." He would not, he said, support any proposal to. borrow money in any market, either foreign or colonial.Sir George Grey, who was received with applause, said he had been encouraged to speak from the excellent address which he had just heard. They hadentered upon a new epoch what was likely to be a peaceful and triumphant march, and there was generally a feeling of satisfaction with what the Parliament had done. The present Parliament had to consider whether they were returned to put a tax on the unearned increment. It must be admitted that they had been so returned. Then.it was said that the owners of vast tracts of land would be ruined, but they were not claled upon to consider that. One difficulty before them was the fact that they had not only one legislative body, and he was satisfied that they had suffered much from the second chamber, and it was their duty to abolish that Chamber, which was responsible to none, which could interfere with the making of desirable laws, and which was there in the interest of great landowners and banks, who would otherwise be without representation. Why should they be compelled to submit to the degradation of being ruled by those who had no prescriptive right of ruling themselves or others. They could do no greater good than by declaring that no one should be able to make laws who had not been elected by the country, and not till then could they rightly consider themselves free men. Mr Percival followed. He was friendly disposed towards the Government, and thought the Government were entitled to ciedit for having faced the question, and should be assisted in every way by their supporters, which he felt sure would be done. The Minister of Public Works then rose. He resented the remark thai the Government were afraid their hand would be forced by Sir George Grey ; the Government looked upon Sir George Grey as a '"tower of strength, and as one who would insist on the Government giving the people their just rights. They did not fear Sir George Grey, and what was more they did not fear the Opposition. The House rose at 1.10.