Essence of Parliament.

Manawatu Herald, 19 July 1892, Page 2

Essence of Parliament.

Mr Bruce took his seat in the House on Friday afternoon, being introduced to the Speaker by Messrs Scobie McKenzie and J. G. Wilson.

Mr Ward declined to say why he had not drawn his salary, asserting however that if he had taken it, he would have been acting perfectly legally. The motion of the Hon W. P. Roeves " That a Select Committee be appointed to consider how, by arrangement of the tariff or otherwise the manufactures and industries of the Colony may be encouraged, the committee to consist of Mr Buckland, Mr Duncan, Hon. Sir John Hall, Mr Lawry, Hon. Mr Mitchelson, Mr O'Conor, Mr Pinkerton, Mr E. M. i^mith, Mr Tanner and the mover ; with power to call for persons and papers ; three to be a quorum ; and to report within a month," was discussed, and just as the question was about to be put, when Mr Fisher moved the adjournment of the House, to explain his view of the returns of the travelling expenses of Ministers already furnished. He spoke up to the 5.30 p.m. adjournment.

In the evening the Hon. Mr Rolleston commenced the debate on the Financial Statement,

Mr Rolleston said ; —The Premier's statements-regarding the withdrawal of capital was misleading. Capital had been withdrawn, and interest had risen, in consequence of the Government policy. Their policy of self-reliance meant living on the saving 3 of the widow and the orphan in the Public' Trust Office. The condition of the finances was a subject for congratulation, but it was due to the predecessors of the present Government, and to what Government had not been allowed to do — not to anything they had done — to a policy the opposite of the State interference of the present Ministry. It was due to the marvellous developments in the frozen meat and wool industries, and to the growing butter industry. The banks at the present time were giving 5 per cent for deposits, and these facts- showed that there was no room to rely on the trading capital of the colony to carry on the public works. The Government were talking wildly .of Protection, and even of an import duty on coal. They had forced an import duty of 20 per cent on butter and cheese, which had realised 4s on butter and 6s on cheese. There could be no greater mockery than this. The real prosperity of such a country as this depended on the free exchange of products, and the condition of the working classes depended on the prosperity of the country, and not on Labour Bureaux. He never read a statement in which there was so much disguised borrowing. The policy of local borrowing must lead to forcing on borrowing. "We could not continue to carry on public works out of revenue, and the whole edifices to be built round the Public Trust Office would fall down, like a pack of cards. The Land and Income Tax was passing from theory to practice, and those who clamoured most for the change would be most dissatisfied with the result.

The Postmaster- General followed, and then Messrs G. Hutchison and Guiunes spoke after which the House rosel