Essence of Parliament.

Manawatu Herald, 23 July 1892, Page 2

Essence of Parliament.

On Wednesday the Premier thought it advisable to intimate that no questions would be 1 answered before Friday. The Financial Debate was continued by Mr W. Hutchison who expressed approval of the Government. Mr Duthie criticised the Statement unfavourably to the government. Mr W. McLean made a long speech in the evening, of course, on the government side. Mr T. Mackenzie it credited with making a very able speech, in which he introduced many amusing stories, which greatly enlivened the proceedings. He said the talk about " not having servile dependence on the London money lenders " was to be depreoated by every right-thinking person. Mr Hogg followed, after which the House adjourned.

The Premier promised, on Thursday afternoon to lay the correspondence between the Government and General Booth "at the earliest moment possible ! "

Two questions of privilege were raised, one by Sir John Hall, the other by Mr Ehodes. Sir John Hall moved that the paper laid upon the table purporting to be a return of the increase or decrease of the public debt, was incorrect and that it be sent back to the department for correction. The Government succeeded in defeating the motion.

The Municipal Corporations Bill and the Gaming and Lotteries Act Amendment Bill were read a first

time.

The House went into oommittee when the Wanganui Hospital Board Vesting Bill passed through committee without amendment, and was ordered to be reported.

The Wellington City Sanitation Loan Empowering Bill nearly got lost in Committee, Mr W. McLean having moved to insert a new clause as follows : — M That before any loan is authorised by this Act, the Corporation shall, upon taking the votes of the ratepayers upon the question whether a loan should be authorised, also take a vote of the ratepayers whether the special rate to be levied upon the unimproved value of the land as assessed under the Land and Inoome Assessment Act, 1891."

Mr Duthie vehemently opposed this amendment and after a long discussion it was withdrawn, and Bill passed without alteration.

The second reading of the Wairarapa Hospital Bill was interrupted at the 5.80 adjournment.

In the evening Mr Soobie Mackenzie took up the debate on the Financial Statement. He said the whole Statement might, if shorn of the fustian, be comprised in three pages. The policy was a most vicious and dangerous one, more so by the peculiar cloak of virtue and " economy " with which it was covered. He compared the retrenchments made by the Atkinson Government and the present to the disadvantage of the latter. The policy now was to sweep everything into the Trust Office funds and borrow' from that. The previous Government had proposed last year to borrow from public funds on the excellent security of the land adjoining a railway in Otago (the Central), but the present Premier had characterised this as *' underhand " borrowing, initiating a system of borrowing in its very worst form. The Premier at that time stated that he wished to see an end to borrowing. He wanted to know how was it that the Minister of Lands had claimed that his was the first Government that had "faced the music," and reduced the public debt, when it was a fact that the Atkinson Government had reduced the floating debt by

£128,000 to make up the deficiency left by the present Treasurer. He concluded by assertihg that the time would come when the people would discover that Liberalism without liberty was like the dead body after the soul had left it. They could leave the Government to themselves to defeat themselves.

The Hon W. P. Reeves followed and made a slashing speech. He mentioned that the Government intended to go on with necessary works without borrowing The members of the Opposition and thgir supporters in the press had done their best to create a panic amongst those having money invested in the Colony, but a return showed- that from June 1890 to June 1892 the amount on mortgage had only sunk from £2,877,000 to £2,849,000, The River Plate Cornpan j had withdrawn a quarter of a million, but the other companies had increased their in' vestmentg to the extent of £275,000. As to the assertion that the cost of charitable aid had increased,, he stated that, there had been a reduction from £74,546 in 1891 to £70,^01 in 1892 In conclusion he desired that their proposals be judged as to how would it benefit the country ? That should be the question. In considering it he thought that whatever might be their party differences, they should take a cheerful vie'-fr of this bright, prosperous country. Working thus, they could all strive for the benefit of New Zealand, concerning which both sides shonld say, " our country first-" After supper Mr Rhodes spoke for a short time, and the House adjourned at 12.80.