PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 195, 18 August 1874, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

mßM^^^P'yyy .W*_-._,_noton, August 17. of Representatives to-day, KB^P^rfetlie debate commenced, .Mr O'Rorke |B^^^^?_^.tae nndei^tood" that the Premier had _____§_^_^|^^nit-he i Bad' n t given any notice to tbe msß^^Sukwe^ot '■- his intention to resign it M^l^fltlSibolition resolutions were presented. B^^-^^fiMnid 7' assure ' the whole Hou_e that B^^^laP-l'Ca-^-d-^-inctly - state that be would ___^^M^^fi&oinotXon was gone on with. He g^^^^^tted that the Premier was not present, BS^^^tn%ewere, r however,, three members of B^S^Jj^^ffmt.; present, and it w.s for them to m___W^^tivSlm9 the truth, he or the Premier, w^^afel-etthoaaht the House disbelieved him, he mnrjmT*^ '^'T **"■•■ House! that instant. WB^^-flilSVogel.' ■' who then came in, eaid that have been the difference j^^^_^*een^nim and his late tolesgue, he did j^^^^^thbik he had pursue 1 the übuhl course Parliamentary usage and [^^^^WW-tU^ind heinotanced the case of Lord several other Engliah BE^§»li-m, to; show" tbat the explanation was H^^^^^-onbary to all pre-edent. The reso-*-«n submittfd to the Cabinet, was j^^^Sitovediby the - maj-rity . and though the BBijyipfenlisin^bfr" opposed the resolution, they to .oppose that he would have _^m__^^^^saf^i. a peculiar ana disloyal coarse __^__§|^^_^^Ue»gu es. . Though the Cabinet did B^^lpilf jcgoii:' of bis intention to resign, it appeared members outside the Cab.net did, JB^^gJM^evjgt the: newspapers had the information B^^|S^t°ffrauhg.77lt was not an unusual thing H^^^iiWß_nbers. f of a Cabinet to retire, but it H^^^^^stomaiy toileave ma friendly spirit, S^^wdCieftPtdbqßlv to abstain from connecting with the Opposition. It was the thohocu gentlrman's retirement of Bgj disapproved, and not bis resignation \W l *' r * no^ 8 * n^ M'Lean said that the Si l^l-j. geaUeman had signified in the Cabinet, resolution were very repugnant to B| Jbey had no idea that he intended to H^^^S-trl^Lean was surprised that a gentleman knowledge of Parliamentary hare acted in so unusual a B^^^^__(r TRicJ-ardson corroborated what his said, Heknew that Mr O'Rorke did S^^^^^KM-JMie, bnt did not know that he in--o7ierign when be did. said he did not stand iv the BB^^p^P^Of leader, but he was -requested by occupying very influential positions to move that the propogel off, revolutionary character, and f^^^^^o^vx^ved eatSLcieat consideration. The should have been made aware of it Premier was visiting the ll§JpjiCblony, bnt be gave no intimation that such j^^^ajbu-ge change was intended. Parliament still no intimation was given. He |^^^^rf^betrayed the country by so precipitating He would not accuse the hon. _WsMS^pstt 6f duplicity in his statement tbat the Eoreats bill bad drawn his mind to the but he should think that this great been brought ia on the spur of ; It was a pity that such great changes should be due to tbe humors of the hon. gentleman. W hat the ■ country feel when such a was brought forward under feelings |^^^^inittiti-n; and he murt be mistaken if he speech would be received throughIsland with other than feelings He professed to bave no with the land revenue and io an Act to guarantee that, but *ne would te ieve one word of that. that at the first opportunity ST I*B woda extinguish the provinces in South. Ho could count upon help too, for it well known that southland would gladly province of Otago abolished. E c was that this proposal would create from one end of tbe coiony to for never was there a period wiieu of the Middle island were and people had begun to the" hon gentleman and his colM^^^je__'^:^w*.ijtld7flettle down to work at the |B^^-SB-a^TOiigy- y they7-'bad inaugurated. Tbe mo.t inopportune y, |^^^jn(i_i%Uhoat ibe shghie-t demand fr.m th B^^^-^ygirPlt'WM.An' olrt arinm, an.i a good ODC, legislation should not be f&W^^^^^^f'^ : --- ■** *b™ :, -«N» the- proposal was for. Never S^^j^^^P^y^swM .there a -.time when tho _-_MW^roH^^^ijgs^;^d7 Caj? terbal y. were so mSm^^^^^^^^ff^k w gftii-lactorfly -to the ___^^^^__|__^^___[e7l-M?n^7Rasoi^^ suppose tbat If tbis

come when the Middle Island provinces would be abolished If they took the Wellington meutbes as the reflex of public opinion, it would be found that Wellington was not in | .-favor. of the -resolution. He waa perfectly satisfied that our affairs were cirried ou with satisfaction, an t only wished that our rulers i had fewer opportunities for displaying their abilities. Though the Parliament had a legal and technical rfght to deal with the question, it had no moral right, and tbe constituencies would feel that the House had no right, to respond to such a sudden call by the Premier. - The position was anomalous and contradictory. He could not see tbat the Government could administer local institutions any better than at present Money would require to be found in tbe same way, and to press the resolution must only lead to financial and legislative separation. Bather than see such sweeping changes, the rest of the colony would assist to canyon local institutions in the North as vigorously aa in the South Island. It was not every country could boast of a statesman who required only a week's notice to introduce a new constitution, and who required only fifteen minutes' adjournment to bring down the perfect details of such a scheme, and the reasons lor tbem. They were told that it was troublesome to manage the finance of the northern province", but be would find just as much trouble in managing the affairs of the whole Island. As to public works, speaking from experience, he could say that the Superintendents offered no obstruction but assisted, as it was their interest to do. He hoprd tbe Minister ot Public Works, whea speaking, would detail how far tbe public works were obstructed by the Superintendents, and that the Native Minister would say how far tbe action of the Superintendents embarrassed the conduct of Native affairs. The Premier said they bad, but if he could not substantiate the statement, ths House would geethat it was a repetition of the fable of the wolf and the shephard. He never heard mch humiliating proposals as to pension one Superintendent and to pay others to the end ot tbeir term. The system proposed was repugnant to the interests of the people of the colony. They were to have agents, nominees of the hon. gentleman. Why, it was an exact copy of the French system of governing by departments. If he knew anything of the cheap and nasty f >tm of the Timaru local government he would not have proposed anything so ridiculous. The Middle Island di.l not require to be protected in it. right. It was strong in possession, and stronger in the hands of a wise Government, and ie was not likely they would trust the hon. member whose mind changed as often as the wind He proposed as an amendment the " previous question." Major Atkinson condemned the contempt with which the last speaker had treated the 800*111 provinces, and glorifi d in the large provinces, who revelled in land belonging to the whole colony. He denied that the Parliament was not competent to deal with any question and this was one not of to-day or yesterday, as for for many years it had been ( in contemplation and the mode in which tbe , Government proposed to submit the question to the country was a wise one. He believed it was the opinion of the majority of the House, as well as of tbe country, that the proposals we'-e wise, nnd that the southern opposition to it arose from those largely interested in the perpetuation of provincial institution, which he maintained were not, and never bad been, local Government. The present revenue of Taranaki was £5,000 a year, aod yet the province was called upon to perform public services and to people the country, and they had a thousand here snd a thousand there, from the Government The House nad no right to place any of the provinces in such a position . When public works were initiate-, that was the beginning of the end. By opening up the country and constructing public works you left nothing for the provinces to do. There could be no question that the province he represented could not carry on; Hawkes' Bay, though little better off, wanted assistance from Government; Wellington was " gHt upon" and demanded iostant justice, which simply meant colonial money to carry on tbe essential works of colonisation. If it was perfectly open to any Provincial Government t » levy sufficient rates to support the Government in efficiency, why did tbey not do so, ard if they did, what would the people say ?! If tbe ordinary functions of government were to be carried on, some change would be required. He could not pledge himself to th. details of any measure, but would decide when they were submitted ; if the Government could have carried out tbeir present scheme 'without being harassed, this resolution would not have been introduced. No doubt tbe provinces did good in their day, but the time had arrived .to abolish tbem.- He, for one, would not be there next session if his constituents disapproved of his action, for he despaired of proper local government nnder provincial administration. Mr Curtis said that when the Premier objected 'to the present ' government ia the North Island and ba«ed bis resolution upon the large expenditure in the North Island, be failed to Bbow that it had been unnecessary or in any way connected with Provincial Governments which, sfter ail, really had little to do with it any more than the Southern Island had to do with the General Government expenditure. The larger portion of the money spent ia the North Island had heen spent chiefly on roads for the defence policy. He doubted whether the hon. member could make . two pounds out of ooe by making tbs North Island revenue bear what it could not now b!a>\ no matter how it was managed. Experience Bhowed that tho Colonial Govern- • ment was less economical than the Provincial. He was not prepared to vote for the abolition of tbe "present Bystem until he saw something to take itsp ; ace. Besides, how could they know tbat, during the recess, the Premier would not have some new scheme entirely, perhaps half-a-dozen. Look at tbe past legislation for the whole colony, and say what success had attended the General Government. Was education, licensing, &c", satisfactory to the whole colony ? Provincial institutions might not bave done all they might, but had carried on their ordinary functions, nor was he aware that any single province did not raise sufficient by local taxation to carry out the ordinary functions. He thought it undesirable to reopen the question of scat of Government and the compact of 1856 For next year they might easily say bo it enacted that they be done away with (?) It was quite possible they did something to advauce the progress of the . colony anl what was the colony but united provinces ? Tbe oniy differen* c was one of administration. When the hon gentlemen informed them that the provinces always wanted money to enable them to discharge their ordinary functions, he forgot that the colony constantly came to the Assembly for loans. This uncalled-for, and agitating, discmsioo, might revive the old cry ol separation, however impossible that was. The hon. member distinctly admitted tbat he would take the land fund of the North Lland, and what could prevent him doing the same by the South, once the principle was admitted. It was not long since the North Island was most flourishing, and it might not be many years before it was so again. He b=-lieVud it tbe resolution were carried, and a measure based upm it carrie , the South Island must' soon follow iv the footsteps North, and lead to an endless agitation. He . would oppose the resolution. Mr M-tiiUivr&y bad been opposed to Provincial Government since 1871. He had oa the same grounds supported Mr Reynolds' motion that it was better to have two- provinces than h he, and quoted the words of the .Premier years ago to show that the idea had : vJ-^v flw **-*bg through bia miod many years.

inexact was that many provinces were in such a state that, if not abolished, tbey would abolish themselves. Either place them in fg> capacity to do their work or sweep them away altogether. Provincialism operated ip j uriously in disintegrating that feeling of uni'y which should exist. The varied land laws of thß colony was an admirable instance of the benefit to be derived from centralisation in the forming o f one Lind Board for the colony. He congratulated the Governmeni upon their moral courage in facing t is (earful Hydra of vested interests of thorough provincialism which had grown up aronnd them. He was dissatisfied with the outline of the future local Government of the North Island as ! shadowed forth-by the Premier. j Mr. Thompson opposed the resolution, and ; considered that the question of the seat of Government was not likely to be discuseed again unless fire or earthquake destroyed the Government Buildings, and legislation regarding the compact was so plain that he who ran could read. The resolution should be s' ripped of these additions. Tbe Government aho conveyed tbe threat of dissolution, but that was irregular and unconstitutional. They should have kept it to themselves, and as he was certain the Premier would not make such an announcement without the Governor's leave, he thought the House should be informed on that point They would not express as free and as an independent opinion while the. threat of dissolution hung over them. For the depression that existed in the North Island the gentlemen at the head of the Government alone was responsible. The debate was adjourned. August 18 On the debate being resumed, Mr Thomp.son again asked whether the Premier had the sanction of the Governor to a dissolution, which was an intimidation of the House, the poor provinces being afraid to vote against the resolution. He went on to show that the money spent In tha North Island was for the benefit of the General Government. He would not abolish the provinces because of a feud with the Superintendent of Wellington . He had no fault to find with the Premier, who was overworked. The Ministry wante I reconstruction, and the measure was, he considere ', inopportune He supported the " pre vious question." Mr J. L. Gillies went into a long speech to show tbat tbe motion was the result of personal feeling. He said that the Southern Provinces did the work of colonisation better than the General Government could. He was afraid the Government were relying more upon their power of vot< s than the strength of their arguments. The present measure bad been pitchforked before the house, and was not at all required. The South Island must share the fate of the North shortly. Personal experience bad convinced bim that the provincial machinery of Government was more economical than that of the Colonial Government. Pass the resolution, and, in a short time, tbey would be told "You must give up your land. The need rf the colony is greater thrn the need of the provinces." Mr Takamoana oppose! the resolutions. Mr Eatene supported. He objected to two Governments eating the fhsh of the Colony. Mr Reid made a long speech on the inopportuneness of the resolution and contrasted the expenditure of Provincial Government with tbat of the Genenl Government in administrating public work*. If they established Road Hoards and Counties they would find that they were only Provincial Governments in disguise. Pass tbe resolutions, and they would place unprecedented power for ever in the hands ot the General Government. The North Island would certainly revolt at a nominee of the Government. He quoted a speech of Mr Vogel's in 1868, defending the provinces and the constitution. Mr Macandrew moved tne adjournment of the debate at 11-30 a.m.