PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 414, 25 August 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

(by telegraph.)

Wellington, August 25.

Nearly the whole of yesterday's sitting of the House of Representatives was taken up by the adjourned debate on Mr. Reader Wood's motion to make the land fund colonial revenue.

Mr. Kelly said he could not agree with Mr. Wood, as the time was inopportune to consider the question. Mr. Gisborne opposed the motion, and thought the land fund should be devoted to promoting settlement and colonisation by local bodies in the districts in which it arose.

Mr. Woolcock moved an amendment to the following effect:—" That in the opinion of the House, owing to the necessity there was last year of meeting a part of the ordinary expenditure of the country, by the issue of Treasury Bills, they thought the land fund should, after the present year, be made part of the ordinary revenue, and be appropriated annually by the House." Mr. Rowe was in favour of making the land fund colonial revenue, but could not support the motion in its present form. The Premier said the Government would not accept the motion or any amendment to it. They had joined a direct issue on it, and would resign if beaten. They did not propose to discuss the question now, as it was utterly impossible to do anything with the subject now.

Mr. Reynolds characterised the motion as a dishonest one, and said if it. was carried it would break faith with the South.

Mr. Gibbs did not think it desirable to discuss the question this year, or to make the land fund colonial revenue.

Mr. Joyce was prepared to accept the natural consequence of Abolition, which was a generalisation of the land funds. Mr. Hodgkinson thought it a sound principal to treat the land fund as capital, not as revenue, and return it to the land from which it was derived.

Mr. Lumsden said he would prefer Separation to the generalisation of the land fund.

Mr. J. 0. Brown expressed his intention of supporting the motion. Mr. Fisher opposed the taking of the land fund.

Me. Reader Wood asked Mr. Woolcock to withdraw his amendment, so as to allow of a direct vote between hims.lf and the Government. If the Government had not a certain warning, they would not be so bold. Mr. Woolcock declined to accede to the request. Messrs. W. Wood and Slirimski both opposed the motion. Mr. Stout thought the question was really one of money. As far as Otago was concerned, it meant only whether the counties should have LIOO,OOO divided amongst them this year. If a fair tax were imposed on real property, lie would not object to give up the Land Fund, but not otherwise. He believed next year the Government would take the Land Fund in preference to imposing a land tax. This would fall heaviest on Otago, which alone had conserved its land He could not support the motion. The only remedy for the present unsatisfactory condition of affairs was to appeal to the people, and he intended to give notice of motion for an address to the Governor to dissolve the House, so that the people of the Colony would be able to consider these questions of taxation and Land Fund, and say who they wished to goyern. ~ Mr. Rees had commenced speaking when the dinner adjournment took place. On the House resuming, Mr. Rees continued the debate. He maintained that the predictions contained in his pamphlet of 1872 were fully borne out by the present financial position of the Colony. A serious disaster, if not national bankruptcy, was impending, and the only way to maintain the Colony's credit was to take the Land Fund right out. Expediency and necessity concurred in indicating this as the proper course. Mr. Travers supported the motion as the only means of escaping serious financial difficulty. He pointed out that the railways were depreciating at the rate of L 86,000 a year, and no provision was being made for their renewal. The cost of management was also above two thirds of the gross receipts. He maintained that the compact of 1856, to which he was a party, was in no way binding now. It was a political absurdity to say they could not reverse it. He strongly condemned the 45 members "who, at the caucus, had declared themselves convinced, and had pledged themselves to support everything the Government did. He criticised the Civil Service administration, e.'pjcially the store department, severely. He objected altogether to the c mtrfilising tendency of the Government in undertaking to do everything for the people. He believed Ministers were honourable men, meaning well ; but they were only a kind of superior clerks. Mr. Lusk supported the motion on the distinct understanding that instead of land fund being illegally used to minister to the necessities ef the Government, it should be made colonial revenue, administered on defined principles in opening and settling the country. He knew Ministers intended to seize it, and said they had better act openly at once. It was no use to any longer indulge in bogus finance to save an almost bogus land fund. Mr. Pyke characterised Mr. Wood's proposal as political repudiation. Mr. De Lautour also opposed Mr. Wood's motion. Mr. Barff thought the land fund should be colonial revenue, but could not vote for the motion.

Mr. Montgomery opposed the motion, but condemned the silence of the Government on such an important matter, and said that if they were''given rope enough they would soon settle their own fate. Mr. Woolcock's amendment was negatived on the voices. Mr. Wood's motion was then put, with the following result : For, 13—Messrs. Dignan, Grey, Hamlin, Nahi, O'Rorkc, Rces, Sharp, Sheelian, Takamoana, Tole, Wallis, Reader Wood.

Against, 40— Messrs. Atkinson, Ballanco, Barff, Beetham, Bowen, Brandon, J. E. Brown, Bryce, Burns, Cox, Fisher, Fitzrov, Gibbs, Gisborne, Harper, Henry, Hodgkinson, Hunter, Hursthouse, Johnston, Kelly, Kennedy, Lumsdeu, Macandrow, M'Lean, Montgomery Moorhouse, Morris, Murray-Aynsley, Ormond, Fyke, Reid, Reynolds, Rowe, Russell, Seymour, Shrimski, Staflbrd, Stevens, Sutton, Tawiti, Teschcinaker, Wason, Whitaker, William Wood, Woolcock. Pairs For : Messrs. Curtis, Richmond, M'Farlane, Baigent, Lusk, Joyce, Travers. Against: Messrs. Larnach, Fox, Bastings, Murray, Button, Richardson, Seaton.

Mr. Manders, who intended to vote with the Noes, was locked out. Sir George Grey then called attention to the advertised salt* of large blocks of land at Wairoa, protesting against it, and desiring to move a resolution on the subject, but was ruled out of order, lie reiterated all his charges against Ministers regarding the land transaction.-). The Premier replied, and promised to make inquiries about the Waiaroa sale. Mr. Stout attacked Ministers.

Mr. Moorhouse defended the Ministry, and attacked members of the Opposition. Mr. Whitaker promised an early opportunity to enter fully into all charges which had been made against Ministers in reference to land transactions. The House rose at 1.5 a.m.