PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 448, 30 July 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday, July 23rd, to Friday, 25th. Numerous petitions were presented to the Upper House during the past week ; among them was one for an inquiry into the conduct of the R.M. at the Thames, who had been detected cheating at cards. The Hon Colonel Whitmore’s lengthy reply to the Hon Mr Waterhouse’s attack on the Native Policy of the Government, was the chjef item of the

debate in the ‘ Lords,’ The Colonel frankly admitted that the whole game was in Te Whiti’s hands. Te Whiti was not responsible for his actions. The Government watch him with anxiety, and do not know what an hour may bring forth ; they do not know whether there is anything behind his vague utterances or not. In fact the Colonel’s explanation made it clear that the Ministry have no idea of getting the game ihto their own hands, but wait with fear and trembling for the “ monomaniac’s” next move. The Colonel repeated the whine about “ the policy of the late Government.” That policy had destroyed all self-reliance and industry in the Maoris. “ Yon may go to any district you like in the interior that at one time was a producing district, and now you will find the commonest articles ot use brought from abroad, —bought by Government money, or got in a still worse way from the Native Land Agents. You will find the flour coming from Oamarn, potatoes coming from Canterbury, and milk from Switzerland, —and that iu a district which at one time exported wheat and butter. And why ? Because those people have been debauched and depraved by the policy which the previous Government adopted towards them. I have heard of meetings where you might see a telegram placed iu a native s hand, the contents of which ran something in these terms :— ‘ You are a good man. I send you £lO, Native Minister.’ ”

Ihe lion Dr Pollen said the Colonial Secretary's action in condemning the predecessors ot the present Ministry was the strongest censure of the Government, inasmuch as they had followed in their footsteps.

Ihe Hon Captain Frazer thought it very bad taste on the part of the authorities to imprison Wi Kingi, who had not murdered the passengers of the Lord Worslcy. It is a new axiom in morals that if a man refrains from one crime, be should bo rewarded with license to commit others. The lion Sir F. D. Bell, in opposing the Government, made a remarkable statement, namelv, that ‘‘ ho considered the imposition of the laud tax was the principal cause of the present dearth of employ merit. ( Hoar, hear). If employers had to pay a land tax they could spend less on labor,” Lvidently then land owners employ labor out of pure generosity, and with no idea of increasing the yield of the land. Wit cannot be said to bo redundant in the Upper House, but a point is made now and then. Colonel VYliitiiioro complained that a paper had reported an “ Oh, oh” as coming from a Councillor during Ids speech. He was certain that no expression of astonishment was elicited by his remarks. Mr Waterhouse was sure that no statement of the Colonel's would cause astonishment there (laughter).

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, July 23rd, to Friday, 25 th

In reply to questions, the following scraps of importance were given : The long passenger carriages on the railways are being converted into doublebogie carriages to prevent lateral movement, and the light rails weighing only 28 lbs per yard are being replaced by heavier ones. It is intended to adopt steel rails. With regard to the Rand Purchase

Agents, they are not allowed to buy land for themselves or anyone else on pain of immediate dismissal.

Sir George Grey said the Government had no power to present a return of the names of those recommending the appointments made in the Civil Service. Mr Sutton asked the Colonial Treasurer whether there is any truth in the report that the Government have not paid the progress payments passed on account of the Woodsido contract on the Wairarapa railway, and that in consequence of such non-payment to contractor, over one hundred working men have not been paid for seven weeks ?

The Hon Mr Macaudrew said it was quite true that there had been some delay in the payment of the money referred to through the death of the contractor. The Government had in consequence to take over the contract, but no further delay would take place. In regard to the map of the Thames Railway, said to have been tampered with, it was reported that the affair was

a mare’s nest, and arose from confounding- two very simitar maps. A. committee of enquiry was appointed. There was a groat hub-bub about the Thames-Wai-kato railway being undertaken without the consent of the House.

Mr Larnach received £2,000 for his visit to England, but no information was given as to what scale this was calculated on.

The Government recognise the importance of a lighthouse at Cape Egmont, and the work will not be delayed longer than necessary. With respect to the saddlery and other leather goods for the Armed Constabulary and Native Contingent, the Hon Native Minister explained that it had been the practice of successive Governments to obtain supplies of equipments for the force from Home manufacturers, and that only in exceptional instances had supplies been obtained in the Colony, It was, however, intended in future to alter this, and to call for tenders, with a view to the encouragement ot colonial industry. Respecting holdings of the Colony and the Land Tax, the Hon Colonial Treasurer said the total number of properties in New Zealand were 87,105.

It has been found that there are some persons who own as many as one hundred properties in New Zealand. It has also been found that there are 67,000 properties under £SOO net value. It is believed that the revenue, derived from the Tax will amount to the estimated sum £IOO,OOO, notwithstanding the depreciation in property that has taken place. Had the valuation been made at the time this Act was passed there is no doubt that at least 20 per cent, more would have been realised. The total of the improved value of property is £90,566,679, and the amount of mortgages £21,764,292, which probably includes a large sum lent on the security of live stock. It is believed that £10,123,586 may he estimated to be foreign capital, and £11,640,712 may be estimated to be colonial capital. The total interest is £1,845,078, which is 84- per cent. The amount of foreign and colonial capital, however, is only an estimate made upon the best data that could be procured. The actual expenditure of the Department to the 30th of June was £17,073 19s 10d, and the liabilities to the same date, due principally to valuers, were £6,021; total x £23,094 19s lOd. It is estimated that the expenditure for the current year will bo £8,500.

The motion to impose a dntj of 5s per ton on coal was adjourned for a week. We hope it will be put into the Greek Kalends, as to tax coal is to handicap every industry in the Colony. We can give but a very concise account of the three day’s ot the want of confidence debate. On Wednesday the Hon Mr Sheehan made a long and lively speech. Everything the Opposition said was ‘ baseless,’ ‘ groundless,’ ‘ untrue,’ ‘ unmanly,’ ‘ unfair,’ &c. The previous Government had sadly mismanaged things, especially the Native Department. lie did not believe there would be war, the n ilives generally were improving in temper, becoming more favourable to roads, railways, and settlements. , lie had removed certain men from the public service for good reasons, and had used the Government steamers liberally for the good of the Colony. Mr Wakefield followed with the speech of the session, so far. Wo regret our inability to give it in extenso. lie condemned the Premier for want of courage to carry any measure through the House. The Triennial Parliaments Bill would have become law last session, had it not been for Sir George, who withdrew it for fear of defeat. The Priemier intrigued secretly against the measure of his own colleagues. Cabinet secrets were the gossip of the street corners. The Premier set class against class, and frightened capital out of the country. Ho went on a tour and left under-secretaries to govern the country. When lie came back any other Minister who happened to bo in Wellington to >k flight. Ho had appointed a speaker to the Legislative Conned who was not a member of that House. This was a new line, but was passed over because Sir George had done many worse things. Ministers could not travel without express trains, and in Canterbury the people were really afraid to cross the line for fear of being run over by the Ministerial carriage. And the Hon Minister for Public Works often wanted two trains to take him about the country. And lie remembered on one occasion the hon member had kept 150 people waiting on the platform at Timaru while he was chatting for an hour or so with some of the local magnates in an hotel close by. All ibis cost a great deal of money to the country. (Mr Macandrew ; No.) On one occasion it was true he had been compelled to pay £BO by the railway department in Canterbury wbo would not recognise his right to travel free. The Hon Minister for Public Works had made large numbers of promises, but kept very few of them. He did not blame him for breaking them, but he blamed him for making them. (Name them.) Oh, he could not name them, it would take all the night, and he wanted to bring the debate to a close. He instanced the large amount of (£3000) expended on a Police Court at a miserable little country village, while the Resident Magistrate’s Court at Christchurch was in such a condition that when it rained the Resident Magistrate told the people to put on their mackintoshes and to put up their umbrellas. It was extraordinary the amount of work Ml- Macandrew had managed to get through in the province of Otago. And yet not a single mile of the provincial railway had been made in Canterbury during the recess. But a short time ago, just before the House met, the hon member suddenly broke out into tenders, at which the people only laughed, for they knew exactly what they meant. In this question of railways, there could be no doubt that Otago had secured a very large amount of favor, while other provincial districts had to bo content with very little bits here and there. It was true there had been a large contract for a bridge, but the railway line itself, he believed, had never been surveyed. Was such a system of engineering ever known. Referring now to the advertising policy of the Government, Mr Wakefield mentioned that an advertise-

meat in reference to the Timaru Volunteers, was published in a Government

organ in Christchurch, and not in Timaru at all. Referring to Sir Julius Vogel, the

sneaker stated that it was absolutely a proposal of his that the immigration

depot should be at Falmouth, for which

place he intended to put up as a member of Parliament. Speaking of

Sir George Grey’s telegram to the Hawera settlers, Air Wakefield characterised it as the most cold-blooded thing he ever heard of. (Hear, hear.) It was a cruel telegram, a scandal to the country, and cast a stain upon the Premier which he would never get over. That telegram alone was quite sufficient to justify his expulsion firm office.

About twenty-five other lion members spoke to the question before the adjournment on Friday night.. But there is a great sameness in the argument used, if arguments they can bo called. The great characteristic of the debate is personality. Tainui, a imw Maori member of the House, concluded his speech on the No Confidence motion by saying that when the division took place he would vote where he thought proper. Umare Tnmoana said lie was a Government man, but on this occasion he was not going to support the Government, He had understood nothing, but ho wished they would vote at once. On Friday evening an Imprest, Supply Bill of £300,006, was passcd^hrough all its stages with the consent of the Opposition. A sharp passage at amis took place on the question of who was responsible for the delay of this Bill. Sir William Fox declared that the Opposition were prepared to make the concession ten days before; but several members gave a diff- rent version, and accused the Opposition of obstructing the business of the country.