Want of Confidence Debate.

Patea Mail, 11 August 1882, Page 3

Want of Confidence Debate.

{By Telegraph.) MAJOR ATKINSON’S SPEECH, BORROWING POLICY.

NORTH ISLAND RAILWAY LOAN. The House met at 2.30 on Wednesday, vhen Major Atkinson moved the second reading of the North Island Main Trunk Railway Loan Bill. He said : Government being placed on its trial, he would' depart from the usual course, and give some explanation of the Bill itself. It would be most convenient to take this and the New Zealand Loan Bill together. In the Financial Statement the Government gave reasons showing the necessity for further borrowing. It was necessary again to reiterate these, as he understood that was what was to be called into question. Government had to consider whether it was better to bring down one or two Bills, and after consideration decided on the latter course. By that means the matter would be . simplified, and a greater amount secured for main trunk lines. They' would bo better able, to resist undue pressure for branch and other lines. He understood everyone thought that the North trunk line should be made, but the amendment intimated that he was mistaken in that view. A loan was necessary and reasonable in the colony’s best interest. The position of the colony when Government had decided whether further borrowing should take place was this : They had either to decide in the affirmative or else break faith with three parts of the colony waiting their time for railway communication. He ventured to say that the public works scheme, so far as it had gone, had been a decided success. Result of Borrowing. The state of the colony' in 1870 was very different from what it is now. The taxation, so far as the Customs duties per head, was less by' 5s now than it was in in 1870. The increase of taxation had been imposed on property, and did not affect the laboring classes. Supposing, for argument’s sake, that the Customs duties were increased, which he postively denied, then its equivalent had been more than returned to the population .in the shape of free education. Again, wages were better now than in 1870, employment was easier got, and ah enormous saving had been effected in travelling and hauling. He estimated that saving alone between £300,000 and £400,000. Then, again, they had settled 100,000 persons in New Zealand from the old country. ; The condition of these people and their prospects had vastly improved, and if they had done nothing more, that was a great work. Such being the fact, there was

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