PARLIAMENTARY

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 157, 14 June 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

[Per Press Association.] Legislative Council. Friday, June 13. Address-in-Reply. All other business was postponed on account of the political crisis, and Mr. McLean resumed the debate on the Address-in-Reply. He strongly advocated the New Native Land policy, which if adopted as proposed in 1877 would have put the North Island in a far better position than it is now. The abuses of the present system were very great, and only big capitalists could buy Native lands. He hoped in the impending election the South would return men pledged to the new system. He ridiculed the threatened dangers of federation, and said the risk from convicts must be seriously considered, and in any action taken on the Northern Trunk Railway Question party feeling should be forgotten, and that route adopted which would most rapidly advance the North Island, for it was impossible for one part of the Colony to benefit without the whole Colony benefiting. He defended the action of the Government on the grain tariff, and said it was the Canterbury votes that had caused the political railway to be taken by Blueskin instead of by the proper way to Dunedin. He blamed the Government, however, for ever reducing the rates. He augured great prosperity to the North Island when there was a good Native land policy and the Government was opened up by railways. The Northern railways would pay far better when completed instead of being left in sections. Government could go to the country in ripe old age, and with a grand record though it was well that the Government should not last too long, and if another fairly able and practical Government could be formed, the change might be beneficial, and if there was a new Government he hoped it would, when leaving office, have as creditable a career as the present Ministry to point to. He laughed at the gloomy fears of some as to the Colony’s prospects, the present slight depression was ephemeral, and would soon pass away, and he consided the outlook most encouraging. It would take a very great deal to 1 i 1 a c u ;try like thir, and with {ordinary care we had nothing whatever to fear. (Applause.)

Captain Fraser spoke strongly condemning Federation proposals. Mr. Waterhouse considered {emphatically that the depression was not of such a temporary nature as the Government thought, but that its effect would be felt for tens of years, and we must recognise that there must be great and radical changes before permanent prosperity could be established. The depression was due to our having long been living in a fools paradise to the reckless extravagance of many years, which had caused an enormous inflation of land values, and fictitious prosperity. The acreage value of land would have to go down to about half what it is now, and though that would involve the ruin of many, we might depend that all that process had been gone through, and there would be no restoration of prosperity. Frequent changes of legislation caused such loss of confidence in the value of property that many sold out to be free from anxiety in regard to it. It would not be justifiable to make a northern trunk railway, seeing that all land was in Native hands. He was wholly opposed to perpetual leasing (applause), which was opposed to the genius of the race, and was simply the policy of Irish middlemen to got the highest rent at all costs. He approved of Native lands being managed and disposed of by land boards, and was in favor of federation, which he hoped to see ultimately realised. As to reforming the Council, what was wanted more than reform of Parliament was reform of constituencies, for while a state of affairs continued in which electorates thought the highest statesmanship was the getting of a bridge, there was little to expect from reform of either House. He therefore advocated such a change as would prevent so many petty local objects being matters for decision by Parliament. Mr. Reynolds attributed the present depression largely to so many local works being executed from the Public Works Fund. As an instance, a bridge was about to be erected at Dunedin at a cost of £30,000, which not half-a-dozen people wanted, which drays would not cross once a week, and which would be a monument of the folly of the Government. He gave other instances of needless or extravagant expense in public works, such as the new public buildings at Oamaru, which were big enough for the largest city in the colony. He opposed the erection of the new Supreme Court in Dunedin, which was not wanted. All through our public and private extravagance wo were sending out of the colony as interest £lO,OOO sovereigns every day. Perpetual leasing would undermine the prosperity of the colony, and ultimately, through political pressure, the freehold

would bo given for nothing. If the colony would spend one million in opening up the West Coast coal fields, it would pay ten times over, and would be recouped in five years. Taxation on property should bo all expended by local bodies on local works, so that the objects of the politicians should not be confined to roads and bridges.

j Dr. Grace spoke in the highest terms of the administrative services of the Minister of Lands, and supported the perpetual leasing scheme. To reduce the cos' of education all reserves in the colony should be put into one fund for common schools. Half-a-million acres for education was far more than we could afford, and should be reduced by half. Private schools should be encouraged. Under the State system there was a ridiculous straining after high standards, to the physical injury of people. Our administrative system of government was needlessly complex, and if more simple, the cost would be largely reduced. Unless we were far more economical and careful the time would come when we should not be able to pay our interest. As a first step the number of members of both the House and Council should be largely reduced. (Hear, hear.) The last Representation Bill was iniquitious, and the essence of all folly. Where every representative was scrambling for local objects, the number was largely increased.

After some further remarks, the debate was adjourned till Tuesday, and the Council rose at 5 p.m.