HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2269, 25 June 1880, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Mr Seddon gave notice of his intention to introduce a Gold Duty Abolition Pill, and also a Pill to Legalise Payment of Members of the General Assemble,

Major Harris moved that leave of absence for a week be granted to Mr Hamlin.

An animated discussion ensued; Sir W. Fox stating that::Mr Hamlin had" gone in quest of “an imaginary swamp,” Sir George Grey insisting that he had got bogged in a real one, and Major Atkinson denying the existence of a swamp save in the fertile mind of Mr Orombie Brown, correspondent for the “ Lyttelton Times.”

The motion was agreed to. Dr Wallis asked on what days, and as nearly as possible at what hours previous to 12 p.m. on Friday, June 18, 1880, the Government supplied the “New Zealand Times,” “Otago Daily Times,’’ and Christchurch “ Press ” newspapers with a copy of the report of the Civil Service Royal Commission. The Hon. J. Hall said that the report became public property as soon as it was forwarded to the Government and before it was laid on. the tabic of the House. It was forwarded to the Governor at I o’clock on the afternoon of Friday, and was returned to him about 7 o’clock. He had not opportunity for laying it on the table until a late hour of the evening. In the interim two Press reporters applied to him and obtained copies of the report. It was simply a case of vigilance on their part, and had application been made to him by other members of the Press-they too would have been supplied with copies. Mr Jones asked what steps had been taken to discover and punish the person who stole a report of the Koval Civil Service Commission, as stated in the House on June 23 by the Minister for Justice.

The Hon J. Hall replied that “ stolen” was a rather stronger phrase than Government wished to convey. He would prefer saying that the report was obtained in a highly irregular manner by a member of the Press. He had questioned the Government printer as to how the report had been got hold of, and the reply. he made was that it could not possibly have been got through any laches in that oilicc. H Government could find out the offender, they would eeHainly cause him to bo punished most severely. XO-COXI'IDEXCK DEBATE. The debate on the no-eonlidencc motion was resumed by Mr Hutchison. Alluding to the Civil {Service Commission, he said he agreed with the report-re railway management, but inquiries ought to have been conducted by Government itself. These commissions would cost a sum of not less than £IO,OOO, and that amount could have been very well saved. Mr Macandrew said he would support the'motion of the Member for the Thames. There ought to be no further borrowing involving a drain on the Colony for interest. Existing loans involved a drain of a million and threequarters, and that was a very serious matter. The existing depression was traceable to that fact. It was calculated to dry up the springs of indusrty. He could not agree with the opinion that public works should be stopped unless provided for out of the revenue. He hoped Government would announce its determination of carrying out in its integrety the railway policy of 1878, and that, too, without going beyond the seas for assistance. The time had come when they had to face not the reckless policy of Provincialism, but one of rampant centralism one he bad denounced for years. He owned to having been a promoter of the public works policy, but be was not responsible for its abuses. He never would have gone in for it bad be not expected that it would be locally administered. He hoped the property tax would be abandoned. The amendment was not a desire or intention on their part to unseat the Government. So far as he was concerned be wished the mind of the Government to be disabused on that point ; he wished all bands to work the pumps in order that they might save the vessel. They bad been told that it would take one million of money for salaries and wages ; a much less sum should suf ■ lice. They were asked to vote £278,000 for a standing army ; such a proposal was absurd. He agreed that the land revenue should not be considered consolidated revenue ; it should be devoted to the purposes of the district whence it was derived. Referring to immigration ho said that as a member of the Government whose conduct was impugned, he was not at all ashamed of the number of immigrants they had introduced. What thej r wanted even now was mouths to feed. What he would now advise was that the estimates should be taken back and remodelled. No doubt a number of Civil servants would have to be dispensed with, and he saw no reason wh} r they should not be settled on a decent piece of land ; they could not find work otherwise.

The Hon. H. Oliver congratulated the last speaker on his skill in manufacturing Financial Statements. Had he exercised his undoubted ability in that line when ho was in the Government, it would perhaps have been better for the country, and undoubtedly it would have been to the advantage of the Government of which he was a member. The present Government would gladly quit the Government benches if they could do so with any approach to honor or a sense of duty. They would be only too glad to leave them—of that he could assure them.

Mr Ormond criticised the speech made by the member for Port Chalmers. lie believed they would yet have to revert to a modified system of provincialism. Mr Shepherd thought the Minister for Public Works had addressed the House as a lot of refractory school children.

■ Mr Sutton was not satisfied with the proposals ; at the same time he thought the Government as constituted -was better able to administer office than any other Government likely to be formed. The House adjourned at 12.30., THIS DAY. In the House to-day Air Hall gave notice, that he should ask leave to introduce the Registration Bill on Tuesday.