PARLIAMENTARY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2600, 21 July 1881, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. W ELLINGTON, Julj 20. MR ORMOND’S NO CONFIDENCE MOTION. In the absence of Mr Fulton, Mr Levestain resumed the debate. He believed to a large extent in the propositions stated by Mr Saunders, and thought that while under provincialism in its old form the money was not fairly distributed under the modified scheme propounded by Mr Saunders that difficulty would be remedied. Ho did not agree in the proposal of the Treasurer to reduce the property tax. That appeared to him to be a piece of class legislation. Unless Government took back their proposals he would be bound to vote against them. Mr Collins said the country had gained in social and political strength under the wise administration of Ministers. IE this vote of want of confidence was carried it would mean a return to the former unsatisfactory state of affairs.

Mr Murray said it would have been fairer and more straightforward to hare tabled a direct vote of no-confidence, and not try to bring about such a result by means of a side issue. He would vote against the amendment.

Mr Turnbull contended that the improved state of the colony was not due to sagacity on the part of the Ministry, but to the buoyancy of its natural resources. He objected to the proposed constitution of the Hoard of Works. The proposal that members should be elected by the House simply meant that the Board would be elected by Ministers of the day. In one word, it would simply amount to the appointment of three new Ministers. He charged Government with having practised false economy in the matter of retrenchment. Instead of helping the country on they had driven away the bone and sinew of the country in disgust. The Bill before the House would have the effect of throwing a great deal of patronage into the hands of Government. He looked upon Mr Saunders’ proposal as the most reasonable, and being a friend of the Government, they could not do better than adopt his hints. A great drawback to provincialism was the tendency of that House to exercise a control over it. Mr Saunders’ system, he thought, would obviate that difficulty. The effect of its adoption would be to curtail the labors, and in that way the legislative system would be similarly curtailed. It would relieve the Government from the unseemly pressure brought to bear upon it in connection with public works.

Major Te Wheoro criticised the proposal for rating native lands. What the natives wanted was the power to manage their own affairs. The House had been too selfish altogether, and that was what caused the Maoris to be suspicious of the doings of Parliament. Mr Tawbai said that the Colonial Treasurer, as a member for Taranaki, had already had a taste of the sweets of native lands, and he was now anxious to have another bite at them. The conduct of the Treasurer reminded him of Ahab when he coveted Naboth’s vineyard. He for one was not prepared to yield up the land of his forefathers. He would like to see a millstone tied round the neck of the Bill and have it thrown into the depths of the .sea, a thousand miles from New Zealand. Mr Wakefield denied a statement made by Mr Ormond to the effect .that his demand for local government was in any respect similar to that Sir Gr. Grey. The two claims were diametrically opposed. In this matter he desired to be in no way associated with the action of Mr Ormond. He had said that he would support any statesmanlike scheme for local government indepen. dent altogether of party considerations. Sir George Grey proposed to restore provincialism, and with that issue Mr Ormond had identified himself. He (Mr Wakefield), on the other hand, advocated an extension of and improvement on the present system. Mr Ormond was a member of the Ministry who abolished the Provinces and brought in the Counties in 1876. He was one who spoke most warmly in support of the latter. Who could say but in course of time he

would turn round and tell them that he had made a mistake in the course 1.0 was now pursuing. Altogether he had said enough to prove that ho was not a safe guide in politics. As a supporter of Government, he ought to have gone to Government and pointed out the defects. Although he did not let his friends know of his intention, he let the Opposition know' of it. Mr Ormond absolutely denied the statement.

Mr Wakefield said he was glad to hear the denial, and ho believed him, but, at the same time, ho must say appearances had been against him. He had watched the operations of the County system since it was first inaugurated. He had seen enough to convince him that it had a very great deal of local self-government in it. In Clive, the County to which Mr Ormond belonged, it had worked so well that they had made the whole of the roads county roads. Mr Ormond brought forward his motion with tJie knowledge that redistribution of seats was anxiously desired by the country, and that the redistribution could not take place in time for the election that then would be rendered imminent. They must assume that, if beaten, the Government would resign. That was. what they had to assume in the first instance. In that case Mr Ormond would have to form a Ministry out of a party with whom he had never worked, and with -Jwhom he was at daggers drawn. In that case they would have Mr Ormond at the head] of Government, Mr Sheehan Native Minister, Mr Ballance Treasurer, and, in all probability, Mr Speight would have a portfolio too. A more brilliant Government could not be imagined ! What kind of policy could such a combination produce ? What kind of local government would they get from such a Government p Looking back on the last two years ho could not but be struck b} r the success that had attended the administration of the Government. They were of the highest personal character, and they had been successful in communicating that high character to their administration. They reduced the expenditure to a degree that enabled them to live within their income. Then again in native affairs, they had wrought a great improvement compared with what had been the state of * affairs under the administration of the late Government. Were he at the head of the Government he would not go to the country, but resign, and throw the onus on Mr Ormond of forming a Government out of the materials he had at hand.

Mr Ormond explained that he had not been, as stated, on terms of intimacy with the Government party this session. In addressing his constituents, months ago, he had clearly defined his position.

Major Atkinson rose to contradict this statement, but was ruled out of order.

Mr Reader Wood agreed with the previous speaker as to the character of the Government administration, and yet he would be found in one lobby and Mr Wakefield in another. He denied that Mr Ormond wanted to throw everything into disorder. He wanted things to remain as they were and to prevent the passage of a most mischiovious Bill. Mr Wakefield told them what to do if they were dissatisfied with Ministers’ proposals : Go to Ministers and say this or that must be altered. That was altogether wrong. It was Government by caucus. There would be no question about going out at all if the amendment was carried. They would accommodate themselves to the situation as they had already done to the circumstances. Reference had been made to the movements of the King natives. He had just received the following telegram:—“Do not listen to what you see in the newspapers. At the end of this movement you will be informed of the truth. . Do not belieye anything that is said by Government or any other person.” That telegram was signed by one of the King party, about whom they had heard so much. He opposed the Government proposals upon two grounds: first, they involved additional taxaction ; and second, further borrowing. The Government puffed what they called the prosperity of the colony in a manner that was not warranted. The ground of this boast was that money was easy. That simply indicated that there was no outlet for the money when trade was good. When trade was slack, and business scarce, the money was cheap because there was no investment. The money all came from England, where it was plentiful, from the causes he named. Take Wellington and they found building after building for sale or to let. That was not a sign of prosperity. In all parts of the colony there was a cry of want of employment. That was not a sign of prosperity. Within the last twelve months wages had decreased 15 to 20 per cent. Then again, II million of money in sovereigns had to be sent to England out of the loan. It was questionable how they would be able to continue doing this. This was a process of depreciation constantly going on which would be watched with anxiety by every economist. On those grounds he opposed the intentions of Government to re-open the sluice gates of borrowing. He believed there was still an alternative between borrowing more money, and the total suspension of all works. They had spent one million of money in acquiring a landed estate in the Worth Island, which was paying nothing. He would propose that the unemployed open up the lands. In that case they would get back their million of money and provide for a continuous stream of land fund. He proposed to take the opinion of the House on a proposal of that kind at an early date. The resolution he should propose provided that the money should be allocated amongst the different districts £50,000 to Wellington and the rest to be expended by the local bodies. In the allocation he would purposely leave Taranaki out, as he could not see a spot in that favorable province where there was room for any more expenditure than they had already had. Mr Olliver said that usually when votes of this kind were proposed, grave charges were adduced. On this occasion the only charges was that certain proposals affecting only a few interests in the colony were not satisfactory. He twitted Mr Ormond with a desire to return to the position he had already held in Hawke’s Bay, that of Superintendent, feeling, as he no defubt did, that since he lost that position he had lost much of his personal importance. He believed this action of Mr Ormond would be disastrous. It would compress the issues on which they would

go to the country, as there would be no time for a redistribution of representation before the next election. Thev would have a dissolution, and then they would have to dissolve again in, say six months, and Mr Ormond would be responsible for all that trouble and expense. On the motion of Mr Beetham, the House adjourned at 12.15 a.tn.