PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 185, 19 August 1903, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

PER PBSBS ASSOCIATION. ♦ HOUSE OF REPRKSENTATTVBB. Tuesday, August 18. The House met at 2.30 p.m. NEW BILLS. ; The following new Bills were introduced and read a first time: -Iswd for Settlements Act Amendment, Teacher*' Superannuation, Wice Adulteration, Referendum, and Hutt Road (Seddoo); Mixed Cloths (Mills), Electoral Act Amendment, Regulation of I/>oal Elections Amcdment, and Produce Exports (Ward)j Native Land Bating (UarroM), Fertiliser Bill (Duncan.) I " KINO " M4HUTA.

The Native Affairs Committee reported it had no recommendation to make on the petition of South Island Maoris against the gazetting of Hon. Mahuta Hg King,

Mr F'rtta stud the Maoris of both Islaudb tad decided to enter a protest against Hon. Mahuta being so gazetted, and against his being appointed to the Executive, although they had no objection to his being »ppointed to the Legislative Council. He also remarked that it did not appear that Hon. Mahuta had attended sufficiently to his duties,

Mr Hemes considered « very grave i. justice Lad been done to Maoris io referring to Hon. Mahuta as " King," and was a direct insult to the loyal natives who hid never recognised tbe " King movement." His appointment to the Ezeoutive was an utter farce, and report stated that be was not againvccming to Wellington as he toad had enough of it.

Hon. J. Carroll said Hon. Mihuta had not baen gasetted King over the Maoris. The gazette notice only mentioned that Mahuta had been known as Kicg. Surely the Hod. Mabnta wag within* his rights in visiting his home when the Courcil had adjourned for a fortnight. He was coming back again rind the belief that he would not do so only existed in the minds of members averse to anything connected with him. It was Mahuta's desire to be a useful servant of the State.

Messrs Praser, Taylor, and Sir W« Russell spike. Mr Seddon contended that in what bad been done a great boon had been conferred on thecolony. Hoc. Mahuta's recent departure for Huntly was due to the serious illness of his daughter, "If the Opposition were difsatisfied with the composition of the executive, why did they not challenge it in the proper manner ?" He thought it was ungracious to belittle the success that had attended the efforts of the present Government,

Mr Masssy expressed sympathy with the views of Mr Parata.

The debite was interrupted by the 5 SO adjournment.

EviNista Smraa. The Housi resumed at 7.30 p.m. The Becotid reading of the Arbitration Court Emergency Bill was postponed. FINANCE. The finanoial debate was started bf Sir W. Russell, who referred to the Budget as an extraordinary one which contained no concentration, really no policy, and no detailed reference to the piefcrential trade question, while its reference to the Bank of New Zealand was very vague. In fact there was vagueness in every direction. It appeared to have been compiled as an address to the people outside of New Zealand, and intended to confuse the issue Mr Seddon reminded him of the accieot skipper of an old sailer who was prepared to make for any port available. He compared the state of finances of 'be colony when Mr Ballance took office in 1892 and their condition at the present time. In 1802 Mr B.llance added £344,819 to the public debt which then stood at £37,675,306, while last year £2,932,572 was added, bringing the dob' up to £55,899,000. This enormous increase warranted t im in eayiog that it must soon bring us to grief. The Premier represented the colony's assets at 855 millions, but a more misleading statement thhu that had never been foisted on a credulous public. The exc ss of asset!) over liabilities was stated to be 301 millions. In making these assertions Mr Seddon had deliberately withheld the fact that he had included in the asse f s 240 millions of private wealth, which had nothing to do with the public assets. Mr Seddon gave the publio debt ss 54 millions, but to his had to be added ssme 7 millions of l.ical bodi.-H indebtedness, making 61 millions. As the colony's publio awe's were correctly 115 millions this meint that the excees rf as«ets over liabili' i « was only 64 millions and to' 300 millions as cl limed by Mr Seddon. He objected to the proposed increase in the absentee tax as being wrong in principle, and said this kind of das') legislation was one of the worst things that could happen to New Zealmd, He congratulated the Government on showing a desire to devote more attention to higher education, although they bad allowed year by year to go by without d> ing their duty in this respect, but the proposals contained in the Statement were unintelligible and absolutely int-ufficient. It wits monstrously sbsurd to expect that tho Premier, with the numerous offices be held, could do justioe to the portfolio of education. He contended that our credit had b«cn ovorpledged. Would we, he atked, have had to take 911 for our last loan if our iTfdit had not be«n He maint-ii'<od that not only ftlvu'd i-e n- f raiti fiom 'orrowing at the rate pr pn- d, but the ouUo'jk for the future .-eqnireui v.'-rv furious consideration. Hn >r ir *h>- tn x> year or so loaus would b- f illiri;; i , :<nd, aa wo could not go :m t,> iho flurno mu-ket, local financial iiihtftutioiib would compel us to renew them at a hiph rate of interest. We ■.•ad to f-.ce th? startling fact that £1,700,000 had to be met next yeir w'-othei' th« memey market was favour* üble or not, and within the next two years or so £2,300,000 would have to ;><■ provided for. In ths words of Mr Ball nee, in 1892, "that was enough to make pane raeu pause." Mr Taylor ns nn amendment, that thin House is of opinion that the interference of the executive with right of the police to seek the enforcement of the licencing laws in the Newtown •dec'ornte, is unjurtifitnblo a«d subversive of popular rights and li Dor ties. ?.'asi the Pi- inter, he asked, to take up ;in attitude imoerior to the police fores t"d th? L'iw Courts ? It wa-j simply an I'ustra'iin of thofact that 1 he Premier h-kd reached a point when he could tot iistiriguieh b-tweon his own will, and ■Jie rights of nny section of the community. The Premier did not dare to leave tho House free to vote on this qcsstion as it pleased, and he could

ftnly live by bringing hia followers into * condition bordering on abject slavery. In ars*er to Mr Seddon, Mr Taylor taid he hsd consulted no one about bia right to move hia amendment. Mr Seddon asked Mr Duthie if he bad been consulted. Mr Dutbie: Whyonrarth should you put such a question to me ? Bir Wi li„m Russell and Mr Massay, in reply to Mr Seddon, said they had not been consulted. Mr Seddon: Mr trouble is that there is no leader of the Opposition. In reply to Mr Guinness, Mr Seddon said the standing of Mr Taylor did not' warrant bim in taking th''s as a no confidence motion, but as he was aware' of some members of the O t position having been consulted, there was no, alternative but for him to accept this ' unocottldence motion> Mr Aitken appealed to the Government to allow the matter to be tested before the Court. Hon. J. McGawan considered the Amendment was the strongest party question that could be brought up in the House. He contended the hotelkeepers should not be prosecuted until the case aa to their licenses had besn • finally dealt with by the Courts. Turning to the Budget he said everybody j knew that when Mr Balhnce pro-! Bounced hia self-reliant policy the country had been going too fast (Sir, W. Russell: No, going slow) but there waa a large amount of released sinking J funds which enabled the colony to go; on at the s»mi rate of expenditure for! the following years. Public and private : wealth were fairly classed as legitimate aeaets. Bir W. Russell protested against the amendment being m Je a no confidence motion simply because Mr Duthie hid been seen talking to Mr Taylor. The Premier wanted to force the House into an uncomfortable and invidious position, and the vote on the amendment would be absolutely without significance. (Mr Seddon: If you were in my place you would do tbe same ) As to to the railways, an examination of the figures would show that although as between 1901 and 1903 there was an extra profit of £31,000 there was an extra charge for interest on incr-ased oap.tal of £136,298, a loss of over £105,000. Nothing waa allowed for depreciation of railway stock, although it would am mat to a very large sum annually. He adversely criticised the railway administration of the Government on several other points, and said tbey were over capitalised and run by amiteurs. He should vjte for the amendment because -he had no confidence in the Government. The amendment was negatived at 11.30 by 43 to 23. For the amendment (23): Messrs Aitken, Allen, J. Arnold, D. Bedfrrd, Bollard, Buchanan, Duthie, EUrding, Hardy, Herdman, Barries, Kirkbiide, Ling, Lethbridge, Lewis, Mander, Massey, Mos?, Raid, Sir Wm, Russell, Taylor, Thomson, J. O. Tile. Against the amendment (43): Messrs Allen, E. G. Baime, Bennett, Buddo, Carroll, Colvio, Davey, Duncan, Field, Fisher, Flatman, Fowlds, Fraaer, A. L. D. Graham, Hall, HaUJones, Eonnan, Hogg, Houston, Jennings, KiM, Lawry, Maj w, McGowao, R' McKenzie, McLath'aD, Millar, Mills, O'Meara, Parata, Fere, Remington, Bathe f>. J, Seddon, Sidey, Smitb, Steward, Syrues, Tanner, Ward, Willis, "Witheford, Wood. Pairs—for amendment, Ell; against amendment Witty. Mr Herdman continued the debate on the budget, (Left sitting.)