PARLIAMENTARY.

Temuka Leader, Volume I, Issue 75, 4 September 1878, Page 3

PARLIAMENTAR Y.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. August 29. In speaking on the Triennial Parliament Bill, Mr Moorhouse said that people could be better employed than annoying themselves over elections. He objected to much excitement over elections. Mr Sheehan argued in favour of the Bill. Members should return to their constituencies as often as possible. Shorter terms would give other good .tuen chances of election. Mr Wakefield opposed the Bill. It takes three years to learn the routine of parliamentary, business. More frequeut elections would increase corruption, and the legislation of short - term parliaments would be very inferior. Mr Stevens might admit the last reason to be valid if each new Parliament were to be composed of entirely new men, but many men of experience would be returned. Debate adjourned for a fortnight. Aug. 39. Mr Turnbull gave notice to move for £IOOO to be spent in improving Sunnyside Lunatic Asylum. Mr Barton waxed hot over the Disqualification. Bill, giving it to the Canterbury squatters right and left. He thought that those large tenants of the Crown ought to be disqualified from going to the House to legislate for themselves. He was called to order for his indecorous language and bad taste, A very proper clause runs—“ No member of the Legislature may be appointed to be a civil servant within twelve months after ceasing to be a member, under a penalty of £SO a day.” The Bill was read a second time. Mr Ballanee, speaking, on the Land Tax Bill, wondered at the opposition it met with in the House. It was received with general satisfaction everywhere out of the House. The Bill would encourage lona fide settlers, and compel mere speculators to contr’lmte to the benefit of those whose industry made their speculations profitable. As to the beer tax, he thought it a quite fair one, and expected that it would produce £40,000 a-year. Grain growers, he thought, ought to know better than to clamour for protection. Some duties must be levied for revenue purposes, but none should be levied for protection purposes. Mr Woolcock, speaking of the railway policy, argued that the lands reserved should not be sold until the railways affecting them were completed, and thus have given to those lands a much higher value. To do otherwise would be to play into the hands of speculators, and to cheat the Treasury. M? Saunders followed. He approved of the principle of the Bill, but classification of lands would be necessary, as some would, and some would not, be benefitted by railways. He did not approve of the Companies Income Tax. The borrower would eventually have to pay the tax.