PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 990, 12 August 1882, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Wednesday's Sitting.

'* The Want of Confidence motion debate commenced by Major Atkinson moving the North Island Main Trunk Line Loan Bill. Inthe Financial Statement the Government gave their reason for a further loan. Public works have been a decided success. Taxation, so far as Customs duties were concerned was less by 5 per cent than before the loan of 1870 wages were better and employment I easier to get, beside the great facilities I given to the people. He considered that a saving of from £300,u00 to £400,000 had been effected to the colonists by the facilities given to them by public works, and 100,000 persons were settled in New Zealand by loan money. The amount of money available for carrying out public works now was £435,000 and if a loan was not to be raised public works would have to stop and there would be about 10, )C0 souls thrown out of their means of living in the middle of winter. These men would be thrown out of employment, and many of them would leave the colony taking their capital with them, wages would be reduced, trade would be paralysed and- another commercial crisis would set in. If those who argued that a better scheme could be devised for making the fresh burdens fall on the class best able to bear it they should bring forward a scheme, and it would be adopted. It was not intended to raise the North Island main trunk loan untill the difficulties with the Natives have been overcome. As re_ gards the objection that not more than half the money was to be spent on public works he would point out that that was always the way money was spent. He then referred to the various works other than railways proposed to to be attended to. If the amendment of Mr Montgomery meant anything it meant that all public works should be stopped and no more money borrowed. He hoped that Mr Montgomery would explain the meaning of the amendment. He then referred to the no-confidence motion being so long delayed. Mr Montgomery moved as an amendment —" That the loan proposals of Government are not satisfactory." He believed that it was since members came to Wellington, and pressure had been brought to bear upon Government, that they decided on the loans. Immigration would not raise wages: In 1878-79 they had large immigration and the House hud to vote money to get them work, That wa6 not like immigration raising wages. He was not against borrowing nor doing substantial justice to the North Island, but the railway route should be decided on before any more money was spent. The loan pro posals meant £300,000 a year interest, and it was necessary that they should know how it was to be raised. The Treasurer should have asked for a loan of halt a million to carry him on to next cession and then bring down a more elaborate scheme. Now they had no railways indicated. The North Island trunk line was to start at Te Awamutu but nothing was said about where it would go through. The houth Island line was to start at Blenheim tc be taken southwards, but no indication as to whether it was to go through one or twolargee states only. If that was theinteotion of the Government, and it could not be said that the proposals were satisfactory. He did not wish to prolong the debate, and was perfectly confident hip side would win.

Mr \V. W.Johnston said Mr Montgomery appeared to have no objection to borrowing, but objected •to the amount. He contrasted the proposals of the Government with those of their predecessors and cautioned the House against 'giving to a Ministry formed from the opposition, the administration of the loan. Mr John Buchanan moved as an ! addition to Mr Montgomery's motion '• inasmuch as it is is not expedient to authorise any fresh loan during this session." Major Atkinson interrupted to say that the Government nevei intended to raise either loan in a lump sum. The North Island loan would not bo placed on the market until the line was determined on and the Government was in a position to commence the work. As to the three million loan, it was only intended to raise the money at the rate of one million a year, and clauses to provide for this would be introduced into the Bill. Mr Buchanan continued to say there was no hurry with some of these lines, and next year would be time enough. Colonel Trimble supported the Government. Mr Sutton said the proposal to borrow the money would add £189,000 a year to the amount the colony would have to pay, and the properties benefitted by the borrowing ought to pay the interest. Mr Montgomery's proposal was exactly similar, and he would not support an Opposition destitute ef policy. Mr Bathgate, after referring to his experience in England, said he would support Mr Montgomery. Messrs Wilson and Connolly would support the Government.

Mr De Latour referred to the dissensions amongst Ministers, stating that some of them would not speak to each other. They were an incapable Government, If they remained in they woii[d .convert the £4,000,000 into a £6,0C0,000 before long. He then criticised the Financial Statement of the Government most severely. On £7,000,000 worth of imported goods there was a taxation of £1,500,000, while there was only £150,Q00 raised on £70,000,000 of property. Was this equality ? The y were told that a saving of £215,000 had been effected, while £572,000 bad been added to the public debt. That was the way the Government had saved. Sir John Hall argued that the Go • vernraent were not incapable, and defended them at great length. Mr Weston spoke strongly against the Government, anc l the debate was adjourned. Thursday's Sitting. The No Confidence debate was continued. Messrs Tawhai, Harris, Joyce, Moss, Fish and Pyke spoke against the Government, and Messrs Hobbs, Munro, Hurst and Petrie for the Govern cnent. The principal feature of the debate was a speech of three hours' duration by Mr Fish, of Dunedm. The debate was adjourned,