GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1115, 30 June 1883, Page 1

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

In the House on Wednesday, Sir George Grey severely criticised the Financial Statement, remarking that the House had heard nothing about the finances of the colony and its prospects. The Treasurer hnn told them there was to be a deficit, and that there was an immense interest to pay annually. From 15,000, to 16,000 men must work every day to pay the public debt, let alone the private debt. That they labored to give « great value to properties that ought to be their own, and yet the. Treasurer proposed no change. When the Treasurer went south he told the people that Government held it true that Grown Lands belonged to every man in equal proportion, and he would propose that f-very child horn in New Zealand should receive £5 as its share, and f,hat at compound interest would provide for all the widows and fatherless children. But if right in that, he should have applied the principle throughout, and paid a fair pro portion to everyone. If he had done so he would have included all in the public lands. But he showed to the people in the south that at least thirty millions of acres had gone, and that thirty-four million acres still remained. Why bad ho not stated that he would give the country a land and income tax and do away with the property tax 1 Why did he not tell them of some scheme to do away with property 1 He told them nothing of the kind was required, hut proposed laying before them the great cure he talked about in the squth.: The country was naturally unsuited . for,such n scheme. He (Sir G. Grey) believed it would be found that a majority of the House would be determined that a land tax should be imposed, and, if necessary, an income tax. He would recommend a debate in Committee, on the Statement, believing that course would be better than' to delay the debate till its chief interest had died out.

The Colonial Treasurer replied that he was quite prepared to face such debate on the land against the property ta,x, but deprecated a discussion in Committee, as it would be a waste of time If. a land tax were to be imposed . it- would have to be done so by the hnn! gentleman, as the present Government would not do it. Mr Montgomery hoped to see a land tax instead of a property tax. Mr Fish considered that increased taxation as proposed for ‘the' 'colony was already overburdened with taxes, and he judged from' such a proposal that the affairs of'‘the‘country bad not been economically administered. Mr Turnbull said the'statement suggested a most unsatisfactory result, and had not revealed the exact state of the country, (Which was on the brink of ruin. Till the land-tax was re-imposed he was sure there would be no returns to prosperity. Sir George Grey gave notice that in Committee of Supply, he would move that a sura be placed’ on the estimates for constructing a. line ,of rail way from Christchurch to the West Coast. Amongst the motions agreed to was one to the effect that a return .be -presented, showing the amount received lay various central Education Boards, the amount disbursed in office expenses and salaries, travelling and other expenses of members and officers. ; Mr Betham. moved—-‘That in the opinion of this House action should be taken, in conjunction with the other Colonies, to obtain fair representation of the Colonies in the Imperial Parliament.” He quoted statistical information rp show the magnitude of the trade between Great Britain and the Colonies, and argued that on many grounds*alone such representation was desirable. A After several members had spoken for and against the motion, the debate was adjourned. A division was tiken regarding Mr Hutchison’s motion against teaching of trades in gaols. Seven voted in favor of the motion and forty-five for the amendment. Mr M. W. Green moved. the, .second reading of the Morale Training Inf Schools Bill,' and; asked permission, t’6 'Alter the title to that Bible Reading : ifi J Schoo!s Bill. Mr Rolleston said lie Iwould vote against it, as he did not believe it represented public feeling. ■: ' ' Mr Postlethwaite-supported the motion, and quoted statistics itodbhbw that in England the Church Schools! were more numerously * attended than (he State Schools, and that fact alone-con vince' l him t! at the majority of lbe people wenin favor of their children having the saimadvantage of religious training ns the;, ' themselves had enjoyed. Mr Montgomery would vote rgainr* the Bill, 88 the Bible, could -iiqt read without comment, and .he woiild ari which version of the Bible was to he rc d • Was it the one taught byithe'-'.T’rfjtnsiani.-or the Roman Catholics ? Nothing wnnbi ever induce him to vote: for -do,nomine tional teaching in the national system. After several members had spoken ov. the subject, the second reading of fh Bill was lost, sixteen voting for, ana fifty-two against it. . The House then adjourned.