GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Temuka Leader, Issue 1192, 17 June 1884, Page 1

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. In the Legislative Council on Friday, the whole of the time-was occupied in debating the address in Reply. Mr McLean resumed the debate, and upheld the policy of the present Government. He defended the action of the Government in raising the railway tariff, but blamed them for lowering it in the first instance. He said the Government could go to the country in a ripe old age, and with a grand record, though it was well that a Governmeufc should not last too lonsr, and if another fairly able aDd practical Government could be formed, the change might be beneficial. If there was a new Government he hoped it would, when leaving office, have as creditable a career as the present. Ministry to point to. (Applause.) Captain Fraser spoke, strongly condemning the federation proposals. Mr Waterhouse said emphatically that the depression was not of the temporary nature the Government thought, but that its effects weuld be felt for tens of years, and we must recognise that there must be great and radical changes before permanent prosperity could be eatablished, The depression wis due to our having long been living in a fool's paradise, to the reckless extravagance of many \ears, which had caused an enormous inflation land values and a fictitious prosperity. The average value of land would have to go down to about half what it is now, and though ihat would involve the ruin of many, we might depend that till that process had been gone through there would be no restoration of prosperity. He was wholly opposed to perpetual leasing (applause), which was opposed to thegtuiusof the race, and was simply the policy of the Irish middlemen, to ge+ the highest rent at all costs. Mr Reynolds spoke, strongly condemning the perpetual leasehold proposals which, he said, would undermine the prosperity of the colony, and ultimately, through political pressure, the freehold would be given for nothing.' If the colony would spend one million in opening the West Coast coalfield, it would pay ten times over ; it would be recouped in five years. Dr Grace spoke in the highest terms of the administrative services of the Minister of Land, and supported the perpetual leading scheme. To reduce the cost of education, all the reserves in the colony should be put into one fund for common schools. Half a million a year for education was far more than we could afford, and it should be reduced by half. Private schools should be encouraged under State supervision. There was a ridiculous straining after high standards, to the physical injury of the _ people. Unless we are far more economical and careful, the time will come when we shall not be able to pay our interest. As a fiist step, the number of Members of the House of Representatives and of the Council should be largely reduced. (Hear, hear.) The last Representation Bill was iniquitous and the essence of all folly. "Whilst every representative was struggling for local objects, the number was largely increased. After some further remarks, the debate was adjourned till Tuesday, and the Council rose at 5 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m on Friday, and shortly after the Speaker, accompanied by Mr Steward, Mr Levestam and a large nuniher of members, proceeded to the Government House and presented the Address in Reply. The Governor promised to give the matter his most serious consideration, as he fully recognised the necessity for his Advisers possessing the confidence of the House. On returning, the Hon. Major Atkinson at once moved the adjournment of the House till 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, when he would be prepared to state what course Ministers intended to take.