GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1243, 25 September 1884, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. In the Legislative Council on Tae*d«y last. Colonel Brett, without notice, asked whether it was a fact that the Hon. Mr Pharazyn, a Member of the Council, had been fined £IOO for illegal voting. On the Hon. the Colonial Secretary replying in the affirmative, Colonel Brett gave notice that he would ask next day what steps Government intended to take in the matter. At a later stage Mr Pharazyn announced his intention of appealing against the decision of the Resident Magistrate, and asked the members ko suspend their judgment. Several Bills were read a second time and the Council adjourned. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. In the House of Representatives on Tuesday last, Replying to Mr Pearson as to whether it was the intention of the Government to re-adjust the railway tariff with a new and substantial reduction on grain rates before next season, the Hon. Mr Richardson said the Government fully recognised the necessity for a re-classification and re-adjustment of the gram rates. He would, however, mention that the Estimates which were now before the House were based on the present tariff, and the Government did not intend to touch this important question till the recess, when they would take it into their serious con sideration. Replying to Mr Hursthousa, the Hon. Mr Ballance said beyond providing for existing engagements nominated immigration for other purposes than single women would not be resumed.

A number of other questions having been answered, the debate on the Financial Statement was resumed by Mr Holmes, who criticised the position of parties at considerable length, attempting to show that the imputations made by the Opposition against the Government had their origin in the acts and omissions for which the Opposition, when in power, were mainly responsible. Ho contended that the admitted facts re the overdue bonds showed that they were dishonored, and that was a most humiliating position in which to place the financial engagements of the colony. Referring to Mr Wakefield, he traced his political career from the time he entered Parliament, showing that he had vacillated from one side to the other, and at the close of last session he was one of those who bitterly opposed the dissolution of Parliament, and insisted that the Atkinson Government should resign and another be formed in its place- Only a few weeks had elapsed sinco Major AtJcinson describe i Mr Wakefield as a clever journalist who had his fancy man, and that man was Mr Wakefield himself. On tint occasion Major Atkinson said he wished he could secure the services of such a man. That wish was only father to the thought, and both the wish and the thought had now been realised, that clever journalist being now the close attendant and bold defender of the Atkinson Ministry. The Treasurer had been twitted for not giving particulars as to the mode in which the sinking fund was to be got rid of. The fact was that that was a secret which should be carefully preserved, otherwise the Atkinson party would do as they had done before, filch the idea and by dint thereof get once more on the Treasury Benches and work out the idea themslves. Mr W. F. Buckland thought that the Financial Statement meant borrowing on the sly. - . . . Mr Benven contended that the Financial Statement’ was by far the most intelligent document of the kind produced during the last five years. Mr Bryce said they were all aware that while Sir Joins Vogel’s own friende admitted his ability, they one and all contended that it was absolutely necessary to put the drag on him. As regarded the defective railway material, the Government had told them the other day that the name of the contractor might very well be taken as a guarantee of good faith, and yet it was sought to bold the late Government responsible. JHe took great exception to the proposal to reduce the Armed Constabulary. He admitted that taking the sinking fund as they were doing meant a smaller loan, still the doing away witli it was in no sense of the word a saving. It simply meant that they borrowed a little less in proportion to the amount they vvere putting away in the name of oinking fund. The objection shown to the property tax arose solely from the fact that it aimed at the mortgagor. It was enormous the amount of money that went out of the colony in the shape of interest. Yet that large sura was to go untaxed. The other proposals in the Statement he took to mean a further borrowing of seven and a-half millions of money. The money proposed to be secured by way of syndicates, was nothing more or less than a loan. He regarded the proposal as altogether an alarming one. He feared from the tone nf the House, that they were determined (o continue borrowing, and he believed

that they would persevere in this course until theywere checked from without. The Hon, Mr Ballance reminded the previous speaker that despite bisa version to borrowing he was a member of the Government that only a short time ago had gone largely in for a borrowing scheme. He briefly referred to the disappearance of the Civil Service Bill, to the £20,000 bonds in the hands of the Public Trustee, and said that it was not an armed force that was going to provide for the Native Diffieulty—but justice and fair dealing. The theories put forward regarding the sinking fund were most extraordinary. At present that fund amounted annually to the sum of £241,000. Now, if they could avoid that, without in any way endangering the credit of the colony, was not that a saving? Ho argued that it was, and that its effect was, as had been proposed,.. to reduce taxation. The taxation of the mortgagor meant dear money. Cheap money was the very soul of progress and extended enterprise, and surely it was sound- policy to make money as cheap as possible. The statement that the Government proposed to commit them to the borrowing of £7,500,000 was most unfairly put. As ° matter of fact, part of the money they proposed to borrow was required to meet the liabilities incnrred by the late Government. Mr Eolleston looked upon the speech of Mr Ballance as more than ever a demand on their part to dissect the Statement, more especially in relation to the borrowing policy. When the late Government took office they found the colony committed to an expenditure of almost twelve millions of money, and they found it quite impossible to reduce the expenditure below two millions. They had either to do that or to'sacrifice expensive works already commenced. In these circumstances it was most unfair to blame the Government in the way that had been done. He defended the Land Department of the late Government against accusations of having hindered land sales and otherwise damaged the finances of tha colony. He slso defended Mr Bryce’s Native policy, and.reprobated the proposal to reduce the Armed Constabulary. The reduction in the property tax would be simply playing into the bands of moneylenders. There were at first large sums of money lent at a rate of interest high in proportion to the amount of the tax levied, and the remission would simply be ao much gain to the parsons lending the money. Practically Mr Ballance had endorsed the view that they were committing themselves to a borrowing policy of seven and a-half millions, hut to hit mind it wae-not seven and a£lf millions they ware committing themselves to, but a great deal more. Mr Ballance had said “No,” but that was his candid opinion. He further objected to the Statement inasmuch that while borrowing was clearly indicated, no provision, or at all avente no provisions worth notice, was made for tba pragress of bonet fide settlement. What that fact suggssled to bis mind was that the land speculators and tha monopolists would soon be operating in their midst. The Statement showed nothing definite with respect to Education. Ha also objected to the question of immigration not being properly dealt with. - Mr Montgomery and Mr Hursthouse having spoken, the debate was adjourned, and the House rose.