GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1587, 28 May 1887, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 on Wednesday. Mr Johnston moved the adoption of the report of (lie Joint Library Committee, recommending the distribution of surplus magazines among hospitals at d charitable institutions of the colony.— Agreed to. Mr Buckley said that, following the usual precedent, he would move that, in view of a res< ution given notice of in another place, ihu iiC.-uucil o adjourn. — Agreed to. The Council met on Thursday, but adjourned without transacting any business. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m on Thursday. Mr Wiremu Katene, the new member for the Northern Maori Electorate, took • he oath and his seat. Major Atkinson gave notice to rnoye on the question for the second reading of the Customs Unties Bill—“ That the tariff and other financial proposals of the Government are unsatisfactory.” Replying to questions, it was staled that it was not advisable to make expensive alterations in the heavier railway engines with respect to burning firewood on the linns of railway ; that the conditions and terms under which banks are authorised to issue bank notes were set forth in private bills at various times. Sir Julius Vogel moved the second reading of the Customs lJuties Bill. It was proposed to allow six months to elapse before bringing irito effect the duties on under-proof spirits and pictorial cards and almanacs. Speaking generally of the tariff, it would fall lighter on the general body of consumers than tariffs had in the past. It was intended to increase ihe revenue and fosterlocal industries. Pie did not object to importers being heard in defence, but it appeared to him that the object of an association of that kind which had moved in the raaiter was to throw the bulk of taxation on the laboring classes. Ho did not .propose to speak at length, as no doubt the House was anxious to hear Major Atkinson. He finished a brief speech by quoting Mr Goschen’s remark that every morning he received heaps of letters advocating changes in taxation by people who would not be affected by the scheme they opposed. Major Atkinson moved—“ That in tire opinion of this House the tariff and other financial proposals of the Government are unsatisfactory.” The Treasurer had not grasped the condition of the colony, and was not going to provide any satisfactory remedy for the present state of things. Not a single saving had been r-ffected in the votes of last year, although Sir Ju ius Vogel claimed to have saved £98,000. They had managed to save on one vote and to spend on another, but there was no real economy. When the Government took office the Land Fund was £50,000 in credit, but there was last year a deficit of £56,000. Yet this was passed oyer with a simple reference of four lines. The total deficit was £325,000. Tire usual remedies were to be applied. They were to borrow against the deficit, but it would not be satisfactory. He quoted at length from the Financial Statement of 1884 promising progress by “leaps and bounds.” To see, as he said, how a master hand in finance had conducted their business, and how completely the Statement of this session belied the former one, there had actually been received £65,000 more revenue this y<'ar than in 1884, yet the deficit was £92,000. £294,000 more appropriation for this year than in 1884, not including the Supplementary Eiti nates, which were still to come. And this was Sir Julius Vogel’s idea of economy. The stagnation of business was far worse now lhan when the Treasurer took office. Notwithstanding all the promises he had made, and after these year* of unrest, came fresh taxation. If the .Property Tax was so crushing in its effects, how was it that he now proposed to make a graduated tax? None of Sir Julus Vogel’s proposal's wouM hurt him rnoie than this in the eyes of the colony. He quoted a letter from Sir Julius Vogel to ttie Hall Government, denouncing their proposals to tax Civil servants ten per cent. He did not propose to discuss the tariff in rietail, but gave it as Ids opinion that it would not provide the money required. He hoped the House would r> jeet it bodily, er have nothing to do with it until Government came do vn with a dear scheme of retrenchment. It was not the duly of the Opposilion to frame a policy, but it was the Government’s duly. He would be no party to permitting the Government to borrow to put the Lund Fund in credit. He believed that the village settlement scheme would be a great failure. The Government might ask for a dissolution, and he hoped they would get one in order to go to the country at once. They were in a difficulty through the Representation Act not having been passed last session. If the tariff was re* jected they could not go to the country upon the present Bill, and the new Bill could not come into force till half the financial year was over. The House should, however, votn irrespective of the consideration of causing a second session. He called on the House to refuse to submit to further taxation. Sir R, Stout thought the speech just delivered was one of the weakest he had ever listened to from Major Atkinson. He had expected Mapr Atkinson for once to have forgotten that he wa- leader of a party, and to have approached the present difficulty as a statesman should have done. He quoted from Major Atkinson's speech at Hawera, in which lie stated that they should have a tariff which would give them revenue, ard that he should consider the interests of the consumer as well as tire retailors. He (Sir R. Stout) thought nobody would associate that speech with the one just delivered by the lion, gent eman. Re ridiculed the jd.e* of the leader of the Opposition not saying how revenue should be imposed, and what particular items of the tariff he objected to He would ask whether Major Atkinson’s attitude was not owing to an understanding with the member for Napier in regard to selling land, and said Mr Omrond’s remedy for all their difficulties was to sell hind. His (Major Atkinson’s) followers were all at sixes* and sevens on this question of selling land ? but he contended that selling land woijld not im-

prove their position. The deficit was only about £92,000 and that was properly staled in the Financial Statement. Major Atkinson did not admit that the deficit in the land fund had to be dealt with by a separate Bill, aud that was hardly a fair position to take up. He defended the special settlement scheme, and said the unemployed difficuly was a serious question tor the House to consider. He thought this scheme was the best means of providing for men who had not sufficient capital to invest in small farms of their own. He admitted (hat the scheme might fail, but business men frequently failed and it was not to be supposed that this scheme was perfect, but lie considered it was the best means they could devise at present. He asked the House, apart from party consideration, never to agree to sell land suitable for settlement for cash. The kind of taxation proposed by Major Atkinson was to put a special taxon farmers of the South Island, but the present Government bad ruduc-d the taxation of the colony instead of increasing it. Too only remedy Major Atkinson had when in office was to propose additional taxation, but ho had another one which was equivalent to seizing the sinking fund. lie asserted that if the population per head were taken into account the additional taxation proposed by the present tariff would not exceed what was proposed in former years. He quoted from the New South Wales tariff to show that many of the duties imposed by that colony, which was a freetrade community, were higher than those now proposed. Tim only difference between Major Atkinson and the Government on the question really was as to what particular articles duty was to be imposed upon. He should like to know on what part of the Estimates reduction could be made, and it was the duty of Major Atkinson to have pointed out some means of reduction. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. On resuming at 7.30, the Premier continued. The previous Government had done nothing to provide subsidies for local bodies, while the present Ministry had done so without increasing taxation. Who were the men who wanted the duty increased on tea and sugar] Why, those who had been busy during the last three weeks clearing out huge quantities of those articles. The very fact of thsre being-an exemption made the original Property tax a graduated one. It was right that the big money companies and institutions should pay more in proportion, and if they went to the country they would find the small farmers and settlers thought so too. As to the Civil Servants, members on both sides of the House had repeatedly spoken in favor of reduction, and it was as just that public servants should have their salaries reduced as those in private firms. Major Atkinson had repeatedly refused to cut down his estimates when in power, though he now urged Government to do so. All he seemed to be able to suggest in place of the Government proposals was to kill rabbits and sell land. Accepting the amendment as a motion of want of confidence he proceeded to defend the action of the Government on general grounds. In conclusion he insisted that no Government ever had to ad miniate l, the Government under such difficulties as they had. If the House thought thair policy was unsold, they could say so, but there was someone beyond them to whom they could appeal. Mr Tayor and Mr Fisher spoke in favor of the amendment. Mr Joyce defended the Government, Mr Moss said that retrenchmeat was badly wanted, but no Government dare do it. He had seen Treasurer after Treasurer trying and fail. On the motion of Mr Beetham, the debate was adjourned, and the House rose at 11.30. On Thur-day the no-confidence debate was resumed. Mr Macarthur spoke in favor of the amend ment, condemning the Government. Mr Dargavil e pointed out that Major Atkinson was the author of the graduated Property Tax. The previous Government had effected no retrenchment, and he doubted whether they would attempt it if they were to regain office. Mr Montgomery said that the real deficiency this year was £192,000. He said that as it had been stated in the Financial statement that the cost of living had been reduced 25 per cent, Ministers should have, proposed a similar reduction in their salaries. The Government now asked to put on what was equivalent to £280,000 additional taxation. He voted tor the amendment, not on party grounds, but in order to allow ao appeal to be made to the country. Messrs Pyke, F. Buokland, Hursthouse and Garrick spoke against the policy of the Government, and Messrs Levestam and Smith for it. Sir Julius Yogel moved the adjournment of the debate and the House adjourned at 12.15.