GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2068, 5 July 1890, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HODoE OF REPRESENTATIVES. On Wednesday, the . NO CONFIDENCE Debate was resumed by Mr Kerr, who said the Premier was well enough, to be present in Parliament, only he knew that if he were present he would be defeated. It was out of sympathy for him that many were refraining from voting against him. Mr Hobbs spoke in support of the Government, after which a division was taken,, resulting in the Government having a majority of 6 votes. The following is the division list Ayes, 38—Allen, Arthur, Bruce, Bryce, Cowan, Dodson, Fergus, Hall, Harkness, Hislop, Hobbs, Hodgkinson, Humphries, Izard, La wrey, McArthur, McKerzie (Mount Ida), Marchant, McGregor, Mitchelson, Moat, Monk, Newman, O’Connor Peacock, Rhodes, Ross, Russell, Samuel, Saunders, Seymour, Stewart (Dunedin West), Tanner, Thompson (Marsden), Thompson, (Auck- - land North), White, Wilson, 1 Withey. Noes, 32—Ballance, Barron, Blake, Buxton, Oadman, Duncan, Fish, Fitchett, Fitzherbert, Fraser, Goldie, Grey, Guinness, Hutchison, Joyce, Kelly, Kerr, Lance, , • Laroach, Loughrey, McKenzie (Waihemo), Moss, Perceval, Reeves (Inangabua), Richardson (Kaiapoi),Smith,Steward, Taylor, Verrall, Walker, Ward. Pairs, For—Anderson, Beetham, Atkinson, Fulton, Taipaa, Carroll, Valentine. Against—Fisher, Feldwick, Seddon, Jones, Taiwhanga, Brown, Reeves. The debate on the FINANCIAL STATEMENT, was resumed by Mr Fish, who held that the strong impeachment of the Government bad not been answered. He spoke at great length against the administration of the Government.

Mr Peacock thought the fact of the Treasurer being able to pay off som* of the liabilities of the colony was a result that he should gain credit for, and should undoubtedly be regarded as a surplus. Mr Bryce said he thought it his duty to oppose any want of confidence motion brought forward by Mr Ballance, and supported by his party. He disagreed with the Government. The policy was leading them straight on to another loan or worse, and from that point of view it seemefi to biiojt highly unsatisfactory—as ihey were * going to borrow in an indirect way, which was much more objectionable, from his point of view. The surplus was not a real one. He did not derive that it was a surplus so far as the present accounts went, but if they were to regard it as a matter of reality, taking the future as well as the present, he denied it. He was as much against borrowing as any man, but if be had to take his choice between the issue of deficiency bills and a direct loan he would accept a loan. If the people insisted upon expenditure and not upon retrenchment, let the position be put fairly before them, so that they could face the consequences. Mr Hutchison pointed out that despite all boasting about retrenchment, there were no less than 113 extra officials in Government departments for the last twelve months. He characterised the Surplus as a hollow sham from beginning to end, and said it never existed He asserted the colony had lost £IOO,OOO owing to the manner in which thel pan was raised,and charged the Government with having instructed the Agent-General to enlarge on the.position of the Bank of New Zealand in order that the loan might be floated. He strongly condemned the action of the Government in having assisted the New Plymouth Harbor Board during the recess to tba extent of £4992, notwithstanding that the House had emphatically declared last session against anyjsuch assistance being given. During the next two years sums amounting to over five millions had to be met and yet they were told that they were to have no more borrowing. These, with thb amounts thrown on the colony by the New Plymouth Harbour, Board and other charges would necessitate the borrowing in the London market within two years of no leas than eight millions of money. Mr. Fergus said that even allowing for Mr Ballance’a figures there was a surplus left in the treasury of £33,000. Mr Ballance had found fault with the Government for their large defence expenditure, but he would remind him that during a time of panic he himself had committed the colony to an expenditure of about £400,000 for defence purposes. He considered that the Financial Statement was the ablest one that had ever been placed before j the colony and one that had given people outside the colony the fullest information as to its position and resources. He could not agree with Mr Bryce’s contention that the surplus was not a real one because it did not provide for the future. The statement referred simply to the past year and clearly showed a surplus. He regretted that the debate could, not be

carried on without reference to certain financial institutions. Major Steward compared Mr Eergus’ speech to that of an advocate rather than of a Minister of the Crown who had important matters to refer to. He had twitted Mr Ballance with expending £400,000 on defence, but he wished to remind the House that the expenditure was undertaken with its full eohearrence. He held that the circumstances of the time fullj justified it. , Mr Ehbdes moved the adjournment of the debate. The House rose at midnight. On Thursday, 1 THE FINANCIAL DEBATE.

Mr Ehpdes resumed the debate on the motion that the House go iuto Committee of Supply. He said that he bad given his vote last evening to the ,Government, not because he had ardent supporter of the Government, but because he preferred to see them in office to any Government that could be formed by the Opposition. Eeferring to the land question he said that he had always opposed the acquisition of private lands by the Government, and had held that it would be too great a strain on the revenue to buy up land in any considerable quantity. But if he should be re-elected to the House he j should be favourable to this being done ■ to a moderate extent. There had been such .a chorus of complaints from the bouth Island: about the management

of the Railway Commissioners that ho felt sure a block vote would be given at the elections in favour of the railways being again taken over by the Government. . Blake, Allen, Walker, JWarchant, Ward and McKenzie up to 11.20 p.m, when Mr Yerrall moved the adjournment, which was carried.