GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2101, 20 September 1890, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOCT3E OF REPRESENTATIVES On Wednesday, THE UNION COMPANY;

Replying to questions Mr Mitchelsen said the Government could not take into consideration the question of purchasing the Union Company’s fleet. THE APPEOPBIATION BILLS.

.The Appropriation Bill for £2,076,789 and Public Worts Appropriation Bills were introduced, read a second time and committed.

Speaking on the motion for the third reading of the Appropriation

Bill, Mr Ballance referred to the memorandum sent down to the House yesterday by the Auditor-General respecting the reduction lately made in the Audit Department. He (Mr Ballance) was of opinion that an assistant Auditor-General was not required at all, and if the AuditorGeneral reduced the efficiency of the Department he would not be following out the wishes of the House He went on to refer to the failure .of .the Government to pass several Bills which had been promised by the Government last session, especially tbe Civil Service Bill, : the Bankruptcy Bill, and the Charitable' Aid Bill. The fact of those Bills not having been through the House, showed that the Government had not a true appreciation of the necessities of the country. Then as -to the labor Bills. The House had shown every desire to pass those measures, but as the Go--1 vernment possessed a large majority in the other House (No ”) those Bill* were defeated in that Chamber. He believed, however, that much of the evils of the present session might have been avoided if the Government had dissolved Parliament during the recess. Referring to the proposed defence scheme, he hoped that the Government intended to avail themselves of the services of country volunteer corps, as if they did so there would be no necessity for a partially paid force, which would be the nucleus of a standing army. As to the question of land administration, they were promised a Bill to prevent dummyism, but he asked where the Bill was. It was proved that the law ' had been evaded in many instances, which, in bis opinion, amounted to dummyism and nothing else; Yet nothing bad been done to cheek it. There was nothing to his mind which was more likely to settle the country than by enabling people to get land for bona fide purposes, but his opinion was that tbe administration of tbe land for the last three years had been a miserable failure. He Spoke strongly against the aggregation of large estates, which had been allowed to take place, and contended that nothing bat population and putting people on to the land would settle the colony satisfactorily. He defended the action of the Opposition with regard to the redaction in the estimates. They had saved about £50,000, and they ? had also exercised a careful control of the estimates by their action as well as promoted economy in the public service. As to the property tax, if the Auckland members had been as earnest in their opposition to that tax as they professed to be they would have supported every proposal to repeal it. He was one of those who believed that property should bear some taxation, and if the property tax were removed some other impost should be substituted for it. His own opinion was that a graduated land tax was the preferable one, and he considered that such a tax as that could be defended on sound economical principles. Referring to the charges against the Government by the member for" Waitotara, he was not prepared to say whether those charges were true er false, but he contended that Mr Hutchison showed every possible inclination to establish his charges, but was prevented from doing so by the action of the Government themselves. He regretted as much as anybody that the Select Committee was not allowed to pursue its investigation into this question, but he was not disposed to condemn the Government unless he had the clearest possible proof for doing so. Regarding the question of the reduction of members, which was now about to be tested, he said that the reduction was one of tbe most serious blows ever inflicted on Parliament, and was a retrograde movement r in every respect. There was no doubt was intended to cripple the Liberal party in the country, but he hoped that it would not have any such effect. The £3OOO to £4OOO saved to the country by the reduction of members would be a very small consideration compared with the enormous injuries inflicted on the colony- He contended that when the Government found that they could not press the policy measures which were required by the country, it was their duty to appeal to the country at once, instead o£ pursuing the course which they had done all through the session.

Mr Mitchelson said that he differed from Mr Ballaoce as to the reduction of the Audit vote. The reduction made in that vote would certainly? cause injury to the system of auditing the accounts of the colony. If any mismanagement had occurred the Opposition were wholly responsible for it. With respect to Mr Ballanee’s assertion that the Opposition had forced the Government to abandon the primage duty, he warned . the House that, owing to the labor troubles there would be a deficiency next year ®f at least £50,000. He contended, therefore, that if the Opposition had done its duty this deficiency would not occur. He agreed with Mr Ballance when he hoped that the next election would return a Government who were able to carry on the business of the country satisfactorily, but ho felt sure that the result of the elections would be to give the Government side of the House such a large majority as to provide for a strong Government being formed-

A message was received from th e Legislative Council, returning the Native Land Laws Amendment Bilb which was finally passed.

Mr Mitchelson moved that the House at its rising adjourn till that day week. The motion was agreed to by 30 to 8. THE ADJOURNMENT. On the Speaker resuming the chair at 5 p.m., the Governor’s assent to the Appropriation Bill was received, and the House adjourned.