GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2221, 30 June 1891, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Wellin&tonv June. 26. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Friday. INDECENT ADVERTISEMENTS BIEL. Mr^Stewart moved the first reading of the Indecent Advertisements Bill, to prohibit writing or exhibiting in any public place obscene or indecent matter, or publishing an improper advertisement. HOUdE OF REPRESENTATIVES,, The House met at 2.80, p.mt on [Friday. XKETiIES TO QUESTIONS. - Replying to Mr Palmer, Mr Reeves said that the Government intended to proceed with; the, case of Judge Edwards in the Privy Council. THE JTNANCIAIj DEBATE. Mr Pinkerton resumed the debate on the Financial Statement, He agreed with the proposals brought down by the Government, as he thought they had made an honest attempt to place the burden ot taxation on the shoulders of those who were able to bear it. They had been told that instead of reducing the postage Government should have reduced the taxes on the necessaries of life, but as one of the industrial classes he thought it better to have a better system of taxation introduced which would provide for the settlement of th© land. Mr Kelly (Invercargill) refuted the charges brought against Ranger Cambell, of Invercargill, by MrScobie McKenzie, and said that the whole thing had been got up to make a serious charge the Minister ef Lands. He made , some serious allegations against Mr Spence’s administration as Commissioner of Crown Lands at Invercargill, and said that when all these things were known, it was not to be wondered at that the Minister of Lands had aoted towards Mr Spence as he had done. Messrs Macintosh and Taylor also, spoke in support of the Government policy. Mr Rees spoke of the great service rendered to democracy by Sir George Grey during his recent visit to Australia. iHe strongly condemned the administration of the late Government, and asserted-• that the country was now undergoing a strong reaction from a financial debauch. The present Financial Statement was, in his opinion, the only one for the last twenty years that was calculated to advance the financial condition of tbe colony.

Mr McKenzie (Olutha) denied that the property tax was the chief political question at the late election as stated by Mr Rees. The whole country was then in a state of excitement owing to unionism, and people cared nothing for tbe property tax. As to the income tax wherever it had been brought into operation it proved to be an abomination. The present Government came into office pledged to do the Roman : Catholics justice and fiye members of*the Ministry, the Premier, Messrs Buckley, Ward, Seddon, and McKenzie were in favor of giving aid to private schools. Mr John McKenzie: That’s a falsehood.

Mr Seddoa rase and asserted that neither publicly nor privately was he pledged to support the Private Schools Bill, and on tbe last occasion he voted on the subject he voted against it. Mr Fergus said that ou the last occasion.Mr Seddon did not vote for or against the measure as it was understood he was “ hedging ” for the Catholic vote.

MrSeddonexplained that he was not ia. the vicinity of the Parliamentary buildings when the question last came on.

Mr Hogg spoke in support of the Government.

Mr Hall Jones moved the adjournment of the debate. The House rose at 1.80 a.m.