GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2387, 26 July 1892, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Friday. The Settled Land Bill, Oraki Succession Investigation Bill, and Kaiapoi Native Reserves Bill, were put through the final stages. The Provincial Ordinance Bill was committed and reported without amendment. The Oyster Fisheries Bill was further considered in committee. The Council rose at 3.15 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Friday. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. In reply to Mr Joyce, Mr Seddon said it was quite time that the military authorities in England condemned the Mai’tini-Henry rifle, but as 10,000 for this colony would cost a large sum of money the Government could not undertake to order them. The matter was one that would have to be left to the new commandant, and no doubt would be dealt with in his report. Replying to Mr Reeves (Inangahua) Mr Seddon said no steps had been taken to secure the representation of the colony at the Chicago Exhibition as it was found that those who were particularly interested in having their products represented were very lukewarm in the matter. He added that unless the people came forward to assist it would cause an expense to the Government of at least £IO,OOO. His opinion was that it would cost £20,000, and he thought that this aum could better be expended in making roads and bridges. He intended, however, to submit the whole question to the House later in the session, and take its opinion on the matter. Replying to Mr Hutchison (Dunedin) Mr Reeves said he was having a short Act drafted which would probably deal with the question of carrying into effect a judicious system of compulsory attendance at schools.

Replying to Mr Barnshaw Mr Reeves said that lie should do his utmost to introduce the Colonial School Reader into the public shools of the colony within the next few months, and that an endeavor would be made to get the number of school books in the public schools reduced to the smallest limit. In reply to other questions it was stated that a Bill would be brought down this session to repeal the Arms Act. THE FINANCIAL DEBATE. Mr Sandford resumed the debate on the Financial Statement. He said that the striking feature of this debate had been the spirit of contradiction which was apparent in the ranks of the Opposition, and if there was any truth in the old saying that a divided house must fall, then the Opposition must surely fall. The Government side of the House had been charged again and again with having no views of their own. He for one had never sunk his individuality, nor had he ever gone into a division in any matter under the whip of those who drive, and he and those who supported the Government could give good reason for that support. They had no choice in the matter, as the Government were prepared to go to a greater extent in the direction of their views than the Opposition. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment. On resuming at 7.30 Mr Fish admitted that Mr Reeves’s speech on the previous night was very brilliant in delivery, but after saying that he said all that could be said. It no doubt might be very high class for the Minister for Labor to refer to the member for Mount Ida as the corner man of a Christy Minstrel troupe or to the leader of the Opposition as “Mr Johnson,” but he (Mr Fish) considered that such low and vulgar jesting was not becoming in a Minister of the Crown. Mr Reeves should recognise the seriousness of his position, although he found himself in a position which nature never intended him to occupy. Referring to the Government administration he gave it as his opinion that the handwriting was on the wall for them. As an instance of the terrorism practised on Civil servants by the present Ministry he said that in previous sessions members of the Civil Service freely conversed with members of the House, but this year there was a marked change in that respect. One of those gentlemen had actually stated that it was not safe with the powers that be for them to be seen conversing with the occupants of the Opposition benches. He pointed out that £200,000 was not sufficient for the prosecution of public works, and he considered that the proper course for the Government to adopt was to raise a loan of £500,000 which should be earmarked for special works. By their present proposals the Government depended on their next surplus for these works, but if their finance failed there would simply be stagnation and commercial depression. He fearlessly asserted that unless something occurred to hurl Ministers from the Benches financial ruin would soon overtake the colony. Mr Barnshaw said that the statement had been received with remarkable favor; that he was opposed to freehold tenure, but would not vote to turn the Government out on that ground. He hoped that a comprehensive measure would be brought in dealing with charitable aid; and, on the question of taxation, thought that a majority of working men would rather prefer to pay extra taxation than do without employment. He strongly defended the co-operative system and the Labor Bureau.

Mr Harkness moved the adjournment of the debate. The motion was agreed to, and the House rose at 12.34 a.ra.