LATEST PARLIAMENTARY

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3007, 4 October 1878, Page 2

LATEST PARLIAMENTARY

(Pc * PES'sa A&x-ivcr.) •

HOUS.E OF EEPEESENTATIVES.

EVEinira siTTiwa, Division on the Land Tax and Beer Sills. Ctove-v .men- Defeated on tie Latter. ■

WELLINGTON.

This day. The Premier, at ten o'clock last night, was continuing in defence of the Land Tax Bill, and, in referring to the administration of Canterbury waste lands, said it. was the intention of the Government that the voice of the tax gatherer should not be heard in snail homes. When men held tend they 'could not improve, th.' n was the time for a .land tar.. Let the House remember tbe operation of the land syslem in Canterbury,. People were-told "Come here &vi buy land where you please'at £2 an ac^e,* but you must not t ke less than 20 acres." But how' did they act ? They ran a line of 20 acre and 19 acre blocks ia succession, purchasing the 20 acre blocks and debarring those which were an acre less from sale. This system, deliberately devised, was in vogue in Canterbury. Had this Government given 90,000 acre blocks of lands to (heir tiiend3 at 2i 6d an acre ? No, they had nyren new life to, the country, and had retrieved it from many evils under which it had suffered long. It was proposed, that if a land tax were collected it should again be locrlly distributed, but such action would only tend ,to cause misappropriation. Never again in New Zealand should saeh things occur as had Happened. Knowledge had been scattered among the people and they had been taught: The scales had fallen from their eyes, and they could see. Never again would they be, so blind as to support those who stand on the runholders' business.. No Legislature hereafter - would dare take awayvfroni the people the good that has been conferred on them. In the task he had set himself to achive he knew that he should incur the hrtred of many, and forfeit the affection of some. It was no matter what was said now about him or hid colleagues, their' motives or their actions, nor all the charges of trickery that were made, as they felt, they were content .o be judged in the future. ■ Their words and their actions would not die, and when they were dead the echoes they l?ad evoked would resound in proof of their having the good of New Zealead at heart, both for the present and hereafter.

Mr Holies ton replied with -considerable* warmth, accusing the 'Premier of telling $he people of Canterbury only half truths, and of deceiving the people, who did not understand the-laws..' The Government preached about maladministration of the waste lands, .but he asked whit they hrd done to place poor people on /the lands* They had done nothing, though it was their imperative duty to have done, especially so when there wa£ nothing to prevent it. The Government could at any time it thought proper put up what blocks it chose Co public auction, and have the same sold undei' the deferred payment system, and he would challenge them to do so. Then thsy could bring out the hundreds >of families from England and setile them on the land. The hon. 'gentleman, said in conciusioa he had great faith in <be, common sense of the people, arid was sure' if they were not so completely led away by the eloquence wih which the Premier spoke, and the respect which attached o him iti consequence of the position he had held fn the Colony, he would be laughed- to scorn for th? rubbish he talked. Be did not compla'n of the Premier going aboui the Cohny. He had a perfect right <o do so, but he had no right to go about the country preaching petty disloyalty to his chief after he. had endeavored to get the'representative of the Crown to veto the decision of both. .Housesof the legislative, ■ ',

After sonic furtherdimissiqn ad'vision was taken, the third reading being carried by 42 against 19. The following is the division list:— -'

Ayes—42. Messrs Faigent, Ballance, Barffj Barton, BasaDgi", Brown, JY C., (Tuapeka), Lryce, LeLantouiy pignan, Feldwick, Fisher, George, Gisborie, Grey, Hamlin, Henry, Hislop, Hobbs, Hunter, Kelly, Kenny, Macandrew, Manders, McMinn, Nahe,■; Oliver, O'Korke, Pyke, Eees, Peaton, Sharp, Shsehan, Stout, Swans' n, Taiaroa, Takamoana, Tawifci, Thompsoi, Turnbull, Whitaker, Wood, and Woolcock. : *

Noes:—l 9. Messrs Beethara, Bowen, Brandon. Brown X E. (Asblej), Fox, Gibbs, Jdhnslon, McLe.n, Montgomery, Murray, RichmorcV • Kolleslou, Rowe, Saunders, Stevens, Teschemaker, Wake* field, Wason, and Williams.

Pairs :—Ayes: Meipsrs Bunny, Moss,' Joyce, Tole, Eeevet^ Green, Shrimski, j Cuningtoa, Hodgkinsbn, Wallis. Noes : N Messrs Sutton, Russell, Morris, Hurst* house, Seymour, Murray - Aynsleyi Eichardson, Atkiufon, Fitzroy, and Driver. - .'.^ ' The Dill was read a third time and passed. 1 . . '%«*;., . The Customs Taßff [Billwas passed. Mr iiallance moved the second reading of thi Beer Duty B<lL . Mr Johnstone moved that it be read a second time that day six months. After a very brief discussion a division was taken on the questionvthat the word rt now " stund part of the question. ■Ayes:—2B. Messrs Ballance, Barton, Brown Ji 0., B-y cc, DeLautour, Feld wick, Fisher, George, Grey, Hamliri, Hislep, M,acandiew, Manders, McMinn, Murray, Nphe, O'EorKe, Pyke, Bees, Saunders, Sheehan Stout, Taiaroa, Takanioana, Thompson^luinbu 11, WoiodV Woolcock. Noes, 30:* Messrs Atkinson, Baigent, Baiff, Baslings, Beelha.m, Bo wen, Dou-^ ,glas,, Fox» . Gibbs, Gisborne, Hunter, ilursthouse, Johnston, Kenny, McFarlane, McLean, Montgomery, Moorbouse, Murray - Aynsley,, O;mond, Eplleston, Howe j Sharp, Stevens, Tahiti, Teschemaker, VVakefield, Wason,» Whitaker, Williams. '•■s:s. : '

When .the result of the division was announced Mr Si.outro.ie to'move as au amendment that instead of the' words •%this day six months," the word " to morrow " be inserted, as he believed three members had broken their pairs.

A long series of personal explanations followed, Mr Stout baring stated m reply to Mr Atkinson that the members were the members for Egmont, Motueka and Lyfctelton. Then followed a personal explanation from each of these gentlemen to show that he had^paired upon the Land Tax Bill, their" statements being confirmed by witnesses.,. * . ' The Speaker poiatijd out that the .House could not take cognisance of pairs. Sir J. C. Brown, Government whip, said he bad been umder a different impression regarding Major Atkinson's, .pair. ■ ■ v';i:. : «■ .-•■■' Mr Turnbull said he voted with the " ayes " under a misconception, y Mr Stout produced the paper signed by the whips on either side, from" which it appeared that the'respective' sides were ranged under the headings "For Government" " against Government" He assuited that the Government whips had been badly treated, anH moved the adjournment of the matter till next day. After a few remarks tfcs was agreed to, and the House rose at one.