LATEST PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3971, 20 September 1881, Page 2

LATEST PARLIAMENTARY.

[By Telegbafh.]

HOUSE OF KEPKESENTATIVES.

This Day's Sitting. Wellington, This day. The House met at 11 a.m. On Mr Pitt's motion, a message was sent to the Legislative Council stating that tho House insisted on {its disagreement to the Council's amendment in the Pensions Bill.

The Town Districts Bill was received from the Upper House, with amendments, which were agreed'to. Eeplying to Mr Bunny, Mr Hall said that detailed information of the expenses of the late Royal Commissions' was in course of preparation, and if ready before the prorogation they would be printed and circulated amongst members.

Replying to Mr Bryce, Mr Hall said the claims of the Wanganui Harbor Board, reported on by the Petitions Committee, had not yet been fully considered by Government, but the matter would be carefully considered.

Eeplying to Mr Barron, Mr Hall said Government were not disposed to grant free railway passes to delegates attendiDg a Municipal Conference on amendments required in the law.

Sir George Grey introduced a bill to give equal "rights to all descendants of natives in New Zealand, and it was read a first time.

Major Atkinson moved the second reading of the Property Tax Bill. Mr Saunders blamed Government for proposing a bill of this kind without explanation. They ought to have showed the real state of their finance, and not delude them by living on borrowed money. Before they thought of reducing taxation, he (Atkinson) ought to have shown them he was able to live without borrowed money. Mr Ballance concurred in this opinion that fuller information should have been given. He thought the relief proposed ought to have been given ia a different way from that proposed ; it ought to be given in a shape of relief upon Agricultural and other similar improvements. He felt however, that it was useless to talk of any alteration, and blamed Governmeut for haviug persisteutly kept back all important measures to tUU late

period of the session. It appeared to him there was nothing for it but to pass the Bill.

Mr Moss commented upon such gross irregularities as being called upon to pass such an important measure at a morning sitting, after they had been sitting till 2 a.m. that morning. It appeared to him that Government just lay in wait to catch upon an opportunity for passing this and that measure by a kind of subterfuge. It was quite clear they could not discuss the Bill with any chance of success.

Sir G. Grey also blamed Government for having brought forward the Bill at this late period. He also blamed them for compelling the House to sit so many hours in the day, the effect of which was to weaken the intellect; and by that means measures were allowed to slip through, which would not be the case under a better system. He gave instances of the effect of this manner tt of carrying on work.

Mr Hall .rose to a point of order, and appealed to the Speaker to prevent this recapitulation, which the Speaker decided against him. Sir George Grey went on to say that many difficuties of this kind were sure to turn up; the fact was, members of the Government took turn and turn about; they got rest, and by that means they pushed through their measures by mere dint of subterfuge. Such conduct on the part of a Government was most reprehensible, and unfair to the country. He was opposed to the bill, and agreed with the objections stated by Mr Ballance. If any difficulty arose on the West Coast, it would have to be grappled with at one^ even although funds were squandered away there must be no rallying or prolonged warfare. It was the salvation of both races that this |courae should be followed. In that case this was not a time to reduce, as proposed by the bill, taxation. In committee he would propose such alterations as would transform the bill into one of a property tax on land. Mr Macandrew, was opposed to .the principle of the Bill, but inasmuch as it proposed to mitigate the evil, he would support it. He also blamed Government for the iriegularities in which they conducted business.

Mr Gisborne would also support the Bill, but did so only because at this period of the session he saw no chance of making material alterations, however much they might be desired.

J. T. Fisher would not support the Bill ai the principle of the Bill was crushing the life-blood out of the colony.

Major Atkinson said it seemed to him the House was in possession of all the surrounding facts connected with the bill, and he would be only taking up time unnecessarily if he defended the mode of taxation proposed by the bill as the best for reaohing the rich men. The latter class was paying at present £42,000, whereas, under an income tav at 6d, they would not contribute more than £17,000. He disputed that they were in the critical condition asserted by Saunders, and expressed it as his opinion that they might hate gone even further than they had done in borrowing money.

The motion for the second reading was put and carried, and the House adjourned at 2.5 p.m.

Major Atkinson in moving the second reading of The Customs Excise Bill, intimated the willingness of to abandon the clauses relating to distillation if the House wished it. Tuey were only introduced on the recommendation of the Local Industries Committee, and it was too late in the Session to fully discuss them now.

The debate is still proceeding.