LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4814, 13 June 1884, Page 2

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

(Per Press Association.)

Wellington, Yesterday. -Mr Eichmqnd moved the adoption of the Address-in«Beply to the Governor's Speech, which had been prepared by a committee, fie thought the question of perpetual leasing should,'bef;,deoidecl by the country; that the country was in need of rest in regard to finance and borrowing, and that the evils in connection with native lands required serious consideration. He refrained from speaking at -length- on several debiiteable Bubjec.tsin consequence of what had taken place in the House.

Sir G. Whitmore highly eulog^d the Governor fbr the way in which, he went about the country and went into every matter brought before him. He thought iii consequence of the political crisis all reference to debateable subjects in the Address should be omitted. As to the depression, we were suffering from our over expenditure of money borrowed both in our private aud public capacity. There had been great over-importation and over-speculation in the past, but the Government made no proposal to alter the . policy of borrowiog largely. He thought, the Property Tax should be repealed, as it checked the growth of industries, and he would have an income tax instead. He was in favor of immigration ; it should have no lowering effect on wages, which were higher now than ever, particularly.for country labour. Perpetual leasing was a fad of Mr Eolleston's, on which the country would presently decide. Constantly changing the tenure and land laws did immense harm to the colony. He generally approved of Mr Bryce's native policy, but was absolutely opposed to Federation. In the matter of the grain tariff the Government had committed an enormous blunder in ever reducing it. Improved local Government was a most urgent matter, as representatives were daily becoming more and more delegates to grab "money from the colonial exchequer. The County system had broken down, as had the roads and bridges scheme. There were a great many small local bodies, there ought to be larger bodies, who should be entrusted with the administration of education, and a nutn j ber of other matters besides roads and bridges. He moved the omission of all but the purely formal parts of the Address. He advocated a land tax, —the proceeds to be used by local governing bodies. i

Mr Oliver defended the action and 'policy of the Government, which, he said, was suffering politically, not from its profligacy, but from its economical virtues. He compared the finance of the Grey Government with that of the present Government, to the advantage of the latter. He opposed the amendment, as it would look like showing party feeling by the Council, which it always strove to avoid. [Replying to a remark by Sir G. Whitmore as to the term " confciuuous Government," Mr Oliver compared the manner in which members had left their colleagues in the present Government with the way in which a member of the Grey Government parted from the Premier. ' . Mr McLean said the great cause of the present depression was want of confidence in ourselves, and over accumulation of population in towns. At 5 o'clock the Council rose.