PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4941, 10 November 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[Pee Pbess Association.J

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Saturday.

On Sir J. Vogel moving the third reading of the Appropriation Bill, Major Atkinson said Government took office with a great flourish of trumpets, assuring the country it was going to push on public works with greater speed than ever occurred before, reduce taxation, and greatly curtail departmental expenditure. The Treasurer also promised a reduction of the education vote, but when the feeling of the House was tested had actually to increase it. He had already-sbown the House that all Government had to spend on land and tha construction of railways for this and next year was £900,000. He wouid ask how it could be possible to push on the public works more vigorously with only £150,000 to do so ? The departmental expenditure had also increased. The policy of the Treasurer was, " Let us eat and tSrink, for to-morrow we die," and he ventured to think that the country would say that whenever the proposals of the late and present Government differed, they differed in favor of (he first.

Sir Julius Vogel said the reason the Government made no reduction in the departmental eKpen.ditiira' wag because it was too lale this year to do so. As regarded the Education vote, they had not yet been able to make any redaction, but he still thought the system was much too costly. Pie entered fully into the District Railways question, and defended his astioo with' yespecv tp t\\e sinking fund. The member for Egmont had condemned their local Government proposals before they were brought down. Astohis(Yogel's) magic hand, it was simply the hand of common souse, and he showed a way to bring the Colony out of its difficulties. Me contended that the Government had literally carried out everything promised fp |£h_e Governor's speec|i. Ths thrcse great subjects to be de'alj; wjtli in the recess were local Government, local industries, and the settlement of native lands, and the Government would give these matters every attention. He defended himself from the charge by Mr Bryce, of nagging at his opponents, but he contended tliat it jsvas nee'eas^vy, i£ 'referring" to'ih'e history 6f the past, to refer to those who Lad made that history. He concluded by saying he thought he had proved to tho entire satisfaction of the House, that the nrsoent aesyion had »pi been 3 barren one. '" rfhe Appropriation Bill, and the public Works a:rid*ltbmigrati6n Bills, were then fead a third tijne and passed.

Mr Stout, in moving the Convention Federation resolutions, regretted he had to do so at such a late stage of the session. Since the meeting of the Convention in Sydney the British Government had assumed the protectorate over New Guinea, and several colonies who then agreed to pay £15,000 refused any more than that, and Government did not think themselves warranted in committing this colony to further expenditure than that already promised. HSlew Zealand had an enormous interest in considering how the Pacific islands were to be governed, and if they could provide for them being bound together in common interest it would be doing a great deal for their future. He fully agreed with the action taken in regard to the deportation of criminals to the islands. He asked the House not to do anything to put a stop to the union of the colonies. If they remembered the vastness of the Australian colonies, he thought they would consider well before they held aloof from them. If the resolutions passed, there would be no interference with the legislature of the colony, and the bill did not take away any great legislative power from New Zealand. If the colony stood aloof, and passed the amendments proposed, it would be taking a fatal step; they could not afford to stand aloof from Australia, and the closer the colonies were bound to the mother country ths better it would be for them. If they could show older countries they could settle their difficulties without an appeal to arms, but by a system of federation, they would be doing a good work.

Sir George Grey could not agree with a great portion of the Premier's speech. Under the circumstances the matter should not proceed any further than the discussion of the question, and he would speak with that object. He believed the same patriotic feeling existed in New Zealand towards the mother country as the Premier had attributed to Australia. The annexation of New Guinea was a matter of the greatest importance to the colony, and instead of being niggurdly in their contributions they should holp tho mother country to their utmost. The only federation they should join in was with the British Empire. Ho concluded by moving a resolution to the effect that a confederation of the whole of the English speaking nation is an object of the highest importance, and worthy of great efforts and large sacrifices. They should take no steps for confederation among themselves which might embarrass another union with Great Britian, or which might hereafter render more difficult the confederation of all the English speaking nations.

Major Atkinson was glad the Premier had taken such a wide view of the matter. He pointed out that the Americans had sacrificed one million of men and untold resources in order to obtain union, and other nations had gone in similar directions. If they were to preserve liberation it would be through federation of some form or other. If they did not obtain a voice in the regulation of the labour traffic they would be committing a political error. France had deliberately laid herself out to obtain possession of the whole of the islands between Australia and New Zealand. It would be impossible for the bond which bound them with the mother country to continue much longer as it now stood ; they would either hare to be drawn closer or cut altogether. In case of refusal of the islands to federate, was it likely in case of war, New Zealand despatches would be attended to in preference to those of the Federal Council of Australia? Australia was most anxious that New Zealand should join them. The effect of non federation would be that they would have to spend enormous sums on defence, and would lose all voice in the trade with tho islands.

Sir Julius Vogel agreed with much that had fallen from the member for Egmont, and was glad to hear that he had dealt with the subject in such a practical form. The Imperial Government could not be moved in the matter without outside pressure, and the amount of contribution was a matter of very little importance as compared with the interests involved. There was no doubt but New Guinea would become a self-supporting colony, and there was an entire unanimity in regard to the stoppage of convict labour. New South Wales had virtually withdrawn from the Convention, and it was quite clear that Queensland would- refuse to come in. It was possible, therefore, that the Colonies to be represented would be only Victoria and Tasmania, and probably South Australia. He believed that Australian federation would not tend towards the federation of the Empire. The view of Government was in favour of the Empire, but it did not favour such federation beiog effected by federation of the Colonies.

A long discussion took place on the motion for adjournment of the House, during which Sir George Grey said if Government tried to rush these resolutions through such a thin House, he would at all hazards move a vote of noconfidence in the Government on Monday. The House adjourned at 12.55 a in.