GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 199, 21 October 1897, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. TUESDAY. I'RIYII.KCK. Ml; Fkasku moved that the suh-leadir and the report of the proceedings in the House in the New Zealand Times of October Kith are breaches ot the privi leges of the House. The sub-leader commented on the alleged breaking of pairs by Messrs Lothbritlge and Eraser between Messrs R. MeKciv/.ie and O'Regan. The portion of the report objected to was a list of pairs to which was appended a note intimating that Messrs Eraser and Lethbridgc had broken their pairs. Mr Lcthbridge said he had not spoken to Mr O'Regan, the pair was arranged by the Whips. Mr O'Regan said that at 12 o'clock the Government Whip told him he was paired. Mr Seddon said the Government Whip would not have entered the pairs unless he had been authorised. Mr Masscy said that there had been a misunderstanding. Mr Mills had told him that he did not want pairs for Messrs O'Regan ami McKenzie till a quarter to 12. He (Mr Masscy) said by that time it would be all right, the division on the motion before die House would be taken before that time. Evidently Mr Mills had understood the pairs and not the motion were understood. The motion was agreed to on the voices. THK rCLICE I'OKCE. Mr Seddon stated that he had consulted with Mr Tunbridge. The Government have determined to set up a Royal Commission. FINANCIAL DEBATK. The Premier moved that the House go into Committee of Supply. Capt. Russell, in opening the financial debate, said the Budget was a cross between an official handbook and a tourists' guide. He had failed to see whit policy, so far as finance was concerned, the House was to be asked to adopt. There was no borrowing policy, and the Treasurer was waiting to see " how the cat jumped '' before bringing down the Public Works Statement, which would in reality be the financial statement. The Treasurer's estimate ot revenue for the present year, showing a decrease of £'2t!9S as compared with the previous year, showed that there was a loss of buoyancy in the colony's finance. The Treasurer's Estimates, he considered, were intended rather to gull the public outside than to satisfy members. An increase in the public debt, increased charges, increased expenditure, diminishing reveniie.diirinishing exports ami i ovulation, negatived the statement in the Budget that the colony's finance was in a strong position. The principle under which the colony's surpluses were made and published to the world was misleading to the very last degree, and he contended that the surplus of the previous year should not be added to the excess of receipts over expenditure. Surpluses made up on that principle were fictitious. The revisiou of the tariff had increased the receipts from Customs, and though the present Administration contended that they had only added Ctf.OOO to interest charges on the public debt, the remainder of their additions to it being considered reproductive, they yet collected £310,216 additional taxation through the Customs. The railways were "far from being in a flourishing condition, and railway receipts which ought to have been devoted to the upkeep of the lines had been diverted to swell the surplus. The result had been that the railways had been starved. He firmly believed that until the colony reverted to the non-political control of the railways they would never be properly managed. He was glad to think that the present Minister ot Railways wis not responsible for the present state of the colony's railways, which was to be attributed, he considered, to the Premier's interference. There were no definite financial proposals in the Statement, and until the Public Works Statement came down the colony's finances could not be discussed. He objected to the constinotion of light railways and condemned the oltl age pension proposals. Mr Hall-Jones said the Statement contained all the Government's borrowing policy. Though desirous of extending a number of uncompleted lines, there was at present no opportunity of doing so. Sir R. Stout expressed sympathy with the last speaker, whom be considered was over weighted with the Statement. Referring to the police force he said it was an unprecedented thing for a Government to set up a Royal Commissioner to inquire into their conduct. The statement only contained half a policy, audit was impossible for the House to discuss the finances. The public debt had increased during the year by £1,144,429, and the 'Government had altogether alandoued the policy of selfreliance initiated by the late Mr Ballance. The tabic purporting to give what loans were reproductive and what not was entirely incorrect and misleading. He ngreetl with the Government proposals respecting beet sugar and forest conservation, but failed to see why creameries more than any other industry should have advances made to them. The Government had evidently forgotten what was said respecting old age pensions in last year's Budget, which stated that in order to pay them taxation would be nrccisary, There was no mention of JLT2(),OC6 for old age pensions in the estimates of expenditure He therefore considered that the Budget statement as regarded pensions was a bogus one. He did not think the colony could stand .1120,000 yearly for old 'age pensions. The fact that the rcceutly-appoinred magistrate at Mastcrton was receiving £450, while the magistrates who hid been appointed years ago were not receiving that sum amounted to conuptioll on the part of the Government. The lowering of the rate of interest paid by the Post-ollice Savings Hank was punish ing the thrifty classes. The House then rcse.