PARLIAMENTARY

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1796, 24 September 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

[Br Telegraph,] In the Council, Colonel Brett gave notice to ask the Government what steps they intended tq take with regard to the Hew Mr Phwazyn, who had beou recently convicted under "The Corrupt Practices Act," In explanation, Mr Pharassyh said he was still under the impression that the verdict given in 1881 amounted to an acquittal. He had taken the advice of eminent counsel, and had decided to appeal against the recent fine. He asked members to withhold their decision until the appeal was decided. The Married Womens' Property Bill was read a second time.

In the Houso Sir George Grey gave notice to introduce a Bill to provi'cje for the appointment of Parliamentary Uudor-Secre-tarieß of State. Also a Bill to prouWafor the appointiuontsof jiistwosof'PoacJßhe'' > colony boing olcoted by the people W- ' Sir Julius Vooel.gave notice, to introduce . the Westporfc Harbor Bill and Grevmouth Harbor Bill.

Replying to questions the Government ",' said that Volunteers on reserve had the'." right of competing for district prizes. .. The Government could not at 'present make arrangements that receivers of gold duty should pay direct to local - bodies, and could not this session introduce a oompel vendp.rs of medicines to pay licenses, It would he considered as part of local government question. The issuing ol licenses to retailers of tobacco and cigars wouhf be considered from a similar point of view, Mr MAC4NDREW gave notice that free grants land of ten acres sections be granted to the unemployed under similar conditions to those prescribed by the Auckland homestead regulations. Also that special settlement be established between Caltins fiiver and Waihora for Highland orofters, Sir Julius Vooel gave notice that as Califomian and direct steam service are the fastest means of communication Great Britain and New Zealand, and as Brindisi service entails considerable loss the • postige of letters by the 'latter 1 - route he T# increased to one shilling half ounce, and '■*. other postal mattor in proportion, If any difficulty arose ia collecting extra Jfe at • Home it be collected out here. fp Mr Holmes continued the dehto ontho '"' Financial Statement, and attacked the speeches of the late Premier and member for Selwyn. it the evening sitting, Buokund characterised Holmes' speech as an attack on the late Government, and no argument or statement.. If the Property Tax was abolishedin bis opinion there would have to he mora borrowing. ' ' MrBEVAN thought Ihe Finanoia.l State, ment the most intelligent and intelligible.

Jnono that lias been delivered in tho House for five'years. He censured the late Government for their administration, par: tioiilarly with regard to the public works and importation of bad railway material into tho colony. The latter was endangering public He said the member for Selwyn was apolitical weathercock in every sense of the word, He hoped the Amendment would bo withdrawn. Mr Bryce defended the late Government ■'■ for its action with respect to-the Civil Service Bill, and thought it altogether unreasonable 1 to suppose Ministers would \i leave, draft bills behind them when leaving office. He took exception to the reduction of the-Armed Constabulary. It was only the other day he heard the Premier state tho Natives from tho Bluff to the North Cape were discontented and only kept down by terrorism. Yet, in the face of this statement, the ttovernroenc intended to reduce the force, There was a large amount of money going from the colony in the shape of interest, and ho thought it only right it ' should be taxed. Ihe borrowing proposals of the Government were apalliug, amounting as they did to seven and a half millions, The Government did not like the Property Tax because it arrived at the mortgagee. Ho held thii'o was no saving by relieving tho einking fond. Ho objected to tho StateJirnont, owing to its borrowing proposals. "Dp, Mr Ballance, referring to dishonored bonds, said that lliey were not met until a request had been made by tho public trusteo for immediate payment. The fact of this exposure, ho maintained, would re-assure the public creditors. With regard to the reduction of the Armed Constabulary, they were charged with using the estimates of the late Government, and on the other hand with niakin? undue reduction, He contended the natives did not want war, and conciliation would be found more effectual than the late administration of native affairs, He approved of relieving the sinking fund aud the reduction (f the property tax, Tho greater pirtion of money to bo borrowed was to pay off the debts of the late Government. He would like to hear an explanation why the Atkinson Government accepted two tenders when the uo-conQdonee motion was pendir-g, The policy of the Government was one which would lead to prosnerity, a prosperity to which it had been stranger for years.

Mr Eollesion said when the late Government came into office thore was a debt of twelve millions, and they had to borrow five millions,-which amount the House sanctioned. He felt ashamed when listening to the charges brought against the Treasury, He was of opinion that quite seven and a half millions of borrowed money was forth and perhaps more, and tho fKtatement was peculiar by tne absence of matters which, in hia opinion, were inseparable to the financial position of the colony. Ho would like to gee the settlement of land as it was holping tho colony to prosperity, The late Government had a horitago of debt and had administration left them, They had brought the colony on to fluch an extent that they had done more to advance its interest m five years than had ever been done before. Ho opposed further borrowing, and on thai-, ground he opposed the Statement. Mr Montgomery deuieil that tho finances were in a bad couditiou whon tho Atkinson Government took office. Touching the Statement he said a great (bal had bean expected from it, and ho felt there had been very littlo disappointment, He did not, however, agrco with the reduction of education capitation, and would like to see amount replaced on Supplementary Estimates. He also hoped that the Government would not appoint a Royal Commission to enquire into local government; it was a question for the Government, The House now would not turn out tho Ministry because they wore afraid that Major Atkinson would come back, Mr Hdrsthouse thought a Bill might be framed in the House which would meet the requirements o( the country as regards local Sftovcrmnent, He said that'between the lines •"of the Statement were to be seen borrowing of about twelve and half million pounds. In his opinion the colony had not dozed for the lass live years. Steady progress had been made during that time, and the House should bo very careful with any questions affecting borrowing. He questioned whether the Government were sincere in respect to local industries, and condemned piopos.sds to take away education capitation grant, and asked where were the reductions in the cost of primary education At 12,30 Colonel Thimble moved the adjournment of the House,