PARLIAMINTARY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1829, 1 November 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMINTARY.

Telegraph.] In the Council yesterday afternoon on the motion of the Colonial Secretary it was resolved that standing orders be so far suspended as to enable the Government Bills to take precedence and be passed through all their stages in one day, The Government Insurance Bill, Supreme Court Procedure Act Amendment Bill, Bankruptcy Amendment Bill, Police Offences Bill, Public Works Amendment Bils, False Notice Birth, Marriages and Deaths Bill were all read a third tjine and passed. The Hokitika Steam Tug Bill was read a second time.

The Colonial Secretary moved the second reading of the Land Act Amendment Bill,

The Council adjourned at 5.30,

At the evening sitting the Land Bill was read a second time, The Amendments made by th_e House in the Road Boards Bill, and Codlin Moth Bill were agreed to. The Wanganui Horbor Board Empowering Bill was read a Second time. The Council rose 9.5 p.m.

Id the Home yesterday afternoon Mr Rolleston moved the adjournment of the House with a view of mating au explftna. tion in oonneotjou with the. Westpoft Colliery Company. On the previous day an endeavor had been made to show that he had gifon away the property of the State in ooiineotion with that company.. He desired tb-aay that he, iu his capaoity of Minister of landa, had acted "in a perfectly legal manner. It had been stated by the great man of the Ministry ;thafca gross job had been perpetrated, inasmuch as hi« (Rollonton'a) colleague was interested in the company, The Treasurer said he would repeat what he had asserted on.toe previous day, that the honourable member had aoted oarelessly iu the matter but not in any other way.' He had beon acoused of oomlag to the oolony for the purpose of taking office, but this he denied, He had taken office solely for the purpose of endeavoring. to raise* the' colony from the wretched oondition into which it had been plunged by the late Minister of Lands and his colleagues during the oast five years. He assured the House he was retaining office much against his own inclination and against the Interest of his health. This ho would say that when both Mr Eolleston and he were dead he (Sir Julius Vogel) would not be forgotten as soon as Mr Eolleston would be.

The Premior said the action of. the late Minister of lands was illegal, inasmuch as the company was not eu'itled to a single aore of land.

Major Atkinson would not allow the Trnaaurev lo arrogate himself a superiority as Treasurer. He had not restored confidence, but had plunged the colony deeper into the mire. He was proud of ever having a colleague like the late Minister of Lands. He now warned the colony if they permitted the policy of the Treasurer to be pursued, it would sink them atill further into depression aud difficulty. Mr Bryce said on every possible oooasion the Treasurer never lost an opportunity of nagging at every political opponent, He pointed out that the iroputatloua reflected quite as much on the present Government as upon his late colleague. Mr Gillies thought Mr Eolleiton had done nothing wrong, in faot he had placed disabilities in the way of the ComPany.ftnd indeed so great were|tl)ese that the Company had no reason to regret when the late Minister leit office. • # Mr Rolleston replied and withdrew h» motion. •At ths evening sitting the Properly

Tax Bill and New Zealand Loan Bill were read a first lime; The Beetroot Sugar Bill was read a third time and passed, and the Wostland Education District Bill was read a third time;;::

The 'Treasurer moved, the second readins; of the Consolidated Htock Bill, and in doing so said the object of the Bill was explained in the'Tmanoial Statement. As regards the Bill it would enable them to get rid of half of the Property Tax, and would be the means of proposing a finance which would relieve the sinking fond and debt, thus enabling them to have a floating debt and that this would be a stop towards putting the finances!!)! tho colony on a surer foundation,, ■ -.<■

Major Atkinson in a Ion? speech said the Treasurer had asserted this was the first step to place the finances on surer foundation, but he thought it was only. the old cry of borrow to pay our debts, if the Bill was passed the opportunity of placing the finances on a sound basis would be lost and it would affect our credit in the London market. What they were now asked to do was to borrow money to pay the'sinking fund, He did not consider this as relieving the colony, and felt sure the Bill would have the effect of giving a great blow to our public credit, and he would move that the Bill be read that day six months. Mr Moss said the Bill, for many reasons was objectionable. It gave the Government three millions to dispose of at will instead of coming to the House and asking them to appropriate the money

The Treasurer desired to inform the Member for Eamont that the Bill would not have tho effect of enabling (be Government to seize the sinking fund, nor was it calculated to relieve taxation by borrowing fresh loans for construction of reproductive,works., The authorship of the indebtedness which tbey now proposud to meet was not due to the present Government but belonged to the late Government, in conclusion he desired to express his thanks to the leader of the Opposition for the fair way in which he moved his amendment on the second reading.