PARLIAMENTARY

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2031, 2 July 1885, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

(PJTGP PRESS ABBQQIATJON.) WEDNESDAY, • LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. • On the Council meeting, the Colonial Secretary moved the adjournment of the debate, as there was a no-confidence motion under discussion. Agreed to. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tho House met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to questions, it was stated that the Government did not consider it advisable to take steps to obtain a poll of Government Insurance policyholders to ascertain whether they were in favor of p, Central Board of Management; that it was not intended this session to place tho civil police force under the control

of the Justice Department, but steps would.be taken with this objSet (n view ne^session; that Government did not; think it advisable to acquire land for the location of a deaf and dumb but it'might be advisable to establish separate schools if the number of inmates at the present institution increases; that the cost of the returns showing receipts from carriage of goods, etc., by railway, moved for on 31st March 1883 by Mr Wright, late member for Ashburton, was £6OO 178.

The following Bills were introduced The Auckland University College Reserve Bill (Mi 1 Stout), The Industrial Schools Act Amendment Bill (Mr Stout), a Bill to reconstitute the Auckland Harbour Board, The Gisborne High School;Bill (Mr Locke), The Wanganui Harbour Bill (Mr Ballance).

The debate on the want of confidence motion was. resumed by Mr M. J. S. McKenzie, who condemned the tariff and local government proposals of the Government. He characterised the Financial Statement as being distinctly and nakedly protective. He would not, however, support the amendment, and would not assist in turning the. Government out of office if he could avoid it, aslie ; recognised that' their general administration had been beneficial; but ho would assist in throwing out their proposals to the best of his ability.

Mr W. J. Hurst denied that the administration of the Government had been, satisfactory. He expressed a wish that the member for Napier would give the House the benefit of his; knowledge en local government since 1870, He denied that, there had been any saving., effected by the present Government, and contended that the present depression' was not passing away. He condemned the (jrovernmcnt proposals and characterised their public works administration as boing faulty and partial. 'He thought their general administration was not such as to inspire confidence in tliei future of jhe colony.

Mr Fisher intended to vote against th 0 amendment, as, like the member for Mount Ida, lie wished to keep the Government in, and their policy out. He thought it was the duty of the Government, instead of imposing fresh taxation, to endeavor by all means in their power to reduce it, The subsidy scheme of the Treasurer wa3, in his opinion, unsound and impracticable. Ha' quoted from a return to show that New Zealand was the' highest taxed country of all the British possessions, and yet it was proposed to tax them still further. He thought a saving of £IOO,OOO might easily have been effected in the expenditure. The House rose at 5.30.

EVENING SITTING. • Mr Fishes added a few remarks, and then Mr Pyke spoke, He had every confidence in the Government, but hoped they would withdraw the obnoxious measures now before the House, The tariff, he said, was one of the most injudicious ever devised since New Zealand became a colony. Federation would never be secured while each colony had a different tariff.

Mr Moss complimented the Government on the bold way Qf bringing down their measures, but said that to negative the amendment would fee tq anprove of the Government proposals for one he did not, and would, therefore, follow Sir George Grey into the lobby. Dr Newman congratulated the Government on the stops taken to place the ports in a state of defence, but he thought there was plenty of room for a reduction in the A.C. Department. He commended the Minister of Lands, but was disappointed with the financing of the Government Had the Property Tax not beon reduced last year, they would nover have heard of the proposed increase in taxation. He objected to paying subsidies to New Guinea, and also to the South Sea Island trade. The bonus and subsidy paid for carrying our English mails wero altogether too costly, the expense being nearly £70,000. Ho hoped the House would refuse further borrowing powor to the Government.

Mr W. F, Buckund was strongly opposed to the Government as at present constituted. He severely criticised the Native policy, and said the Minister had been gulled by "Committee business.' The Government had gone in on pro-, raises, and he believed they would on those promises. He; would vote for the amendment.

Mr J. C. Bucklasd objected to the Protectionist character of the Financial Statement, but while voting against the tariff, he would not like to see the Govern ment displaced.

Mr Tuhnbull hoped the Government would amend the pjo ( posals j|i t]\o ; tariff,

On tl)e motion qf Mi 1 tho debate lyas a(|j'qqrned till tu-cjay, and theHoipraaeatl!j,2oa,m.