PARLIAMENTARY

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2033, 4 July 1885, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

(UN}pp PREfjS 4SSQpiAT}ON.)

FRIDAY,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2,30 p.m. Mr Macandkew gave notice to move on Tuesday, that an address bo presented to tho Governor, requesting him to call the attention of the Imperial Government to .the necessity of a fresh marine survey of the New Zealand coast,' and with more minute gai-p. tls|) pp fj|q charts; also that the New Zealand Government would bo glad to place tho steamers Hinemoa, Stella, and othor suitable vessels at the disposal of tho Admiralty for the purpose of such survey. Replying to questions, it was stated that the sections of the Napier to Manawatu rails«|,y ; fjiich will connect the East and West jQoast, \vqre almost ready for letting by contract, and Jiave been divided into three contracts with the view of the lino being open from Napier to Palmers.toij. by the time the West Coast line is ppep ti) the game place; that a sum wouhjl be placed oijt the estimates, if necessary for extinguishing the fire npw the Ten sfi!os .Grepk, Bri|nnorton district; tliftt the reason i?hy Mr Arthur Rigby Bunny was appointed a trustee of the Masterton Park was because he was 'well qualified for it; that the railway to Dreyertown would be opened by October, and to Mauriceville by December; that a Bill would shortly be introduced, making provision for the Westland and Grey Educational districts remaining two separaj# educational districts.

•' 'Thefollowingßfflp.^lnduced A Bill to repeal ''fee. Beetroot Sugar Act, 1884," (Mr M. J. S, Mackenzie), The Auctioneers and Brokers Blill (Seddon).

Mr Garm'ck resumed the debate on the no-confidence motion. He .regretted' that the member for Auckland City East' fLm"nf]mnT)t. - From what

man's former administration, ho thought it had a disastrous effect on the Colony, and the House would not desire a return to it. He said he was a thorough freo trader and condemned tho duty on coal, He was in favor of the Property Tax, which he thought might be supplimented by an income tax. He did not feel himself bound to support tho Local Government Bill, but' would criticise their proposals when before the Houße. He considered that if the result of the amendment were to displace the Government they would leave behind them a number of essential Bills which it would be no discredit for any succeeding Government to take up and pass into law. Mr J, B. Whyte condemned the financial proposals. He thought the whole policy of the Government consisted of borrowing, and the way the Treasurer proposed to give the Local Bodies an "assured finance," was by mortgaging everything up to the eyes.

Mr Conouy said' the amendment had been moved by Sir George Grey ,vithout any reason or justification for it. He himself had not confidence in the present Government or their'finances. He looked on the Government as solely the Government of one nian, and he had no sympathy with the opinions of the' Colonial Treasurer. He thought the Local Finance Bill did not deal with local Government questions at all. As to the tariff question he desired to say he was an absolute free trader. The only taxation he liked was the Property Tax, combined with an Income Tax. Mr Cowan considered the Government were entitled to the thanks of the country for putting the position of the colony before the people in such a plain manner. If they had made a mistake in increasing the Customs Duties they would be acting wisely if they adopted the suggestions made by their supporters as to making alterations in tho tariff. He said that the depression in the agricultural industries in the Southland district was greater than had ever previously existed, and it was a most inopportune time to put on extra duties. The House rose at 5,30.

Evening Sitting. Major Steward spoke strongly in favor qf % Government, bqt wliei} for a qf tljejr prqpq^ls.

Mr Fergus and Colonel Trimble would not support the amendment, although they had no confidence in the' Government.

Mr Hatch supported the protective policy of SjrJ«ljus Yogel, but did not think apy good WPIIW result if the exemption under the Act lyas reduced to £2OO. Sir George Grey's statement, ve his connection with the agricultural company, was extraordinary and surprising, especially when his (Grey's) relation to the subject was considered. Sir George Grey was the first to ask him to take shares. It had been said the Government should not have proceeded with the northern railway until acquiring land along the route. But had the Government waited for that, it would have been years before a start had been made. He defended Mr Balance's Native Land Policy, and also the a l'f°jnty}entj3 to the Legislative Council, as giving [j, fajnei; territorial representation, Reviewing tj|e speeches of jifip. gentlemen lyho opposed fto QRYQl'nirient proposals, ho said the Government had brought down measures of great importance, and that they would insist upon those measures being passed, went, of course, without saying. But there were points upon which the Government must be prepared to accept modification. He referred at great length to the question of free trade and protection, With regard to the coal duty lie was inclined to think the duty might be sn}oyec| by tjjo Goyornment, Under tip aji<| Bridges Qanstruction Agfc unfair hacl been made, and it should not be continued, As regards the Local Bodies Finance and Powers Bill the Government wero prepared to omit that portion referring to borrowing, and restrict the power to borrow on rates for short terms. He denied that any arrangements had been come to with Mr Stout before the construction of the cabinet. Tho Government pqli§y l]a(} bfjem brought (jown boldly, and they were not afraid of critisism,

Major Atkinsok said ho was disappointed tlie speeoh of the Treasurer, who had treated the matter with absolute levity. Speaking of the appointments to the Legislative Council, he said during the eight years he was in office he had appointed only nine members, whereas the present f|qyornjj|en|'ha.4 madq eleven in nine months. Ife had little doubt the number would be'increased during the recess. He had never before seen such proceedings in the House as the Treasurer reading gut ft list of grants to particular districts tji)i|er tip Roads and Bridges Construction Act, and tljen to insinuate that yqteg l|ad been given to friends of the lato Qqyernippt when they werp }n pqw, go jiitojiflcd bringing up tjie njatter iji %e Public Accounts Committee, and an. enquiry could be made into the whole question. He contended there was not a single farthing set d&wn for defence in the appropriation accounts' ; but the Treasurer admitted that the expenditure last year did not include the defence expenditure. No accounts had beta'made public as to that expenditure, so the House was in gq?n{))eW ignorance of the matter. His position with regard to defence was weak in commenting latterly on the organisation that was taking place. He admitted that the Government were placed in a great difficulty'during the recent scare, and action .they took he consider^

distinction between what they did undor emergency and their intentions for tho futuro, He criticised the local government scheme at some longth, and said the treasurer's idea of local government Beemed to bo nominally a Board, to give them means guaranteed by the State. The Native -Minister's trip to Waikato had been successful as far as the interests of the colony were concerned, He contended that not a single sod of the North Island Railway should have been turned till the titles of land along the route had been secured. The Native Minister removed'the Constabulary from Parihaka ostensibly for the. reason that debauchery Was goinct on. He thought it was a serious step to take, as the natives were still imbued with the idea that; their land would come back to them, and although he thought they had no intention of fighting, nobody could tell what would happen under the leadership of an inspired prophet. He concluded by regretting that the debate had not been of a more practical character. The position of tho opposition was, that they felt that the Government -were thoroughly incompetent; but in a democratic country the Parliament, did not come before the people. As yet the people had not lost confidence >in the Government, although they had lost hope. The Government had raised hopes which no man in the colony could fulfil, but it was best to keep them in office until the people had fully recognised that they had entirely failed to fulfil their promises,

Mr Hislop defended the Government from charges made by Major Atkinson, Mr T. Thompson said if he gave a silent vote, his position might be misconstrued He had no confidence in the Government ■or their proposals. Mr Reese and Mr Ross would vote against the amendment.

Mr Hursihouse also said he could not agree with the amendment.

Mr Leverjstasi intended to vote for tho Government in the question, but differed from several of their proposals. The question was then put that the House go into committee of supply, and was carried on the voice, the amendment being lost.

On tho Chairman taking tho Chair, Sir George Gray made a lengtjty explanation qf t]]e pqsitipn he had taken up. The House adjourned at 4.25 a.m.