PARLIAMENTARY

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2080, 28 August 1885, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

((JiNITEI) PRESS ASSOCIATION.) THURSDAY. HOJJSjE OF pppS'ENTATIVES. The House met at 7.30. Major Atkinson rose to move the resolutions of which ho had giyen notice, and said ho would move them seriatim. He referred to the weakness of the Government, which had gone into office full of promises, none of which he said had been fulfilled. The Opposition had had to consider whether, in the faoe of the fact that the Government it had supported had been jn office for many years, it was wjse' to overthrow the Government; but tfiey were willing to assist Mr Ormond or Mr Montgomery, or any Government outside themselves,' which they thought would carry on the business of theoountry satisfactorily. The Opposition, he contended, had most suooessfully performed the duties of an opposition by throwing out all the objectionable measures. The

ahead, and taxation was to' be reduced; but the hopes that had bean raised .had not been realised.. The Government hud' also promised a reduction in' educational expenditure, but had not carried out the promise,... A reduction hud been promised in public works expenditure, but that akn was not done. Tho whole policy of the Government was one of extravaganco. The Government had proposed that expenditure under public works heading, should be limited, and yet they proposed to spend £1,600,000 as against £1,000,000 of the previous Government. ' This was the reason why he asked the House to say that the expenditure this year should not exceed a million. In making this limit ho was helped by the statement of the Treasurer, that £1,250,000 would come in for payment during the current year. Therefore tho House was asked to. vote £2,000,000. The colony was in a sound condition, but it wanted to be treated by: rational men, and the House would do well' to put its foot down and say that, however certain works may be necessary, they would have none of them in tho present condition of the colony. He ridiculed tho supplementary Financial Statement. In concluding, he asked the House to : support him, and hon, members to consider the position of the colony and the extravagant borrowing of the Treasurer. He moved " That the expenditure from the Public Work" fund for the year 1885-86 should not exceed £1,000,000," The Premier twitted Major Atkinson with having moved the resolutions serialism to catch a few stray votes, As . Miristerof Education he denied tliatat any time he had promised to reduce expenditure. The late Government, ho argued, had during their term of office expended £1,600,000 per annum, and when the present Government took office they had to meet expenditure of a million and a half. The Government had reduced the expenditure and liabilities, and for seven months there was a reduction of .expenditure of £IOO,OOO. Ho combatted the statements made by Major Atkinson, and said when the Guyernmsut went ()ut of office they would have a record of which any Government might be proud,

Mr Macakdiiew moved an amendment " That it is inexpedient that the discus sion on items of the estimates should be taken in the form of a resolution, and inadvisable tu raise the question of a new loan until after the estimates had beon discussed." He thought the expenditure on account of Public Works should bo limited to a million a year. He thought the construction of the East and West Coast railway an important work, and the Government should undertake, the work.

Mr Wakefield eharget} the Government with having kept baok important telegrams re the East and West Coast Railways. The Native Land Bill would, he thought, not be seen again this session. He defended the speech of Major Atkinson, mid urged the House to look seriously into the n|atferj laying aside all party feeling. Mr Montgomery said lie had been grievously disappointed by the policy of the Government, and when the House refused to sanction increased taxation, ho thought the Ministry should resign,- on the ground that the House would pot giant ■them the means they wanted to carry on the business. With regard to the proposal before the House, be thought it would have been better if the mover had waited for- the measures as they came down, and taken the sense of the House, on them. , He had given no pledges to support the Government, but he thought men should have some fixity of purpose. He hatj beon in opposition to Major Atkinson for many years, and argued that that gentleniai) should -be relegated to non-official life, and the opinion he held then he held now. There was an immense strain upon him now to havo to votu against Major Atkinson. He hoped the Houso would not think he was voting to keep t|io Government in, because if a privato member tabled a want of opn•iidenco motion ho would support him. He thought that an Atkinson Ministry TO!(| bo bettor than the present Govorn.monfc,

Mr J, Hurst spoke agalrj'sfc the ex: travagance of the Government, Major Atkinson opposed the aniendment and challenged the Government to take a vote on tlio whole of the motion.

Sir Julius Yqge£ tlje aptipn taken by the Gfovernjneiifc with regarcj to the sinking fund. ' Referring to ex : pendituri} lie quoted from the Financial Statement ])y Jfajor Atkinson to show that £1,000,000 was not sufficient, and in case of railways it was impossible to do with lesß. The Government proposal this )W was £2,368,000 an increase of £68,000, made up of various votes. Thesje items made up £S(j,OOQ over and abpye the £68,000, therefore a saving,

The House then divided on Major Atkinson's motion, Ayers 39—Atkinson, Beetham, Bruco, Bryoe, Buqhanan, ' W, F. Buckland, J, 0, Byckland, CoDolly, Dargavillo, Dodaon, Fergus, Fisher, Fulton, Gray, Hamlin, Hirst, Hislop, Hobbs, Hurat, Johnston, Lake, Macarthur, Mitohelson, Moat, Newman, Urmond, Peacock, Pyke, G. F. Bichard?on, JJoUeston, Reid. .Ross, Russell, Sntter, J.' W. Thomson, Trimble, Wakefield, / . J." B.' -Whyte, Wilson. Noes- 61, Allrighfc, Ballanee, Barron, • Bevatf, Bradihaw Brown, Caiman, Cowan,,Duncan, Fitzherbert, Fraaer, Garrick, Gore, Grace, Guinness, Hakuene, Harper, Hatch, Holmes, Hursthouse, Ivew, Joyce; Kerr

Lance, Larhach, Lovestam, Macandreff, MiiKenzie, McMillan, Menteath, Mont l - (joinery, Moss, O'oali|jkn, O'tiiM,,, Pearson, Pere, Rees, Risß&on, Samuel; ' Siiddon; Smith, Steward, Stewart, StoUt Te An,-Thompson, Tole, Tunibull, Vogel, Walker, White. Pairs—Aye, Locke; No» 'Pratt.

On the motion to add Mr Macandrew's amendment Mr Pyke said he should. more as an amendment that the • policy of the Government as disclosed in the Public Works statement was not satisfactory. He for one would not go back to his constituents "without giving his voice against tho Government .and vindicating his character and MrMACANDßEw'samendmentwascaiTOd • by 43 to 39, On the motion to substitute this motion, Mr Hmop moved "and until the Ministry is.sio constituted as to possess the confi- ' 'donee of the House." . Captain. RussEtt said that he had nofl opposition to Ministers personally, and Bdid not care who ruled the country soG long as it' was a Government which would acton principles considered best for the . ' colony.. .He was awiitfithat Major ; Atkinson did not want ol&, but if. he went back to office it would be at the head of the new Government. Mr W. F, fSuuKLAN'D spoke .strongly against the Government, and advocated retrenchment. While giving the PremierT. k every credit for his loyalty to his collea- ' • gues, he held that the House each the Government a lesson, j Mr J. 6. Buckland said the i in which the Government had \ biwinesiwas Buch as to forfeit his support,' Mr Barron moved that the debate be • adjourned until 2,30 next day,

After a short discussion a division was taken, Ayes, 42; noes, 42. The Speaker gave his casting vote with the Ayos, and the House adjourned at 3 a.m.