PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3563, 16 July 1890, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HousoofEcptosoutatiyoa

-' TUESDAY, JULY IG. TUB SUPPLY DEBATE. - The Supply debate was opened by Mr Macarthur, who replied at longth to Air. Hutchison's speech, lloferring to Mr Buliance's contention that tho. normal candition of finance was to show a ; surplus, Mr Macarthur pointed out tint the normal condition of tho finance of Governments of which Mr Ballance was a.member was to show a deficit. Criticising tho policy-of the Government, ho expressed approval of. the roading proposals, thinking that with; some slight amendment in details they wore thojbest that could ho devised, He thought, also, that tho subsidy system at'present obtaining was a wrong one, and that the subsidies should he applied to settlement purposes only, Ho ridiouled tho idea

of a dissolution, which the Opposition were trying to force, and asked why tho present argument was not applied in 1887, when the number of members was reduced. Mr J, C. Brown followed with a criticism of the action and proposals of tho Government. Mr Kelly made a lew remarks, and was followed by Mr Boss. Mr Taiwhanga spoke for a quarter of an hour, and iu an amusing speech suggested that the regulation of the Colony's affairs should, be handed over to a Maori Government,

Th§ Native, Minister, in a lengthy speech, referred to the proposals of Mr'Maiice. Hq denied thdt : auy further retrenchment could be mado by cutting down salaries, and said it could only be achieved by stopping certain services, and amalgamation of offices, If the House requested it, however, the Government would.'if possible, make some further reduction in expenditure. He pointed out that £67,000 of expenditure appeared against ' the . consolidated . fund this year which had previously been charged against loans, and warned'the House that if borrowing was to be stopped many services such as post and telegraphs, etc, would have to bo charged against consolidated revenue. Kome members said a loan was brewing. (Hear, hear,) He did not hold that opinion —he thought it was not brewing, and that if the country acted wisely it would at the next elections return only members pledged against further borrowing, (Cheors.) The country was realising that it could do without borrowing. (Hear, hear.) As to abolishing the property tax, ho pointed out that the last Government were unable to abolish it, finding that to do so was neither feasible nor possible. 'The motion to go into Committee of Supply was carried on the voices, Eetubnohmni. Colonial Secretary's Department: -Colonial Secretary's office, £1755. -Mr Monk moved that tho voto be reduced by £1 as an . instruction to the Government that whilo recognising with satisfaction the decreases already affected in the public expenditure, this Committee is of opinion that a further reduction in tho Estimates of at least £50,000, cau be made without being injurious to the interests of the Colony. The Native Minister said the Government would not take this as a

no-confidence motion, but they could not support it, because they could.hot see how it could bo giyen effect ts without curtailing the services of the country, Mr Ballance: The Government, I understand, will undertake to reduce the Estimates as much as possible. When? The Minister said the Government would not reduce the Estimates at all, but osli the Honso to pass them as they stood, (Oh I) But there would bo an undertaking on the part of the Government that the Estimates, would be reduced by the amount of;£50,000. Mr Moss i On what items? Tho Native Minister said the re-

Auctions could not be takon off salaries; it would all liavo to couio off services, Mr Ballance considered the Minister's statement most unsatisfactory, First he said the services were necessary, and then he said ho would reduce them-a most unconstitutional position. The House he ventured to say_ was never belore put in such a position, There was a secret understanding, ho understood; between the Government and those gentlemen who wero acting with Mr Monk. He moved as an amondment, That the first item ho reduced by £5 as an instruction to the Government to reduce the Estimates by the amount of the primage duty, £60,000,. and revise the Estimates accordingly, Tho Native Minister said he should take that as a vraut-of-confldence motion, following the usual practice. If the amendment of Mr" Ballance was carried the Government would refuse to take back their Estimates. (Cheers,) After considerable discussion Mr Ballance's amendment was put and lost by 11 votes. The motion of Mr Monk was sub- ' sequently put and carried by 40 to 7, ' and progress was reported at 2,20 < a.m. i