PARLIAMENTARY. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 207, 6 September 1873, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

(From the Daily oirrHEn.v Cross.) WEtLIKGTON. Wednesday. Iv the House the second reading of th<- Coal Mines Eegtilntion Bill was moved by Mr .Reid. It provided for the efficient inspection as to tho economical working ; also, against tbe employment of young children, and for equitable wages being paid. Though p >ssibly not wantpcl just now it would be will to legislate before the vested interests bad gioun. — Up Bathjjale recommended the withdrawal for this r-essiou, as there was no person to be affected by it just now. — Mr O'Neill supported the bill. — AJessr* Kolleston, Shopheid, Hii.nson, and Bradsbaw also supported the bill, and Mr Buckln.id opposed it. — The bill wa* read a second time, lo nlliun t!ip ( )tineiple, on the understanding that it would be wit hdi nwji ni Committee, circulated during the recess, and intioduppd next sc.«sion. The Grey River Coal Reserves Bill w»s withdrawn, on the undei standing that some provision be inserted in the Piovmcial Westhird Bill. The second reading of the Disqualification Bill wus moved by Mr Murray. — The Premier opposed the bill as belonging to the class that should be introduced by the Government. The bill was thrown out on the voices. The Protection of Animals Bill is now being considered in Committee.

Thursday, In the House, to-iluy, in reply to Mr Wakefield, the Native Minifte>* said the Government, always intended taking steps lo punish the murderers) of Sullivan, but declined to stftip the niiture of tlio stops. In ieply lo Mr W«kpfi> Id, the K»tiv^ Minister said tbat the second visit to the Enwhiawns postponed— first, hecouso of the change of Ministry, and then because of the meeting of Pml-ament. When Mr Brown's motion rrgirdtne; the San Franoisco Service was called on, the Premier said he hoped to have information to lay before the House on the subject in a week. ''he motion affirming the desirability of constructing a harbour at Taranaki was withdrawn. The debate on the motion to reduce the gold duty by sixpence was resumed. Messrs T. L Shepherd, Mervyn, Pyko, Tribe, and Brndshaw supported, and Messrs Harrison, Shepherd, and Luckie opposed it. Both the motion and in amendment to give t!ie provinces power to reduce duty were negatived on a division.

(From the New Zealand Hebald.) Brogden's petition was presented to the House, and was this dnv published in the Independent. Many Ministerialists consider the Agent-General imposed on the i^noiance of the contta-jtois, nnd that they should bo compensated in consequence. This question was seriously discussed in the Cabinet lust year. Wi Tnko presents petitions in the Upper House against the passing of McLeans native policy in the Upper House. In the House last night, on the second reading of tlie Provincial Loam Bill, Mr Andrews said that the equilibrium sought by Ministers reminded him of top-spinning, for all their ideas respecting provinces seemed in a whirl. Tho peace of the colony was necessary for the completion of the public works policy, and peace might be rendered more likely by malting Kawhin a port of entry, and collecting duty on arms and ammunition imported there. He advocated the construction of a railway from Taratiaki to Wellington and taking payment in land. He supported the bill because, as he saw no chance of destroying the provinces by a direct blow, he would try a side wind. He agreed with the members who said that Ministers had no backbone, and doubled indeed if they belonged to vortebrie at all, from the difficulty experienced of drawing them out of their shell. They musb be c'ustaceons. If the Government had no vertebra; the Opposition had no head. The Minister of Public Works said the loans asked for by provinces, if allowed, would prevent the Government raising sufficient money to complete the railways. The bill would not prevent the provinces borrowing. He defended himself from the imputation of being merely Vogel's clerk, and gave flat contradiction to the statement of Mr Murray respecting the Clutha Railway. Mr Johnston argued that the interest on loam would absorb the Customs revenue. The Financial Statement was deceiving on the subject of contingent guarantee. The provinces could not provide interest on loans. The provincial works were of great importance, nnd if the colony could not construct them the provinces must by direct taxation. It was evident rigid economy was required, yet he had heard that two Minister! had conferred on themselves lucrative permnnent appointments. He would support tho bill, but hoped certain clauses would be erased. Mr Bolleston said the House had been gagged by the threat of dissolution, and bv the introduction into the debate of extraneous matter. The tariff had supplied the first warning note thnt increased revenue was required. The abandonment of the Railway Reserves would ten<J to shake the confidence of the South. The natives should be allowed to sell their lands in open market. The bill before the House was not what it professed to be. Its object was to cast on provinces the odium of imposing direct taxation. It was evident that the Premier's policy was broken down. The power of general and provincial governments required d« fining. The House should attend to ita proper duties. The securing to tlio provinces of tVeiy land would no necessary to their harmonious working together. The money of tlip colony would be better spent on roads and bridges than on purchasing land for the north provinces. Mr Fox defended the bill. Ho described Messrs T. B. Gillies and R. Wood as " night birds." '1 hey were apparently seeking recreation in debtors' prisons ; Mr Webster was a " funny man" in attempting to be painfully witty. Mr Reid no one could accuse of riot. He mimioked Stafford's attitude when speaking. Mr Fitzherbert regretted to hear Mr Fox administer rebukes all round, and touching on personalities. His remarks respecting Mr Giilies were contradicted by the fact that the people of Auckland Had desired him to accept office for another term. Mr Fox's statement respecting no limit to boi lowing power of the colony was the boldest assertion of policy lie had cvor favoured the Home <> it h. But it diflbred

from that enunciated by him on his return from Jericho, w iiLMi he hoped the colony would some day be unable to borrow sixpence He was inconsistent, and this much lessened the value of Mr Fox's opinions. The point at issue before t ie House was complicated by its treatment as a Ministerial question. But for that a useful measure might hare resulted. If the Government had, when proposing IS per cent, duties, ■aid boldly ire want money, the House would hare supported them. But the Government changed the policy, thence occurred a reversal of their policy, and their proposals to buy native lands for the North. If the Government were responsible for the chnngo it would hare made them lose their seals. But the House was demoralised. The Ministers were ko"t in by a majority of votes and not by argument. The 1)11 reminded him of brimstone and treacle doses at Dotheboy's Hall ! He bad frequently attempted to bar* the principle of provinces only borrowing in Australian markets recognised, and was glad to see it introduced. Also that ProTi icial Councils should decide the amount of provincial loans. Still ha objected to the bill because under the pre1 ence of giving the provinces borrowing power it impeded them. It might suit the Middle Island, but not the North, which objected to this attempt to remove the colonial liability. In framing oondttions it had been proved that the liability of the rating clauses were especially inapplicable to parts of the colony where work, through unoccupied land, was required. Mr White read the draft of the bill he wished might be introduced, entitled the Provincial Borrowing Mama Extinction Bill. The Premier, in replying, said the objections to the bill \\e'*e so various, he could not reply to them all. The bill did not appear to meet the extreme views of any. The Premier occupied one hour in a refutation of the attack made by Mr l\ B. Gillie*, accompanied by adveise remarks on his administration of Auckland affairs. He vi as the only Superintendent the Colonial Government could not work with. All the provinces w ere rich or in fair circumstances except Auckland. The ret-irns of railways under construction showed that Go\ ernment had no predilections for any particular province. He considered the bill would remove the official liability for lonns mentioned in it. He would introduce in committee a clause prohibiting the loans being floated at higher ratri of interest than six per cent. For a long time he wondered how Messrs Gillies and Wood always went together, and at length he discovered that Mr Wood when he spoke, always looked on Gillies as a frightful example, as much as Fox would view a drunkard when lecturing on teetotalism. As for Mr Webster, he considered him a fearful case of self-deception. MrStatfbrd's views on provincial borrowing had changed. Was the construction of trunk railways to be- abandoned to make branches ? Mr Stafford's objection merely meant that the Government were unable to do everything at once. The charge of shifting policy came with bad grace from Mr Stafford, who bad rarely earned through a budget as introduced. He admitted Mr Stafford was no office seeker, but he never could initiate a policy. He always spoke of others, and on state occasions always talked of the people of New Zealand, while others thought of them. Some members appeared to forget the proposed difference between colonial and proviucial borrowing, The latter would be in Australia at short dates, the former in England at long dates. The rumour of the appointment of Ministers to permanent office he denied. Not one member who voted with the Government last year had changed sides, but many of the Opposition had, without pledge, promise, or invitation. Some member* had used the debate to run down the credit of the colony. In doing this they had attacked the colony, Dot the Government. Their statement was unfounded. He dwelt at length on the value of his colleagues, and said the Minister of Justice was engaged over the reform of the law of the oolony. Not a i dozen members of the House were elected as Opposition members. He behoved the opinion was general throughout the colony that the Ministry having initiated the policy should carry it through even to the bitter end. The second reading of the bill was carried at 2.30 a.m. in n thm house, with no dissentient voices.