HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Monday.

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 357, 27 August 1874, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Monday.

Mr Fitzherbert moved liis dissolution resolution in a short and temperate speech, the burden of which was regretting not having spoken in the previous debate, and asking the House to pause before giving effect to resolutions destroying the existing local government of the North Island, — depriving the people of rights sanctioned under the Constitution Act, without ascertaining the wish of the people or indicating clearly what machinery was to replace that to be swept away. He concluded by amending the resolution with the addition of the words, " and that a bill or bills be prepared to give effect to the resolutions, to be submitted to the House before the same be passed into law-" The Premier replied in a long speech. He referred to the previous debate and denied that Parliament was not competent to deal with tl.o most important question even to effecting grwit organic changes. Hh quoted a number of precedents from the English Parliament from Pitt to Gladstone to show it was not necessary or usual to dissolve at the wish of a minority. He maintaine'l that the arguments adduced against the resolutions had no weight. He commented at considerable length upon Mr Beeves' speech. He said that constituencies seldom gave a direct answer to is*u .5 set before them. No matter what questions \.»ii put it would be answered by one that he wanted a road, by another that he wanted a heavy tax upon imported grain. He confessed that he did not expect such a large majority in his favor. He noticed that of the sixteen voting against the resolutions, eleven held provincial executive offices. He admitted that his sympathies had long been provincial, but the House would admit that he warned them in 1870 and 1872 that the provinces which failed in their functions must make way for more suitable machinery. He only realised fully the destructive disposition of the provinces when the reasonable proposals regarding land in the Forests Bill were so violently opposed. He denied that he showed any desire to introduce the French bureaucratic system. Resident ministers had been employed in the colony many years without objection. He proposed to establish a substantial form of local government to give them local revenues — not eleemosynary aid. Larger districts with a share of land fund to enable them to carry out large works, such as railways, must distinctly understand that the time was coming when they must look to that fund as secm*ity for loans for carrying out public works. He had recognised the necessity for making a land fund for the North Island. He thought as that island became populated the colony would gladly lend its aid to acquire such land, Compact or no compact they would adopt the same cause. Supposing that there had been no compact he believed that the House could not do better now than make one, and establish the localisation of the land revenue. He believed the people of the colony would heartily endorse the present policy, and that the party which earned it out would be cemented stronger than. ever. He concluded by moving an amendment to insert the following after striking out the principal portion of Mr Fitzherbert's motion: "That the Provincial Governments of the North Island be as soon as possible followed by an inexpensive but more thorough form of local government, under which the island may be divided into districts and subdistricts which shall be endowed with substantial revenues, that the residents therein be entitled to take a large control of affairs and expenditure of local revenue than at present is the case." (Applause.) Mr Stafford followed in a speech giving cordial I support to the Premier's proposal as a step in the right direction. He had advocated the principle inside and outside the House for years. He criticised the speech of Mr Fitzherbert unfavorably. They were living under a system of local government found in no other British colony. This step was the beginning of the end. The country would go a great deal further. ' The South would soon follow the example of the North. Some who voted against the resolutions did so because they did not go far enough. He could see the time coming when they would want the best men of the country to do their best to carry the country through, and if they would not come forward and do their best regardless of old party ties and prejudices, then God°help the country. • Mr Fitzherbert' replied. Mr Fox made a long and'able speech in favour of the Premier's amendment. He gave the whole history of provincialism to show that its functions had paased away since it ceased to be a real colonising power of the country. Ho denounced its contralis-

ing tendency, to the impoverishment of the out-dis-tricts, as was seen all over the North Island. Mr White asked where substantial revenues were to come from? „ V v*-^'lPS^a Mr Johnstone would votie for the amlndment Because of that expression. • |C "-^- ' Mr Rolleston said the real issue jj^icnrogople would make up their minds upon and ac nanqlto b© satisfied were redistribution of repr^smjiationp^ncidence af taxation, and protection against 'tihejjfcesent personal Government, and the wice of ,t|P^eople would not be as the Premier expected!' "****' ' The Hous^e divided on the original motion, which was lost by < 45 to 19. The Premier's amendment was made a substantive motion on the voices. Mr Swanson proposed an addition to the "resolution compelling the Government to circulate the bill two months before the meeting of Parliament. The Premier considered this an indignity. "He was supported by Mr Stafford. On division the amendment was rejected by 40 to 21. The adjournment took place at 45 minutes past one.