House of Representatives.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 811, 28 August 1877, Page 2

House of Representatives.

[Press Agency.] Government- Buildings, Wellington, Saturday. THE. LANI>. FUND DEBATE. The House met on Friday nLjhb at 7.30. Mr REES continued the debate. He maintained that the predictions iof his pamphlet.of .1872. were fully born,e out. by the present ■ financial ..position, of the Oolony. Serious disaster, if not national bankruptcy, was impending, and • the only way to maintain our credit was to take the Land Fund. Right expediency, and necessity concurred m indicating this as the proper course.

. Mr TRA VERi supported the motion as the only means of escaping serious financial difficulty. He pointed oat that the railways were depreciating at a net amount of £86,000 a year, and uo provision Was made for renewal. The cost of management was also above twothirds the gross receipts. He maintained tkat the Compact of 1856, to which he was a pirty, was iv no way binding now, and it was political absurdity to say they could not enfprceit. He strongly condemned the 45 members who at the : caucus had declared themselyes above cou-. victiou arid pledged themselves to support everything the Government did. He criticised the Civil service administration, especially the store department, severely, aud objected altogether to the centralising tendency of the Government undertaking to do everything for the people. He believed the Ministers were honourable men, meaning bub they were only a kind of superior clerks.

Mr LL7S.K supported the motion, on the distinct understanding that .instead of the .Land Fund beiug illegally used to hiiuistei* to the necessities of the Government, it should -be made colonial ministered on defined principles, ia opening and settling the country. He knew Ministers intended to seine it, and they had better act openly ab once, — no use longer indulging m bogus finance ,to ;saye an almost bogus Land fund. Mr PIKE' characterised Mr Wood's proposal as political repudiation. Mr DE LAUTOUR also* opposed Mr Wood's motion. Mr BARFF thought the Land Fund .should' be colonialv revenue, but could not vote with Mi-Wood. Mr MONTGOMERY opposed the motion, but condemned the silence, of the. Go vemmenb on such an important matter, - If given ropes enough they would soon settle theie own fate. * Mr Woolcock's amendmen fc was negatived on. the voices.. The division on Mr Wood's was : For the motiou, 13 ; against ib, 46. ; Sir GEORGE GREY bhen c died/ attention to the advertised saie of^ large; blocks of land at Wairoa, pro- - testing. against 'it, and desiring more information, but he was ruled to order.; He reiterated all his charges agaiust the Ministers regarding land transaobions. . . . Major ATKINSON replied ; but promised to make, inquiries about the Waijfoa ; sale. Mr STOUT Attacked Ministers.. Mi ; WO.ODHOUSJiI 4efe^d.e4

item, and attaoked meuibert of jthe Opposition. '""77 - \ . 7 Mr WHITAKER; promised jan Oarly opportunity to enter fully^ijito all charges whioh had been made against Ministers m reference \to land transactions. 77777' Ti '' The House rose at 1 .5... * • ,