HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1237, 3 June 1880, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

' Tuesday. ' . - The House assembled at half-past) 2i / .i NOTICES OF MOTION. Sir George Grey gave notice that he would on the 6th inst. move the repeal of the Property Assessment and property Tax Acts. Mr Pyke gave notice that he would ask the Government, ' ' Whether there was any intention tQ'btfng in a. Bill- to Prohibit ( Religious and Party Processions ?" Mr Hursthouse gave notice that he would ask — "What steps the Government intend taking to prevent the spread of pleuro-pneumonia from the North to the South Island ?"

BILLS INTRODUCED. The new Licensing Bill was introduced by message from the Governor, and was read a first ti«ie* " " c l_ v.„ • >.„ • The following Bills were introduced and read a first time: — ISsghlatJon ' f of 1 Election Bill ; Corrupt Practices Prevention Bill ; Elections Petition Bill (Mr Hally) ; Native Reserves Bill (Mr Rolleaton) ; Land Sales Bill ; Native Contract Validation Bill ; Taonui Ab'uatUfturanga Land Bill (Mr Bryce) ; Bill-tlci amend the several Acts Relating to Municipal Corporations (Mr Hutchinson).

COMMITTEES. Mr Hall's motion—" That as a general rule committees should not exceed ten members, " was agreed to after a short discussion. Notice was then given of the appointment of sessional committees.

ADDRESS IN REPLY. Colonel TrimMe (Grey and Bell) moved the Address in Reply. In allusion to the monetary pressure which the colony had recently experienced, he stated his 'belief that the plentiful harvests which had just been reaped ould go a long way towards alleviating it. The deficiency in the colonial revenue was no doubt alarming. It amounted to one-eighteenth of the whole revenue. The proposal of the late Government was to make up the deficiency by a land tax of 3d in the £. The pre&ent Government's proposal was far more honest. It was that they should' tax themselves. The property tax had been denounced as inquisitorial, but he contended that such was not the case. The fact was, this tax touched the population in a way to which they had not been accustomed. It was the difference between direct and indirect taxation. It created a difficulty with the taxpayer. He, however, contended that direct, taxation was by far the least expensive ' of the two modes. He thought that the exemption clause should be recommended and if it was deemed necessary to provide an exemption at all, the exemption should be merely a nominal one. A judiiious expenditure of money on Colonial Defence would, he imagined, be advisable. With regard to the present system of education no change should be m-vle wifhoufjht careful thought. Col. Trimble defended the Commissioner^, and spoke at length about the report of the one devoted to Native Affairs. His computation was that as they recommended, if 100,000 acres were given to the Nativ s, 300,000 would be left open for settlement. Captain Russell, in seconding the speech &aid he hoped to see the Civil Servicp weeded ."from,-, all", unnecessary, , employe's, pncl that the men so removed from office should be the first eligible for reappointment as occasion required, and that no appointments should be made until every one so disnu»s (i d had been again reemployed. He believed a revision of the Countips Act w;is requir.°d,but he thought it would be highly impolitic to give counties extensive borrowing powers. Ho advorafed the importance of inducpments being given for settlement. The more they could settle families on the waste lands, the less a depression like that through which they were now passing would lie felt. He hoped the closing peiviration of the Governor's address would be realised, '.land the God of Peace rather than the God of -Rattle would be theirs. Mr Macandrew &aid if the address had any faults they were rather those of omission than commission. If the Government had acted wisely they would have announced their intention to repeal the Property Tax. He had no hope of the commissions doing any good. The best part of the address to his mind was the promise of a short -ession. Dr TVallis described the speech as one of the worst he had ever listened to. He would uudevtake to prove that the pre-. sent Government had made more errors, faults, and blunders in their eight months of office than their predecessors had done in their two years. After the adjournment; Dt; reviewed at considerable length the constitution of the Government, and reviewed its unfulfilled promises which were legion. The motion was put and carried without dissent. A committee was appointed, which brought up the Address in Rtply. On the motion for the second reading, Major Te Wheoro and Tawhai both spoke, remarking on the reference in the Address to the native question. Sir George Grey criticised the action of the Ministry m scathing terms, and said the Treasurer's al|ivmiiig?statsemeuts must ; have been most prejudicial to the colony! Public works should not have been stopped as they had been. , The -effect, had been to create a panic. He condemned* the Property Tax, and earnestly appealed to the Ministers to repeal it. Mr Hall said though Sir George recommended them to sweep away the Property Tax he had not accompanied his advice with any suggestion as to lioav the deficit was to be met. He understood that an , income tax was wh,at was pointed at. , Now that would surely \je a- ta*' Which would fall on the general public in accordance with the theory denounced by the Opposition. Depression was on the colony before the present Ministry took office, so they could not be held responsible for that. He had been challenged to state the policy of the Government. It was this : To amend its laws, reform its administration, and place its finances on a sounrtbasiß.; ' Mr I?yk"e*-refefred % the inquisitorial character of the fcfx, and criticised the Railway Commission. The motion for the second reading was then put, and carried without dissent. The House adjourned at 9.45 p.m.

Thera are now 51 entpeg fijr );h& Melbourne Cup and 25 for theThampionY" inclucliag Mata and Cainballo.