LAST NIGHT'S SITTING.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1419, 6 August 1881, Page 2

LAST NIGHT'S SITTING.

Supply. On the motion to go into Committee of Supply, Mr Saunders said he expected something very different to the present Estimates. He looked on them is a representative of a decidedly over-taxed country, and not as a supporter or attacker of Government. All Governments seemed much the same ; none of them would take a proper Btand in this matter. Ho condemned the abandonment of the 10 per cent, reduction as a retrograde movement, especially in regard) to the higher salaries, which it was now proposed to restore. In many departments he saw his way to large reductions if only Government took a proper stand against the Civil Service. He strongly condemned the prevalent idea of iiving on borrowed money, and insisted on the necessity of convincing the people that this was a delusion leading to ruin. Instead of redncing the Property Tax it should be doubled. An Income Tax should be imposed, and the tea and sugar duties re-imposed. Rather than we should continue as was proposed to live

on|MJrowed money, he would like to see looal bodies left to raise money in its own locality for local works, so that each might feel it was spending its own money. Sir George Qrey said he had a scheme to suggest which he hoped the Government would not consider a w«tnt-of-confideuce motion. He had no such intention in making it, but he felt that in that House, and under present circumstances, it was quite, impossible to effect any reduction in expenditure. He thought it would be well _to remit the Estimates to a select committee of twelve members, seven from the Government side and five from the Opposition. Such a committee might, he believed, effect great reform in the" Civil Service. He' moved that a select committee be appointed, td consist of Major Atkinson, Messrs Moss, Bal1 mcc, Hall, Hutchiuson, Johnston, Macundrew, McLean, Montgomery, Saunders, Swanson, Wood, and the mover to report in a week. Mr Hall said if Sir George Grey had been really sincere in bringing down so important and almost revolutionary a proposal he would have given notice, so that members might have had time to consider the matter. To refuse to consider the Estimates prepared after months of consideration, and to remit them to a committee to do in" a week what it was assumed the Government had failed to do in a year was really what Sir George Grey proposed. Sir G Grey had shown he was no safe guide in finance, and the House should not follow him. Any schoolboy could reduce the estimates by writing £5 for £10, but none without long and special fnfortnation could avoid injustice or lobs of efficiency in making reductions. A committee to enquire into the whole financial position and the serrice might perhaps do some good, but this was a very different thing to a committee to receive the details of the Estimates, The most practical course was for the House to apply itself to the Estimates. A great saving had been made. The Government knew they were not perfect, but they hoped to make them better. He hoped the House would not adopt Sir George Grey's pi oposal. Mr Sheehan thought the Civil servants were paid very well out of the country. The House was entitled to have the report of the Civil Service Commissioners before it. If Sir G. Grey's motion was a party one he would vote for it. but if it was not a party one it had better be withdrawn. [Left sitting.]