PARLIAMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2321, 26 May 1887, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

[BY TELEGRAFH.— I'KKSS ASSOCIATION.] WEDNESDAY. Wbi-mnuton, Wednesday. Tins House met at 2.30 p.m. Major Atkinson gave notice to move on the second reading of the Customs Tariff Bill, "That in the opinion of this House the tariff and other financial proposals of the Government are unsatisfactory." Sir J. Vogel moved the .second reading of the Customs Duties Bill. It was proposed to allow six months to elapse before bringing into effect the duties on under proof spirits and pictorial cards and almanacs. Speaking generally of the tariff, it would fall lighter on the general body of consumers than tariffs had in the past. It was intended to raise revenue and foster local industries. No-Confidence. Major Atkinson moved " That in the opinion of this House the tariff and other other financial proposals of the Government are unsatisfactory." The Treasurer had not grasped the condition of the colony and was not going to provide any satisfactory remedy for the present state of tilings. He wished to show the House what the real position at present was. He did not believe the Treasurer desired that they should understand it. Not a single saving had been effected in the votes of last year although Sir J. Vogel claimed to have saved £98,000, They had managed to save on one vote and to spend on another, but there was no real economy. When the Government took office the land fund was £80,000 in credit, but there was last year a deficiency of £5(3,000. Yet this was passed over with a simple reference of four lines. The total deficit was £325,000. The usual remedies were to be applied ; They were to borrow the deficit, but it would not be satisfactory. He quoted at length, from the financial Statement of 1884, promising progress by leaps and bounds, to see, as he said, how a masterhand in office had conducted their business, and how completely the Statement of this session belied the former one. There had actually been received £05,000 more revenue this year than in 1884, yet the deficit was £92,000. £294,000 more appropriation was asked for this year than in 1884, not including the supplementary estimates, which had yet to come, and this was Sir J. Vogel's idea of economy. The stagnation of business was far worse now than when the Treasurer took office, notwithstanding all the promises he had made, and after these years of unrest came fresh taxation. If the Property Tax was so crushing in its effects how was it he now proposed to make a graduated tax ? None of Sir Julius Vogel's proposals would hurt him more than this in the eyes of the country. People would never know what the House was going to do. He quoted a letter from Sir J. Vogel to the Hall Government, denouncing their proposal to tax civil servants ten per cent. That letter was a complete condemnation ■if a similar proposal in the Pinancial Statement. He (lid not propose to discuss the tariff in detail, but gave it as his opinion that it would not provide the money required. He hoped the House would reject it bodily, or have nothing to do with it until the Government came down with a clear scheme for retrenchment. It was not the duty of the Opposition to frame a policy for the Government. He would be no party to permitting Government to borrow to put the land fund in credit, as he believed the village settlement scheme would be a great failure. Government might ask for a dissolution, and he hoped they would get one, in order to go before the country at once. They were in a difficulty through the Representation Act not being passed last session. If the tariff were rejected, they could not go to the country upon the present Bill, and the new Bill could not come into force till half the financial year was over. _ The House should, however, vote irrespective of the consideration of causing a second session. He called on the House to retusa to submit to further taxation.

Sir R. Stout expected better things than the speech they had just heard. He thought Major Atkinson would have shown he was more than a mere leader <>f a band of discontented men who were only anxious for ollice. He quoted from Major Atkinson's Hawera speech to show that lie was in favour of a tariff which should give them revenue, and consider the interests of the consumer as well as the retailer. He ridiculed the idea of the leader of the Opposition refusing to say what items of the tariff he objected to. He would ask whether Major Atkinson's attitude was not owing to a misunderstanding with the member fin , Napier, whose remedy for all then , difficulties was to sell the land, lie defended the special settlements, and said it would be a bad day when they sold all their land outright, and he hoped the House would never agree to it. The deficit, despite all Major Atkinson had said, was only £94,000. Compared with other colonies New Zealand was well off. New South Wales had heavier deficits, and a more stringent tariff in many respects than the one now proposed. South Australia and Queensland were in a similar position. _ The only colony that had been sound in its nuance, and shown a large surplus was Victoria, where the tariff was, in some instances, as much as forty per cent. The only difference between the Government and Major Atkinson, as shown by his speeches, was as to what articles should be taxed. If he wanted retrenchment why did he not take the estimates or say how much ought to be taken off each class. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30. Sir R. Stout continued: The previous Government had dona nothing to provide subsidies for local bodies, while the present Ministry had done so without increasing taxation. Who were the men who wanted the duty increased on tea and sugar ? Why, those who had been busy during the last three weeks clearing out huge quantities of these articles. Major Atkinson's objections to a graduated property tax: were not those of some of his followers, as their previous utterances proved. The very fact of there being an exception made the original property tax a graduated one. It was right that the big inouey|companies,and institutionsshould pay more in proportion, and if they went to the country they would find tho small farmers and settlers thought so too. As to the civil servants, members on both sides of the House had repeatedly spoken in favour of a reduction, and it was as just that the public service should have their salaries reduced as those in private firms. Major Atkinson had repeatedly refused to cut down his estimates when in power, though he now urged the Government to do it. All he seemed to be able to suggest in place of the Government proposals was to kill rabbits and sell land. Accepting the amendment as a motion of want-of-coufidence, he proceeded to defend the actions of the Government on general grounds. If the House thought their policy was unsound, they could say so, but there was someone beyond them to whom they could appeal. He warned them that—as in Israel of old—if the Government were changed they (might find a Rehoboam following a Solomon—(laughter)—and the taxation now asked for nothing to what they would have to endure. He did not consider the last Government better than this, but thought a change of administration necessary. Mr Fisher asked the Treasurer to confess now he was no magician. Though ho had twitted his opponents with being babies in finance, his views had shown a remarkable change since he wrote to the Hall Government, characterising their 10 per cent, reduction of Civil servants as only fit for Turkey. In the last six years eight millions had been added to the national debt, but there had been no corresponding increase of revenue. Mi- Turnbull moved an adjournment of the debate, as so many members were absent. Major Atkinson did not object, but wished it to bo miderstood_ that the request did not ounie from his side of the House. The motion was lost by 29 to 25. Mr Moss said retrenchment was badly wanted. Mr Whyte moved the adjournment of the House. Negatived on the voices. Mr lieethain moved the adjournment of the debate. Carried, and the House rose at 11.30 p.m.