PARLIAMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2962, 9 July 1891, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. TUESDAY. Thk Council met at half-past two. The Promoten and Directors Liability Bill, Repeals Bill, Partnerships Bill, and Indocont Advertisements Bill, were read a third time. WIODXHSDAY. The Council met at J. 30 p.m. Mr Buokloy movod tho second reading of thn Libel Bill, which lih oxplainod was similar to Mr Whitaker's Bill of two sessions hro and identical with the Imperial Act. It sought to give relief to journalists whore reports and luading column criti-ci.-ms were concerned, and provided against blackmailing. Dr. Pollen supported the Bill, which, withoutdebatc, was read a second time and referred to tho Statutos Revision Committee. The Council rosu at J.iiO. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. TUESDAY. The House met at half-past tw.> p.m. Replying to Mr Taitnia, The Hon. Mr Ballanee said when tho question of making further appointments to the Legislative Council was considered by the Government, the claims of the Maori race for further representation in the Council would receive consideration, but the matter had not yet been formally before the Government Replying to Mr McGuire, Mr Ballanco said when the Native L:inds Bill came down, be hoped it would contain a provision to the elFect that natives who hold land in their own rights should be responsible for a fair share of tho rates, but the question was a, difficult ouu to deal with. Mr Jackson Palmer moved the introduction of the Government Riilways Act Repeal Bill. Mr Buckland contended that this measure was opposed to the Standing Orders, as if it) proposed to abolish the Railway C'jmmiseioiiers, as lio understood it was meant to do, the Bill would have also to provide for compensation awarded to the Commissioners. This would, therefore, make it a Money Bill, which no piivate member could introduce. Mr Palmor explained that the Bill did not contain r: provision of this nature.

The motion was agreed to. Mr Wilson resumed tho debate on the Financial Statement, and on Mr Fish's amendment to the motion that the Speaker leave tho chair, he complained that tho new regulations issued by the Minister of Lands would not tend to promote settlement. It was a disappointment to him that tho Statement niado no mention of education, and he had hoped that some of the surplus would have been devoted to the assistance of schools in country districts-. He said ho could not support the proposals in the Financial .Statement as at present submitted by the Government. Mr Valentino asserted that since the initiation of tho Property Tax, there had been a gradual improvement in the condition of tho country, and he declared that if the taxation proposals of the Government wero given effect to, tlipy would practically result in the depopulation of the colony. He condemned the administration of the Minister ot Lauds, and said Mr McKon/.ie's chief ide;i seemed to be that everything done by his predecessor iu <>!!ico was wrong and should be reverse , !. The debate was interrupted by the haltpast five adjournment. The House resumed at half-past seven. Mr Fisher referred in strong terms to tho unfeeling language expressed by the Minister of L'tnrls towards Mr Stevens, lafi; clerk in the Lauds Department, who had been dismissed by the Government, and detailed the circumstances which led to Mr .Stevens' bankruptcy 2"> years ago. Referring to the large estates which wero to bu burst up, he pointed out that main , of them were acquired under regulations framed by Sir George* Grey in 1803, and the owners could not therefore be blamed for acting strictly according to the law <:f the land. He attributed the presont depressed state of the colony to the large amount of interest which had to he paid, owing to recklesa borrowing of past Treasurers, two millions having now to be sent to Hnndon annually for interest out of a revenue of four iniliioiii. Ho was glad to see Mr Ballancfl in his present high position, but he should liko to ask who appointed Mr Buckley to the Ministry, and what right he had to sit in a Liberal Cabinet. He thought the Utalisiitor should be taxed to the extent of 5 per cent. The totalisator had increased gambling to an enormous extent, and such an impost r.s he suggested would probably tax tho machine out of existence. Mr Fish's amendment would receivo his .support, as he atKrined tho desirableness of introducing :i land and income tax, and the abolition of the pro perty tax. On that ground he supported it and on no other.

Sir John Hall protested moat eniphati - cilly against thn proposal to tax English bondholder*, which to his mind amounted to absolute dishonesty. Ho could not agree with tha proposal to reduce the inland postal rates, mi J he had no hesitation in saying that if tho working classes were asked whether they preferred a reduction of taxation on the necessaries of life or a reduction iu postage, they would choose the former. The Minister for Lands had exhibited a map of his (Sir Jolm Hall) property in tlio House, no doubt t> damage hint in tho eyed of his tollow members. It was certainly an unusual proceeding, aud had never been adopted in the House before. If Mr McKenzie had wished to draw ii fair picture for the House he should have shown the worthlesi land as distinguished from the Rood land. Kβ (Sir John Hall) might say he had lived iu that district for forty yuars ; he had contested more elections than any other man in the House, and had never lost a single contest, and the nearer he got to his own home the more support he received. That, he thought, was a sufficient proof of the estimation in which he was held by the settlers in his own districts, and he could afford to treat with utter contempt the miserable attempt of the Minister of Lands to traduce him in the eyes of the Uim.se and country. If a penalty were to be imposed on largo estates should they punish those who bought land or those who had invited them to buy it? He thought it would be monstrous to punish those who bought land offered to them by the Government at a fair market price. He could not support the proposals of the Government, but thoy would receive no obstruction from him, mid ho should simply endoavour to make tho proposals as little harmful as possible. Messrs Khodes and Wright criticised the policy. Mr Buchanan moved the adjournment of the debate, and tha House rose at a quarter to two a.m. WEDNESDAY. The House met at 2 30 p.m. Kepiving to Mr Richardson, Mr McKenzie said that Uunger Conuull had been suspended partially in deference to what had been said about him in the House and owing to the fact that (Jonnell had admitted having written what wai, in his (Mr McKen/.ie's) opinion, a vory improper letter to a member of the House. On tho order of tho day being readied, and beforo the discussion on the Financial Statement was resumed, Mr Duthie asked tha Speaker's permission to move the following amendment: "That inview of the surplus of £257.(100 estimated to be available, and the proposal to reduce tho postal rato on lattors, this House is of opinion that any relief given should be in the direction of reducing the duties on tho necessaries of life." The Speaker ruled that tho amendment could not be moved in that form, as it proposed a complete substitution of the amendment already moved by Mr Fish, which was now before the House. Mr Dawson resumed the debate on tho Financial Statement, speaking in support of the Government policy. With slight modifications in the taxation proposals, he felt sure they would be generally acceptable to tho people. Mr Saunders also spoke, and said ho ret/ardod Sir John Hall as virtually the leader of thu Opposition. Ho svas ploasod to hear Mr I'ishor express his views o:i the financial condition of the country, a? no other member in tho House was more responsible fur that position thau that hou. gentleman. Mr Buchanan referred to the upeech made by Mr Ballance at Wanganui, in which ho said that the Government would take some of the weight off the farmers, artisans, and labourers of the country ; but instead of doing that, the Government prooosed to take £40,000 off tha postage, which scarcely affacted those classes at all. His opinion was that if the Government proposals were carried, their effect would bo to depopulate the country. The- debate was interrupted by the ">.30 adj'mruuieut.

The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr Buchanan, continuing his remarks, defined the land administration of the late Government, nnd said that during the lint three years more settlement of Innd had taken placo than in any corresponding period for years past. Referring to the proposals generally, he hoped the Government would re-consider them, and brim? down something more acceptable to tho country. Mr Duncan thought that both the Commissioners of Crown Landa and Resident Magistrates should 1)0 romoved every fivo years, bec-uxe these officials made friende and enemies which, in some cases, prevented them from carrying out thoir duties impartially. Referring to Mr Buick'n speech, he characterised it as a repetition of Henry George's pamphlet ; but if Mr Buick thought all taxations should be put on land, lie made a great mistake. It wae his intention to support the Government till they brought their Bills down, and if they required criticising, he should be prepared to take part in it. Mr Fergus said the idea at present was that a radical change in the taxation wa* to biing prosperity to the colony for several years, but he declared that was altogether a fallacy. Hβ asserted that the Opposition roiilly possessed a majority in the House, as no less than 25 men were returned laat election who held soats in the House for yeara past. He much regretted the absence of such men as Messrs Lince, Walker, Ij'trunch, and other members of the Liberal party, anyone of whom would have represented the people in the Cabinet better than the present Ministers. According to common report, the Premier was aimply waiting to see how the Bnancial debate wont befovn preparing his Taxation Bills. Thi! Premier had, no doubt, found out by this time that he would not be able to carry tho atrocious budget he had brought down. He had never known a more disgraceful piece of maladministration than the dismissal of Police Inspectors throughths colony. The motive for these dismissals was well known. Mr Ballance's estimates of the Customs and railway receipts were pironeous. They could not by any possibility obtain as much revenue friiui those sources aa he anticipated, and the land tax would not realise nearly as much as was expected. [Left sitting.]