PARLIAMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 2996, 26 September 1891, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THLRSOAY. Tim Council met at L',3o p.m. The Colonial Secretary moved the second reading of the, Hanicrton Pension Dill, which was agreed to, and the Bdl was committed, reported, and put through its (ilia! stages. The Educational Endowments and Exchange Reserves liill was read a second time, and eventually passed through its final stages. The Colonial Secretary moved the second reading of tho Public Works Appropriation Bill. The motion was agreed to on the voices without debate. The Dili was committed, reported, road a third time and pussed. The Native Land Court Bill was read a second time, committed, reported, read a third time, and passed. FRIDAY. Tho Council met at 11 a.m. On the motion for the second reading of tho Appropriation Bill, Mr Miller denied that tho managers of the Council alone wore to blame for tho fact that no compromise was arrived at on the Land Bill. On the contrary, tho representatives of the Council had done all in their power to arrivo at a settlement. He mentioned this, as lie considered it only right the country should kivv the facts of (he case. It was often stated_ that the Council placed itself in antagonism to the House, buthe believed he spoke tho sentiments of the whole Council when he said that branch of the legislature ever enter tallied a feeling of responsibility of their ilutv to the country. He was convinced the, Council never opposed the other branch of the legi dature out of a factious spirit.

Dr. Grace, one of tlio mannge-s of the ConiiL-il in the conference '-m Mm Ulnotural Bill, remarked tt:o managers did their best to arrive at a compromise, and failure was certainly not the fault of tin managers appointed l-v the Oounc.il. Ho folt c oiviiiced the country would endorse, the action of the Council during tho passion, and he firmly believed tho altitude the Council assumed towards a number of Bills which had been introduced had tho effect of further cementing the good feeling which existed between tho Legislative Council and tho people of tho colony. Dr. Pjllen quoted certain provisions of the Land Bill, and asked whether the people of the c.ilony were to become serfs and v:\sals of a corrupt Ministry. The second reading was agreed to, and the Bill was put through its final stages. The Council then formally adjourned to Tuesday next. HOUSE OF EEPRESENTATIVES. THURSDAY. The House met at 11 a.m. Replying to Mr Rolleston, Mr Billance said at this late period of the session the Government were not prepare 1 to press the I ■ sst clmse in the Public Works Appropriation Bill, providing that moneys appropriated for railways may be expended under the control of tho Minister for Public Works.

Several memheis called attention to the urgent necessity tint existed forthe pstablishment of bureaux of agriculture in the colony, and impressed upon the Minister of Lands the desirableness of taking some step s in iliat direction during tho recess,

The Hon. J. Mclveiuio s'.id ho had boon soaking infoimation on this subject from oiher countries, and when he had gathered suliicient he would make up his mind what course to take, and would probably ask the House to assist him with a money grant. He was also doing his best to encourage the dairy industry and fruit culture, and if he could find an expert for the latter industry he would be willing to appoint him. On the motion that tho Native Land Court Dill ba committed, Sir Geo. Grey opposed its committal at some long'lt, and said it was almost impossible to believe that a iiill containing such monstrous changes in law should be pressed forward at such a late stage of the session. After considerable discussion, the motion that the Bill be committed was agreed to. Considerable discussion ensued, and finally all tho clauses from 2 up to 11 were struck out. Clause 15 : I'.uts .f Hi r nvhenua inalienable, elicited ■'ome dismission, but was eventually retained on the voices. Tho remaining clauses wore struck out. Mr Cadman then moved a new clause suspending all transuitions in native lands till after tho closo of next session. This was agreed to, and the clause added to the Bill, which was then read a third time and passed. Mr Seddon brought up the report of the conference on the Naval and .Military Settiers Hill, and said there was no chance of an agreement being arrived at with tho Legislative Council on the amendments they had made in the Bill. Therefore, lie was reluctantly compelled to movo : "That the House no longer insists on its amendments in the Bill." Tho principal amendment made by the Council was that thov refused power to holders of scrip tJ transfer their certificates,

The motion was agreed to. On tho motion that the Appropriation Bill bf. read u third time, Mr Rulleston said lie should refer to the events of tho session as briefly as possible, and he hoped nothing ho had to say would lead to a feeling of soreness. Tliev had met this year with a substantial surplus, and there was a hope that they might have some good government, and not fads of all kinds forced upon them. The Ministry had commenced the session with a large majority at their backs, but he ventured to s;iy they had maintained that majority onlv in tho lobbies. The result of the session, however, was a great disappointment to the House and to the country. The Governor's .Speech had begun with congratulations on tho financial position of the colony, and it would havo occurred to reasonable men to exercise mature judgment before changing the policy of taxation, when the previous policy was steadily working to the advantage of the country. As to tho Land Bill, it had been brought in as a great Liberal measure, but there was no Liberal tendency in the Bill at all, nor did it go in the direction of promoting settlement. He did not think the Council had done wrong in killing the Bill. Touching on tho Civil Service, he said the Kstim-itps showed that the present Government had played havoc with the salaries of the civil servants, and that reductions had not only been put back this year, but that in many cases salaries had been largely increased. The Government seemed to be utterly incipabte ot recognising that the civil servants were tho servants of the public—not of the Ministry of the day. The Speech from the Throno had indicated that a bold reform was to be made in taxation. It was bold, indeed, and also rash, and there would be intense disappointment on tho part of tlioso who had looked for a single tax, as advocated by Ministers on olection platforms, lie believed that the G 'vernment taxation m->. posrtls had already dono a ■- 'ivuv-l; .> f injury to the colony. The IWmaster- j General had posed as a second Rowland Hill, and ho had sacrificed a largo amount j of revenue which tho colony would require befoio very long. Tho bold policy of tho ] Government would rhortly work its own

uvil W.iy with III.; winking n.on, who would soon experience the ry of il. He condemned tlio work of thn I'ut 'i..- Tin-i. (' ,n,. mission, ami said thorn w:i< lie s also or propriety in tin way tli.it C..mmi--mi, h ,^I carried eat i'.s labour. A pr.,uii--i> had been eiven tint the Ji micro; ley Jiijl ; »id tho Libel Bill would be i; on mi with this oossion. Tho whole clfoits of ! lie (I<.w-ni■ inent had boon to introduce c' legislation and to climb on tl.«houldo,-. of Pie woti;i"i: 1110,11 ; but 1.0, \vn i:oii'.in o | Uial ti;o. Working 111011 of til" Colony Woo'.! ll.n" t|,,'

son-'o to see the empty iiitoio.l i||.. |, r ... f.-s<ions of tlio (Jowoiionnt. Af'o'-rofio-rm» 11 th« c>v«it (itt-ii.'ks whi-h In I iwn made on the Riihviv "noii>-..mors by tie! MinisU'r fo,- I'o'ilic Work--, Mr R ,f----la-t'ii wont on to retook i a il.a nt!"r incapacity shown by to load the Humso dm inir tho s"s-doa. T.iko, for example, their action on tho Fein,do Suffrage I'Sill. They lo.d tlioir followers up to a crucial point on that Bill, which they called 11 groat Ldieral ine;i<iire. and tllon dropped them. JJ.< condonino.) the action of tho Government ov a- tan Payment of Members Bill, and spoke di-japiiroviogly of tho proceedings winch had characterised the olection of the Chairman of C immittenH n few days r.gn. It seemed to him that tho course taken every day in the House was .such as to make tho very name of Liberalism to bo received with a sneer and to_ stink in tho nostrils of tlio people. What was the Government's idoa of justice';— Why to starve a .Judge of the Supicmo Court into .'.ubrni-shu, and to trample tho warrant of the Grown under their feet. And they called that Liberalism ! As to the viie cli iri/e made against a member of the House (Mr Richardson), the Government had actually denied tile right of enquiry into the accusation removing the previous question, which ho thought was a most contemptible action. The (government had appointed as AgentGeneral a politic d tyro as tho successor to the mail who had so ably filled that olliee. In conclusion, he said the time was not, far distant when tin p-mple of the c lonv would look for rulers who would i:o'. lie actuated by such motives »s those which actuated the ~resent (1 ivo'iiment.

Mr Geo. i latehisou adversely critcised tho taxation pulicy and burl policy cif th" present Government, mid agreed with tin: loader nf the <»iticm that it was time for Ministers to abandon their mask, and to consider tho serious position of thu conntrv.

Tlio Hon. W. P. Reeves said that the peculiar bitterness with which Mr Hatohison had attacked the Government this session did him little credit. In the c ansa of a vif? >r. his defence «»f the action of (xovermnnnt during the session, lie resented the imputation made that the (1 oveinimmt were striving to promote class lesislation, and said that on tli« contrary tliey wanted to abolish cl The Government had Rained strength during the session, and their party was more compact than at the beeintiinc of the session.

Mr Fish cave the Government credit for introducing snins measures mto tho Hoipe that the peoplo wanted—not ibly achmijo in the incidence of taxation and llie amendment nf the land laws, hat he could tiot_ sive them any credit for carrying oat their professions of retrenchment and economy. As tn the threat made of making further appointments to the Council, he said if tho Government appointed ■noil of ascertain class to that Clumber, it would brine; them into more contempt than anything tliey had vet done.

Mr Hoes was very pleased at the leeislition of this session, but thought, tiie G" vcrnment had attempted too much. If.; regretted the Ministry hid not given way on the Electoral Bill and th-! Bind Bill, so as to secure improvement in the existing law.

Mr Richardson declared the Government liatl no desire to pi«s their Land Bill, and that accounted for the:r action in dropping if. lie contended that tho Government had made no reductions anywhere in their estimates. It was iiis linn conviction tint next year the Government wwald ask fur .. Joan of a million and a h Uf.

Tho Premier did not evercis' 3 his ri-.dit of reply, and the third reading tf the Hill was ii greed to.

< tn the motion that the Hill now pas.-*, Mr Kollesluu referred to remarks nn le by Mr Heddon a short tim" pre-iously, to the effect that tho Onpodtioii had ined obstructive tactics. He denied tint atisolately, and said there had never be*ai a more patriotic Opposition than the present one.

Mr fecobio Mackenzie spoke at some lenath in criticism of the Government policy.

Mr Sfiddon defended the Premier from the chargo of want of generosity levelled against, him by the leader of the Opposition and said if Mr Billancc had 0110 failing more than another it was that of generosity. As to the proposals of the Government, he said, faith in Ne>v as expressed by capital at Home Wis never so stro.ig as it was to-day, and Now Zealand securities had never boomed under previous Governments as they had under ttia present administration. The people of the ooluiv must bo represented in the Upper Hou-e whore capital and wealth now held sway. Tile I :ito Government had made "a serious mistake in reducing the number of Ministers, and it required to cope with tlio fast increasing work. Searciiy any stronger team than the present Ministry had occupied the Government, benches and yet the work of the session had told severely on al! except one of them. He felt convinced that the country would have 110 causc to regret the work of this

At this stage, 3.30 a.m., the Speaker read a note ho had received from the chief of the ! lann >rd staff stating that the members of tho stall' were so completely knocked up that they could not guarantee.that the reports would be reliable if the House sat any longer.

Messrs Buchanan, Hall, and Maclcct)/.io also spoke.

Mr B dlance referred to the attack which had been made on him by Mi- K illeston and said he did not think it at all warranted, l-fn regretted very much the affair with Mr Richardson, but he (Mr Bullance) could not b3 blamed in the matter. He would like to see the resolution of censure passed on Mr Bryce rescinded but the suggestion that he had concocted the whole tiling was alto getlier erroneous. Touching oil the work of the so-sion he said tho passing of tile Land and Income Tax Bill would have been a great enough feature of one session. The

Government had not abandoned the measures which the Council had mutilated and they were now strongly determined to bring in a more comprehensive Land Bill next session. From the way in which the revenue was coming in ho wassatisliod there would bo a surplus at the end of the vear and not a deficit as had been prophesied by the Opposition. He exhaustively replied to the criticism of the Opposition me.mbors, and said the Government wero determined to go an sooner or later with over measure which had been killed or dropped this (session. As to the Railway Commissioners lie aaid lie bclisvod there were many abuses of administration which never emm to light simply becauso criticism of the Commissioners was shut out of the House. At -1.30 the House adjourned till 10 30. FRIDAY. On tho House meeting at 10.30, Mr D.illance said, in reply to Mr Holieston, that the Government intended to prorogue Parliament by proclamation, as habeen the practice for the last few years. The House then took an adjournment ti'l 12.30, and on resuming The Speaker announced that the Government had assented to the Appropriation Bill.

Mr Ballance moved that the Housa nt its rising adjuurn till Tuesday next. This was carried by 20 to 1-1, and the llousa rose at. 12.45.