HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Bruce Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 1209, 4 June 1880, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House assembled at 2.30 p.m. Sir George Grey gave notice that he would on the 16 th move for a repeal of the Property Assessment aud Property Tax Acts. Mr Pyke gave notice that he would ask the Government whether it was their intention to bring in a Bill to prohibit religious and party processions. Mr Hurst gave notice that be would ask what steps Government intended taking to prevent the spread of pleuro-pneumonia from the North to the South Islands. A new Licensing Bill was introduced by message from the Governor, and read a first time. Colonel Trimble moved the Address-in-Reply. In doing so he referred to the allusion in the Speech to the monetary pressure lately experienced throughout the whole Colony, and said the late plentiful harvest would, ho apprehended, have the effect of alleviating this pressure. It was to this source as well as to the probable increase in the price of wool, that he looked for a c: ■mplcte revival of commerce, and not to any further loan operations'on the part of the Colony. The proposal made by the late Government to make up the deficiency by taxing the bondholders to the extent of 3d in the pound, he reprobated. The present proposal was by far the most honest. It was that they should tax themselves. The Property Tax had betn mentioned as inquisitorial, but he contended that such was not the case. The fact was that tbis tax touched the population in a way to which they had not been accustomed, and it was the diffei*eucß between direct and indirect taxation which created the difficulty with the taxpayer. He however contended that direct taxation was by far the least expensive of the two modes. lie thought that they should be very careful before in any way interfering with the present system of education. If a charge of 10s per head was to be made upon every child, the amount would not exceed £28,000 per aunum ; and then it would be the menus ot at least one third of the present number being withdrawn from school. He hoped that the present system of free Education would be carefully maintained. Referring to the Native Commission, he said it had been stated that after its recommendations were carried out there would be no land left for European settlement, but his communication was that the report recommended that 100,000 acres should be given to the Natives, which would leave 300,000 for settlement. One great advantage, however, would be the satisfactory solution~of the Native difficulty, which would mark a new era of progress and prosperity in the history of the Colony. Whatever they may otherwise think of Te Whiti, they must always bear in mind that he bad all along preached peace, and to that fact they were no doubt indebted for the good order that had prevailed. Captain Russell seconded the Address in Reply, and in doing so said that, if the Governor's speech contained nothing that was really new it was free from the pretentious language which had been put into the mouth of his Excellency on previous occasions. The country

would, he thought, benefit by the session being called together at an earlier date than usual as the manner in which urgent busiuess in previous sessions had been rushed through, consequent upon a desire to get away in time for personal pursuits, was not creditable to them as a Parliament. Although they had undoubtedly passed through a period of depression, the colony was still sound, and a revival of commerce might be confidently looked for. He hoped the efforts of the Local Industries Commission would be crowned with success, and that increased outlets for labour would be developed. He believed the labours of the Native Commission would be advantageous to the Colony. He had always deprecated any tendency to the renewal of a conflict with the Natives and the report of the Commissioner tended in that direction. It was calculated.to bring the two races more closely together, as he believed the day was not far distant when they would be found living amicably under one and the same form of law ahd Government. After briefly referring to the Civil Service and to the desirability and importance of inducements being given for settlement, he hoped the closing peroration of the Governor's Address would be realised, and that the God of Peace rather than the god of battles would be with them . Mr Macandrew said that if the Address had any faults at all, they were sins of omission rather than sins of commission. He thought it would have been well had they been told that it was the intention of the Government to repeal the Property Tax. He knew for a fact that, in view of its imposition, many valuable colonists were gathering up ail they could preparatory to leaving the Colony. His object in rising was to support the motion. An adjournment took place at 5.30 p.m., and the House resumed at 7.30 p.m. The debate having been continued by Dr Wallis, the motion was put and carried without dissent. A Committee was then appointed, who brought up the Address -in -Reply, and on the motion for the second reading Major Te Wheoro and Tawhaio both spoke, expressing approval of Colonel Trimble's remarks about Te Whiti. Sir George Grey said the true cause of the depression in New Zealand was the present Ministry. The fault was both real and apparent. The Treasurer's alarming statement must batfe been prejudicial to the Colony, and the Public Works should not have been stopped as they were. The effect of these proceedings had been to create a panic. It was not the proper time to reduce wages. It wou'd have been much wiser to proceed vigorously with the Public Works, aud curtail their proceedings in tbat way when flourishing times again came round. The soone r the Propery Tax was swept away the better, and he advised Ministers to get it repealed as being unfair iv principle. It was bad in every way. It held out inducements for the dishonest to make false returns, with a view of bolstering up their credit. He earnestly appealed to Ministers to repeal the tax. The Hon. Mr Hall, in reply, said the advice of the previous speaker about getting rid of tbe Property Tax had not been accompanied by any suggestion of the mode in which they were to provide for the large deficit created by the Government of which he (Sir George Grey) was the head. The depression was in the Colony before the present Government took office, aad consequently the Government could not possibly be responsible for i 1 ". No doubt the disclosures of the Treasurer were taken serious notice of, but it was absolutely necessary that these disclosures should be made, or otherwise both the credit and administration of the Colony would have been completely ruined. He had been challenged to state the policy ofthe Government. It was this : — To amend its laws, reform its administration, and place its finances on a sound basis. Mr Pyke referred to the inquisitorial character of the tax. He criticised the Railway Commission, contending that its inspection of the district to which he belonged was utterly worthless, having been nothing more than a flying visit. The motion for the second reading was then put and carried without dissent. The House rose at 9.25 p.m.

Wednesday, 2nd June. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Sir George Grey gave notice of motion for the reduction of salaries of Ministers in New Zealand. Sir George Grey gave notice that he would move for areturn of all correspondence relative to the discharge of the Maori prisoners at present confined in Dunedin Gaol. The House adjourned for a few minutes, and on resuming, The Speaker reported that the Address-in-Reply bad been presented to the Governor. Reply iug to Mr Reid, The Minister of Education said it was not intended to bring down an Education Act Amendment Bill during the present session. Replying to Mr J.lursthouse, The Colonial Secretary said the proclamations in force were sullieient for the purpose of preventing the spread of pleuro-pneumonia from the North to the South Islands. Air Johnston asked the Colouial Treasurer whether a larger public debt than £5,000,000 has resulted from the Loan Act of last year, and if so, what is the amount of the public debt thence resulting, and when it is repayable. The Hon. Major Atkmson said that the five million loan had been issued at 5 per cent., but the holders had tbe option to convert the debentures to 4 per cent., £120 being given for the i.'loo debentures. At the latest date £1,160,000 had been converted. When all was converted the loan would represent a debt of £6,000,000. The Hon. Mr Hall moved the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into aud report on the operation of the present bankruptcy law, and whether it requires any further amendment; and if so, what amendment ; or whether an3 _ , aud if so, what other system would be in the opinion of the Com;:iittea m* re effective. Mr Dc Lautour said that he hoped the Com mittee would use sufficient despatch to enable its recommendations to be embodied into law this session. It was notorious that the present bankruptcy law bad been a failure, aud there could be no doubt whatever but that its amendment was urgently demanded. The motion was put and carried.