HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Bruce Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 1755, 4 June 1886, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday. Mr Guinness gave notice to move that the Hinemoabe sold. In reply to Mr Pyke, who asked a question relative to representation, Sir J. Yogel said that there was no immediate necessity for the subject being taken up ; he did not think it was advisable for the Government to disclose its policy upon it. The Native Reserves Titles Grant Empowering Bill was read a third time, and passed. The Mining Companies (Consolidation) Bill was read a second time. The Hon. Mr Tole moved the second reading of the Supreme Court Reporting Bill, which was carried. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Major Atkinson made a speech criticising the Financial Statement. He characterised the Statement as moderate in appearance, but not in reality. While the results of the year were satisfactory, there would have been no surplus if the accounts had been \ kept as they ought to have been. The Treasurer had said the expenses were less by £39,000, and the principal reduction had been in subsidies to local bodies. That, however, was no saving, and ths rest was j

payment held back and wrongfully professing to make a saving. After pointing out various discrepancies In the Statement, Major Atkinson said it would be far better to state the position honestly than endeavour to show a surplus where there was none. He feared the customs were not likely to produce what the Treasurer anticipated, nor would the railways, and be considered the revenue would be short of the estimate by £50,000 or £60,000. He approved generally of the Government proposals v* local bodies finance, and should assist in carrying them out as far as possible, as they were on the principle of the Roads and Bridges Construction Act. He should resist as much as lay in his power the proposal to subsidise local bodies ont of loan. The Treasurer had said there was a sum of £800,000 free to be voted as the House pleased for purposes other than railways, but had apparently forgotten the liabilities against that amount, £1,094,000. The position was that effect could not be given to the Statement unless £2,700,000 were borrowed. He contended that the Treasurer had deceived the House in the matter. Sir R. Stout no doubt thought the Statement was framed on the linea laid down by him at Invercargill, but Sir Julius had been too much for him. Without a very large reduction, a very large increase of taxation must be faced next session. i Sir Julius Yogel said that with regard to j the Premier's speech at Invercargill, there was some confusion by which the Premier's remarks about roads were confused with his (the Treasurer's) about railways. With regard to subsidies to local bodies, it would be > impossible to shirk the payment of money authorised by the House. With regard to the falling off of the land fund, he said that as the country had a liberal land law, the reveuue must suffer accordingly. He thought | the prospects of the Kimberley goldfields would disturb the revenue, and it was necessary to prosecute public works speedily in order to keep men in the colony. He declared that the Government were saving all possible expenditure, and defied the honorable member to prove where they had not done so. j Mr Thomson spoke to the question, and the debate was adjourned.

Wednesday. The Hon. Mr Ballance, in reply to a question, said his attention had been drawn to the liberal offer of Mr J. C. Frith, of Auckland, re placing settlers on his grass land, and that he proposed to ask a vote of £10,000 for the formation of a Special Settlement Scheme. Dr Newman moved in the direction of reserves being set apart for charitable aid, education, and harbors, and pointed out that in the South Island there were enormous endowments, while in the North there were very few. Sir R. Stout said the South Island had been more careful with its lands than the North. He thought the House would not consent to the motion. A debate ensued as to the relative merits of land tenure, &c. Sir R. Stout said that the freehold system was the curse of the Colony. Other members denied the Premiers' assertion, and advocated their own ideas on the subject. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. After the adjournment, Mr W. F. Buckland resumed the debate on the Financial Statement. The House he declared had never met its liabilities. Private finances were really the finances of the Colony, and there was not a man who wa3 not worse off than he was a year ago, and next year ifc would be worse still. Last year the Treasurer said the Supplementary Estimates would not be more than £12,000, while the amount was £116,000. The House would be asked to pass estimates for £5,700,000, not including another million for the North Island Railway. He could point out how £300.000 could be saved, but it was not hia duty to do the work of the Government. He moved as an amendment : — " That to enable the House to deal efficiently with the matter of retrenchment, the Speaker do not leave the chair, for the purpose of granting supplies to her Majesty till such time as the Public Works Statement and Supplementary Estimates have been brought down to the House." Mr Montgomery criticised the former policy, and present proposals of the Govern, ment, and proposed :-" That Government should reduce their Estimates during the current year by £75,000." Sir R. Stoub said the motion meant that the House would refuse supplies to the present Ministry, and he declined to accept it in any other light. He denied that the Government could effect such a saving as that mentioned unless they took 10 per cent, all round, even to the meanest labourer in the service, Mr Fisher aud Mr Turnbull spoke to the question, and the debate was adjourned till the next day.