PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 2181, 8 July 1890, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Thursday

Ifc was rtgrojd in the Council on Thursday that the Council be " called over " on July 10,

Soverci bills were cuusiderod in Cum mittoo, but no progress made.

Tho financial debate was? resumed in the ETousb by Sir Jihodes, who was followed by Mr Blake, who deplored that the country had I"8t the man who gave it the idea of the public works policy, Government life insurance, and other things.

Mr Allen aßked how much sincerity there was lv regard to retrenchment in the mem. bom of the Opposition ? Tho lafco Government said tbat < xpendiltire could only ba reduced by £iOO 000, whereas the present Government had actually reduced it by nearly £300,000. Ho believed that further retrenchment was possible, and unless it waa effooted thore waa nothing beforo the oouutry but mora taxation and increased debt. Eeferring to tho ex >dua of people from the colony he was of opinion that they left because the expenditure of loau money had ooma to an end and not because of the Incidence of taxition.

The debate waa continued until 11 .20 p.m. When tbe Houbb adjourned,

Th« M-iniater for E lucation hag given notice for the appointment of a Seleot Committee to consider tho snbjjct of looal government reform, Mr Moss has alsu tabled a series of resolutions on the same subject which are wordod aa follows :— (1) That a material reduotion in the ooßt of governiug tha country is imperative : (2) that Ministers have in the Financial Statement declared a further reduotion to be impracticable, as they are nnable to face the riiasatiafaotlon that would ensue : (3) thdt tbe Houbo has forma ly agreed with Ministers in this opinion } (4) that it is therefore desirable that the Legislature should call to its aid properly constituted looal governing bodies endowed with sufficient powers to make themselves reliant in finance, able to take the responsibility for all local work in their respective districts, and to tffoct all needful reductions in the cost thereof, leaving the Aasumbly at liberty to dual with expenditure for purposes concerning the whole colony ; (5) that the condition of tho country requirea the immediate creation of snch local governing bodies, and that tbe general election should take place at the earliest; poasiblo date to enable tho pt-ople to expreua their will, and the new Parliament to give that will effect without delay.