HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 2498, 1 August 1893, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

la the House on Thursday an acrimonious debate was initiated by Sir John Hall wanting to know why certain papers promised by the Premier had not been laid on the table. They wero effijial and had been quoted by the Premier.— The Premier denied their (ffioiality and eaid they wcra merely documents supplied by the officers of hia Department, but for all that would lay them on the table.— Sir 11. Stout, Hon. Mr Rolloston, and Mr Scobie Mackenzie struck in and made matters warm for a while, and then the eulj :c!; dropped. — Mr Shera resurred the Financial debate, was followed by Messrs Mackintosh, Taipua, O'Conor, and Taylor. — The Hon. Mr Ward then rose in reply, thanked the House for the kindly feelings displayed toward him during the debate, He pointed out a mistake made by Sir John Hall in his Bpeeoh in deducting £80,000 interest from the total amount o* the previous year, and declared that no interest that ought to be paid had been left unpaid. Ho explained in detail how the mistake had been made, all the interest the present Government wag responsible for was £11,600. He declared that if the Opposition had been in power they could not have averted the inoreaae in the Public Debt, and as for borrowing that charge was absolutely inoorreot. But they had saved, by the conversion operations of the Government, and to no less a sum than £2,052,350. He defended the Graduated Tax, affirming that only three people in the whole colony would have to pay 2J, the highest rate of graduation, and it was little enough, too, considering what they saved by the removal of the tax upon improvements. Those who obtained the largest amount of relief by the removal of the tax ought to contribute the most the other way. The country waa not placed at a disadvantage as affirmed by some oompared with the towns for improvements in towns were valued at only 18^ millions while those of the oountry stood at 28 millions - 0 millions more. Ab for Mr AUea'a assertion that 19,000 obj.c tions had been nude against the Luid and Inooine Tax, of which 10,000 had been allowed by the court appointed by the Government, the true faofcs were that 9903 had been allowed by the Commissioners and had not come before the court at all, whilst the balance had gone against the objectors. He stood by the co-operative system as working well, and generally upheld Ministerial policy, As for the Financial Statement not a single figure of it had been disproved by the Finanoial debate. They would all Boon be before their constituencies, and he believed the result would be renewed confidence in the Government, — This cloaed the debate, the Hctise went into Committee of Supply, progress wa3 immediately reported with leiva to sit again, time 1 40 a.m. Friday. — On Friday leave of absence was granted to Mr Wright (Aahburton) on account of illness in family, and Mr J, Mills (Port Chalmers) for urgent private affairs. — On the motion of Sir John Hall it was resolved, " That the attention of the House be called to the correspondence on the subj vet of appointment of officers of the House laid on the table by Mr Speaker and that the same be referred to a committee of privilege." Sir John Hall strongly objected to encroachment upon the privileges of the House by Minister whether the appointments should rest with the Government or with the Speaker as heretofore. He had moved in the matter in 1888 and then differed with his old friend and c 1 league Sir Harry Atkinson.— -The Hon. Mr Seddon contended that as Ministers of the Crown were responsible for the taxpayers' money all the patronage should not be left to the Speaker of the Honae or President of the Council. Some officers received £300 or £400 a year during session time and £000 or £700 during recess, He thought the Government should have charge of the Legislative Estimates. — Replying to questions the Hon. Mr Seddon said silver pine Bleepers from the West Coist were chosen for sleepers in preference to Puriri for Auckland railways because they were cheaper. — He emphatically denied any intention of the Government to appoint the present Premier Chief Railway Commissioner for five years at a salary of £1000 per annum and to ask Sir Robert Stout to become Premier. — The Commissioners confirmed him that they were instituting enquiries into the allegations made in the public press about a railway train having been detained all night in the Manawatu Gorge in a dangerous position. — The Government could not give effect to the report of the Publio Petitions Committee on Colonel Stappa' pension. He had received £700 on retiring from tho servioe and a further grant would constitute a dangerous precedent. — Replying to a question, the Hon, Mr Ward* aid £420,000 3^ par cent, inscribed stook had been Bold at Pss in the open market by brokers. — On the motion for an Imprest Supply Bill, the Leader of the Opposition wanted to know when the Publio Works Statement would be brought down, and a party discussion ensued over it itvolvicg endless waßte of time. He deprecated the haste displayed as it was unusual, and was supported by Sir Robert Stout who affirmed that it was not usual to bring the Statement down bo early. —An Imprest Supply Bill for £258,500 was then passed through all its stages.— The Native Reserves Administration Bill and the Wilson Land Bill were read a second time, and the Electoral Bill proceeded with in Committee. — An attempt made by Mr Fish to expunge the Woman's Franchise clause proved futile, and it was decided after ga cloae struggle and by the casting vote of the ohairman to extend the voting qualification to holders of leases in perpetuity,