HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Press, Volume XL, Issue 5858, 23 June 1884, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Saturday, Jvn> 21. The House met at eleven o'clock. Jtfajor Atkinson announced that for the convenience of Southern members the Wakatipu would be detained until Tuesday. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Sir G. Grist moved—"That Government be directed to take the opinion of the Law Officer as to whether the action of the Canterbury Land Hoard, in the application of Alfred Walker, was in accordance with law, and if not, that the Crown take action to have the proceedings set aside."

Mr Eolleston said that action had been taken in that direction already. 110, therefore, requested that the motion should be withdrawn- *

Mr Shbimski said that in these circumstances he thought it was unfair that Government should not take similar action in respect to the Land Board of Otago in the matter of the dummjism cases.

Major Atkinsoh siid that Government had been advised by the law officer that they had no standing or power to interfere in the matter, otherwise action would have been given. In reply to a queetion put by Mr Smith, Major Atkinson said that steps would be takent* prevent the promoters of private and local Bills introduced this session from being put to the expense of renewing them in the next Parliament.

Replying to Mr McKenzie, Mr RoLLsaxoN said that co far as Government was aware, no parties haJ been legally aggrieved by the action of the Otago* Land Board in the matter of the dummy ism, and consequently the same assistance could not be given to try the case in .the Court as in that of Walker's.

Sir G. Gbbt urged that, in the matter of the kauri gum diggers' lands acquired by the Minister for Public Works, to the alleged prejudice of a number of poor diggers, the reply made was that these men, who felt themselves aggrieved, might go to the Supreme Ceurt. Mr Eollbston said that in regard to this gum digging question he was asked ia the House what remedy these men had, and his reply was by appeal to the Supreme Court. The question how far Government might assist such appeal did not arise. 'J he history of these leases was this, when Sir G. Grey was Superintendent of Auckland he in vie arrangements for these leases. Tho Minister for Public Works in bia capacity as a private individual went in and competed for one of these leases in open market. He complained that idfputations of this kind were utterly groundless as they were made in view of and for the purpose of influencing the coming elections. The system now in force had been initiated by Sir G. Grey, whose conduct now was neither honest or upright.

Sir G. Gset complained that unparliamentary language had been made use of, and he moved the words be taken down.

On being put, the motion wa3 negatived on the voices.

Mr Kolleston said that while he had no wish to offend, still he felt strongly. All the papers ia connection with these leases had been made public. It was impossible to bring down legislation this session to meet the requirements of the case. In the next Parliament he would, if returned, see that such legislation was attended to. Mr Tole said he had the Auckland Provincial Government proceedings of the date when Sir G. Grey wae Superintendent, and he could find no such regulations sanctioned by Sir G. Grey, Mr J. McKbnzib strongly condemned Mr Bolleston for re-appointing the members of the Otago Land Board. Mr J. Gbkbw defended the Board and Mr Bolleston. Mr Fish condemned both. The discussion wee continued by Meesra M. W. Green, Shrimski, Holmes, FitzGerald, Fulton, and Seddon until tbo adjournment at 1 o'clock until 2.30.

The House re-assembled at 2.30. GVX DIGGING AREAS. The Hon. Mr Kollkston said that he had certain information in confirmation of I hia assertion that Sir George Grey was : responsible for the iesue of largs areas for I gum digging purpoeee. He had wired for ; further information in confirmation of that assertion. j HAWKINS BAT IAKD BOAUD. j Mr Smith complained of the irregularity j in the matter of nomination of men to ■ serve on the Land Board in Hawke'e Bay. ! It was notorious that these men and the j Government officials had taken advantage of their official information for the purchase of lands to the prejudice of the general public. The motion for adjournment was put and negatived, and the He use went into Committee of Supply. j iw supplt. On the motion that supplies be granted for the period ending 31st August, Mr MoNioouEKT said that they had now before them a definite statement of the real state of the colony up to the end of the last financial year. They began the year with a balance of and their expenditure had exceeded the income by £187,000. That was a most unsatisfactory state of matters. The more so that it did not disclose the* full measure of their deficit. Since the 31st March last the deficiency had been on the increase, so that they were not in a position to grapple with the difficulty. The estimated revenue of the past year had been over stated. In the passing of estimates the Treasurer was earned that such would be the case, but he derided taat opinion. The low price of wool and also of grain was attributed as a reason for these failures in revenue, but at the time the estimate was made the price of both of these commodities was low. Such being the case he could claim that as a reason why they should not trust implicitly to the Treasurer, but oxerciee their own discrimination. Had the motion of Mr Swanson last year been cai- ,- ried for a reduction of the Departmental Estimates by JJoO.OuO they would have saved that amount. The Government, however, opposed that motion, and it it was lost. The public works expenditure was in excess of the vote to a very considerable sum. This excess had arieen in direct contravention of the law. The only explanation made on this account was that he felt it hie duty to call the attention of Parliament to it. Thai was no valid explanation. Some years ago, when Mr Macandrew was in office, he took advantage of the low Etate of the market to purchase a quantity of railway iron in excess of authority. Parliament resented the transaction. Their iron couli have been sold ia England at a profit of 15 per cent., but still Parliament held that that was no justification. He contend-.d that the taking of the Post-office trust funds was antagonistic to the Act thereon. He was told that on thfe 31st March la.sst they had J6393,0C0 deficiency bills outstanding, and these wtre not redeemed, and with these he was about to ask for it would make on the lsb September next a i total of .£698,000 deficiency bills, which, together with another debt proposed to be contracted for public works, would make a total of .£798,000, and judging fiom the present appearance, who ever returned to these benches after the elections, would hare a difficult teek before them—a taak far more difficult than the Government that took omee in 1879 had. The only remedy proposed by th«j Treasurer was to live within their mear-s. He asked if the Treasurer had lived within his means five years ago P "When the Gorernment took office they were pledged to economy, and this was the outcome of it. When they asked the Treasurer to make

feel tkat ll d£ ?* ; dM °&M°d had passed. AftwW&Sl* ;yea**4.taffice, pledged to ewSnVfi s*! *»• W«telynothing. Amoeftfiiv*? , could hardly be «SJS" ' ljonnden datj was to *&tis into a proper eUtJwj* ftOJswr any sanguine Treasurer mess. w w«ft a Mr Peteii complained that a en« » £24000 on the .chedule foVlatt works had not been spent on the W Coast harbor works. eat Mr Holmes described the statotneat a* a financial. Chinese puzzle. debtedncss of the colony, to be paidcHp the consolidated revenue, wa3JBGGO 000 ah* would have to be good by * of the property tax, customs In year 18S1-2 the Government n*. the House with a surplus. That was duete the economical administration of Bir Jofc» Hall. Next year they showed a defldenc* of JE168.000. In 18834,the preaentS the deficiency was as atated above A great proportion of this wat due to a failmt off in the customs revenue He blame! the Treasurer for having made aa oteK eetimatv last year. They were told that the colony was overstocked, and he omril to have known that that fact would eton tL a. great extent freeb. importation. Inturrupted by tho 5.30 adjournment