HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3742, 13 July 1883, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thursday.

The House met at 2.30 -p.m. LOCAL GOVERNMENT,

Mr Pyke resumed the debate on Mr Montgomery's resolution, which he supported. The country demanded some batter system of local government than at present existed, and if no bettor way could be found than oven by a return to provincialism, so long as they got the thing they ■wanted, ho cared not by what name it was called. Unless they got it separation must ensue, find he deprecated treating the motion as n party one. Mr Sutton denied the existence of discontout. The county system had worked well in Hawko's Bay, far better than provincialism had done, and if the counties were given a little more power, so as to be able to deal with licensing and a few other matters, the people would be quite satisfied.. Mr Moss is a thorough provincialist, and did not think the resolutions sufficiently definite. He moved, as an amendment, " That the existing system of central government has failed to realise the results expected, and that it is expedient to reestablish local governments and local legislatures with adequate power to maintain peace, order, and good government within their Bcveral boundaries, to raise all revenue for their proper and independent support, and relieve the General Government and general Legislature of all matters that are not of purely general concern." _ He saw no practical difficulty in doing this. Mr Macandrew strongly supported the resolution, and urged Mr Moss not to complicate matters by pressing his amendment. Had the Grey Government remained in office it would have been a good thing for the colony. Under the present system good govornmeut was impossible, and we should make a fresh start. He did not look on this as a party question. All should unite in trying to'deviso something to meet the wants of tho people. Mr Bryce had hoped never again to have to discuss provincialism. As an out settler he was of course an anti-provincialisfc. He strongly objected to any proposal to revive that system. As for separation it was impossible. He deeply regretted the tone of Sir George Grey's speech as degrading to himself and to the House. Referring to Mr Rusden's book, he said its object was to cast odium on the colonists generally. Towards himself, as a pei-feot stranger, Mr Eustlen could have had no malice. He reviewed the circumstances referred to in it, and vindicated his own conduct.

Mr Hutchison could not support the resolutions. Tho present evils arose rather from bad administration than from faults of the system of central Government. To make many centres instead of ono would certainly not bo an improvement. Mr Fitzgerald opposed the resolutions. Nothing whatever had been brought forward to justify the change proposed. It was simply a party move. Mr J. MeKenzio supported tho resolution. The promise by which abolition had boon gained had not been fulfilled, and Parliament was only a big Road Board. Local bodies should have power to deal ■with scab, fencing, rabbits, and similar questions. Mr Tawhai would strongly op pose any return to provincialism. Major Harris would support the first; and second resolutions, but not vote on tho third. Mr Shephard moved tho adjournment of tho debate.

Mr Seddon gavo notice of a furthor amendment condemning the present multiplication of local boards on different subjects.

The House roso at 12.10