PARLIAMENTARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 204, 4 September 1901, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

House of Representatives.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) Wellington, last night. The House met at 10.30 this morning. Further leave of absence for a month was granted to Mr E. M. Smith, on account of urgent private business. The Wesleyan Church Revenue Vesting Bill (Mr Seddon) was introduced and read a first time. Tho debate on the Financial Statement was resumed by the Hon. Mr McGowan, who spoke warmly in support of tne Government policy. Mr J. W. Thomson said the country was prosperous, but the reason there were no unemployed was because they had all been put on to co-operative works. He condemned the increases in departmental expenditure. The average increase in expenditure for some time had been £1 13,000, but last year it had amounted to .£'339.000. He admitted there had been a very great drain on the public money last year, and there had been much more to pay out than had been expected. He did not believe in the Health Department or the Department of Industries and Commerce increases. Mr Seddon: They were forced upon

the Government. Mr Thomson : The Government should not allow anything to be forced upon them. The Government was responsible for the expenditure, and should not allow anything of an unnecessary nature to be forced upon them. The Defence .Department vote was altogether too much, amounting as it did to an increase of .£113,000 for this year. This money would be much better spent on roads and bridges. .Mr E. G. Allen urged that the colony was satisfied with the condition of the year’s finances. The Government had been charged with forsaking Mr Bullance’s self-reliant policy, hut it must bo remembered that the conditions were altogether different now to what they were in Mr llallaneo’s time. When Mr liallance came into power the country was suffering from the reaction of very large expenditure, but he contended that if Mr Hailunco had remained in power he would have done exactly what Mr Seddon was now doing. The expenditure for public works had been pretty heavy, but they had not borrowed more than the country could | afford, or more than it demanded, ff bor- I rowing ceased for such a purposo there would bo stagnation. He was afraid that if they went in for a line of steamers to •South Africa they would run themselves into great financial difficulties. It was hotter to subsidise a line of steamers for that trade, and he urged that the claims of tho Union Company should be recognised, and negotiations entored into with that company before going elsowhcro. Tho debate was interrupted by tho luncboon adjournment. Tlie House met at 2.30 p.m. The Hon. Mr Mills resumed tho debate. , lie said that although the gross public 1 debt had increased, the colony was able , to show a very good asset for every pound spent, the greater part of the increase ( having been expended on direct interestearning objects. The Customs revenue was very buoyant, and there was no fear ( about the colony's future prosperity. As to the increase in expenditure, ho pointed out that several new debts had been created which meant heavy expense, lie j emphatically denied that instructions had | been given to the Valuation Department | to put up land values. Messrs Wallis, Hiiseldon, and Fhitman { also spoko. I The debate was interrupted by the ! j 5.30 adjournment. EVENING SITTING. t The llouso resumed at 7.30 p.m. 1 Mr I’irani resumed the debate. He * considered that there was cause for alarm, 1 not so much because of our increasing t expenditure or decreasing revenue, blit 1 because of the unpromising financial 1 outlook outside of New Zealand altogether. ! Mr Arnold said that taking everything I into consideration, he looked upon the 1 Financial Statement as very satisfactory. Mr Massey said that considering the 1 financial recklessness of the past few years the wonder was that matters were no worse. 1 The llouso rose at IO.iSO p.m. 1