HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5553, 22 July 1886, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington", July 20 When the House resumed at 7.30, Bryce continued the debate on the Loan Bill. The Government's change in front in regard to the £800,000 was no surprise,, but ha failed to see how the means proposed by the Treasurer .vould make the deficiency good. Yogel might denounce the people, but he certainly had led them to believe he was going in for larger bori rowing. He entered into the question of the borrowing policy at great length, and argued that no one realised the extent to which the colony was committed. He insisted that we were paying interest oub of loan, and were going too fast. He agreed with the Premier that too much money was spent on public buildings. The expenditure on open railways required careful consideration in so young a country. So long as we kept in line of requirements of the country was sufficient, and further expenditure was undesirable. Referring to the Hemutanga block, he said the money was paid to Dr Buller for the Maori vote last year. He condemned the purchase by Government from private individuals of the Ngaire swamp, which could not be drained, and criticised several other land transactions of the Government. The system of purchasing Native lands by commission, which has been abolished by the

act some time ago, was being revised in its worst forn?, under which the Government would only get the worst land. The Government had not only abandoned their policy but also broken down in their administration. He ended by stating that the amount of the loan was much too large, and ought to be reduced. Ballance said he had never heard so much distortion, decoloration, and mis- ; representation as in the preceding speech. All were agreed that borrowing must be continued. It was only a question for what works they should raise loans. The Government were not going beyond the letter of the law in regard to the purchase of land by commission. They had taken the means to procure land for the northern trunk line, and it was very fair land. It had been done at the express wish of the House. Be defended the | other purchases referred to by Bryce, and added that Buller had rather worked against these, for the Government money referred to was voted by the House in the ordinary way. He concluded that Bryce's criticism did not carry very great weight, and if their administration waa to receive no more serious attack than that it would not be much damaged. Ormond did not consider the borrowing policy in excess of the requirements |of the country at present. The bili proi posed a new departure by earmarking the loan, but they did not give the fullest effect to the principle. He regarded the Publio Works Statement as empty, uns^atesnaanlike, and failing to grasp the requirements of the colony. He proceeded to deal with some of the railway pioposals mentioned therein to show that the prowess promised when Government took office had not been carried out. Their road policy was impossible and im- ' practicable. The railway board proposals had been passed over in silence, and no proper provision had been made for school buildings. There was a great deal that was unsatisfactory in the Government land purchases ; but he did not blame the Government for buying the land along the northern trnnk line. Their action with i regard to immigration was not satisfactory. He contended that Government had not fulfilled any of the pledges which they gave when entering office. The House was demoralised, and party government was a failure. For this Government was responsible. , | Sutter quoted a large number of statistics to show what we have to borrow upon and around. We had borrowed too much, drawing a gloomy picture of our finances geaerally. i Duncan said if Ormond's ideas were carried we should have to spend at least three millions next year. W. F. Buckland was disappointed wth tho public works policy of the Government and the general waste of money. They did not know exactly how the money was spent, nor how much it cost to keep a majority together for a Goveanment. Parliamentary government was rapidly becoming a farce. Moss also took a3 unfax orable a view of the finances, and quoted the prices of various colonial stocks with a view of showing that New Zealand bonds were not in good repute. At 12.13 Mitchelson moved the adjournment of the debate, which was agreed to. The Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Amendment Bill was further considered in Committee. - In answer to Buckland, the Premier said he considered the resolution for throwing the cost of charitable aid on the property tax passed last week was impracticable, and he did not intend to take any notice of it; Clauses 8, 10, and 14 were struck out with the view of inserting new clauses. The consideration of the latter was postponed, and rhe rest of the bill passed. Progress was reported, and the House rose at 1.45 a.m.