HOUSE OF REPRESENTAIVES

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5444, 26 July 1879, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTAIVES

Thursday, July 24'1 Ih.1 h. THE NO-CONFIDENCE DEBATE!. Mr Hobbs followed Mr Woolcock, and was succeeded' by Mr Murray^ who spoke at some length against the Ministry. Mr DeLautour followed in their defence, and the debate was adjourned on Mr Macfarlane'a motion. Friday, July 25* The House met at 2.30 p^m* Tainui, the newly-elected Southern Maori member, waß introduced and took the oath. QUESTIONS. Replying, to a question put by Mr George i'e theJand taxj the Premier said the total nunlber of properties in ..New Zealand was 8?,i05. It had been found that there were some persons who owned aft many as 100 properties in the colony. It had also been found that there were 67,000 properties under £600 net value. It was believed that the revenue derived from the land tax would atnottt to the estimated 1 sum of £iOO,OOO, notwithstanding the depreciation, in the price, of, property that had taken place. Had the valuation been made at the time the Act was passed, there was no doubt but that at least 20 per cent, more would have been realised. There was now in the department a valuation of every property in New Zealand, and should there be any alteration aa to the exemption, it would not be necessary to make a Hew Valuation of properties that would become liable to the taX. The total of the improved value of property was £90',5&>\W slid trie amount of mortgages £21,764,292, which probably included a large sum lent on the fcefcilrifcy o'f. Jite., Stock. It was believed that £10,123,580 might be estimated to be foreign capital, and £11,640,712 might be estimated to be colonial capital. The total interest was £1,745,076, which was calculated at the rate of 8| per cent. The amount of foreign and colonial capital, however, was only an estimate made upon th,e bqst data that could be procured. The arituai expenditure of the department to the 30fch of June was £17,073 19s lOd, and the liabilities at the saffie date", dtoe principally, to, valu'ers, £6,021 ; total, £23,094 Ha 50a.. It, was estimated that the expenditure for' the fedrrent year would be £8500. , Replying to Sir Robert Douglas, the 1 Native Minister said that steps had been taken, in accordance with the promises made by the Government, to satisfy the elaim of Mr Hamlin, for services rendered to the colony. Replying to Mr Swarisoh, it waSstated that the saddlery and other goods recently supplied to the A.C., &c, were from Home, but the circumstances were exceptional, and steps had been taken to get such goods supplied by colonial manufacturers in future.

•On the motion of Mr J. C. Brown, the Government agreed to lay b'n the table all papers relating to the Tapanui railway , Wai-kato-Thames railway, and Waimate Plains survey contracts. Replying to Mr J. E. Brown, the Premier stated that the Government would offer no objection to agents appearing for objectors under the Land Tax Act, but that on the contrary they would offer every facility to agenta.

NEW BILLS. The following bills were introduced and read a first time :— A Bill to amend the Waste Lands Act, 1877, and the Crown Lands Act, 1877 (Thomson) ; and the Church of England in New Zealand Incorporation Bill (Thomson). IMPREST SUPPLY BILL. The Premier said that an arrangement had been come to with the Opposition to adjourn the no-confidence debate for a short time to enable an Imprest Supply Bill to be passed. He moved the adjournment. Sir William Fox said the statement of the Premier was quite correct. The bill agreed to be passed was for an amount to meet liabilities up to the end of last month, so as to pay salaries, &c. He added that the Opposition had all along been quite willing to allow the bill to pass. He desired that to be distinctly understood, so as to Bhow that the,.Oppotion had not stood in the way. The latter portion of this remark was challenged, and both sides of the House urged their respective views on the point, after which the motion for adjournment wan put and carried. On resuming, ;the Premier read a formal message from the Governor recommending that an Imprest Supply Bill be introduced and passed through all its stages. That recommendation was adopted, and an imprest supply of £300,000 was granted. THE NO-CONFIDEXCE DEBATE. The adjourned debate on the no-con-fidence motion was resumed by Mr Macfarlane. He complained that the Government had broken faith in not bringing down a Native Lands Bill. The Native Minister, when he took office, was a most popular man, but now he had become most unpopular. Mr Carrington said that he had made up his mind not to desert the Government party. He explained the position of affairs regarding the Taranaki natives, and concluded by saying that they hac not yet been paid for their lands, and consequently had good grounds for discontent. Mr M'Minn Baid he came to the House with the intention of supporting the Government, but from wha* he had seen and heard he felt he could not give effect to that intention. *~ Mr Tole said he was not sure the Opposition were ready to go to a division at once, having more than once made up their list. They would, however, have to make up a new list before they got to a division. The Opposition had not substantiated the charge3_ they had made, and he scorned the idea that a liberal policy would be carried out by them.