FLYING SKETCHES IN PARLIAMENT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 20, 19 June 1880, Page 4

FLYING SKETCHES IN PARLIAMENT.

<TBOM OtTR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) No. 11.

In spite of the other demands made Upon my time, I made a point of bbing present at the delivery of the -Financial Statement, and I now propose to give you a sketch of the reception accorded to it, and a word or 'two about the lively little debate 'which followed. I know that it would ■be quite impossible to enter at any length into a consideration of the subject-matter of the Statement 'itself, and jet keep within the limits •of the space at your disposal.

Major Atkinson rose on Tuesday, '<■ Bth June, to address a very full House. • Almost every M.H.E. was in his • seat, and the interest shown by all l-present, both in the galleries and tittownstairs, was amply testified by the •close attention which was bestowed • during the hour and a half which the > speech occupied. For the first twenty minutes the Statement was delivered to an audience which gave no sign of being either pleased or disappointed with the information given. In the first place, most of his hearers knew pretty well how the. finances of the colony were situated before the Colonial Treasurer spoke, and when he vent at length into figures in the «arly part of the Statement, few, if any, seemed to be able to follow him. Even when he said that the Government had effected an apparent saving of ,£92,0.00 since they were in office, the statement was received in absolute silence. There are savings and savings, and as there was still an admitted deficit of about a million for the nine months, the d 892,000 of apparent -saving seemed but a drop in the ocean of expenditure. The announcement of the net price of the Five Million Loan being in round numbers only 95£ for five per cents., and 79 7-12 for those converted into 4 per cents., was, however, received with what I regarded as a loud murmur of disapproval. Members were glad to have their doubts on the subject set at rest, but the information given was very far from realising the handsome anticipations that were formed when the first telegraphic intelligence of the floating of the loan reached us a few months ago. Members were still more staggered when they heard the particulars of the loan expenditure, which, when concluded, seemed to show that out of nineteen millions borrowed since 1870, £873,000 only is left available for new works, and even this amount is not held in cash, but in Treasury bills. In other words, all our last loan has been hypothecated, and no less than £1,342,000 has been borrowed from the Public Works Fund, the money being needed to cover current expenditure. I noticed that no less than £1,061,000 was declared to have been set aside for the purchase of native laods , but I do not believe that the House is prepared to endorse the expenditure of any such sum upon native lands at the present time. The liability is a legacy left by Mr. Sheehan, and it is very doubtful whether the lands are worth the money set aside for them. The proposals in regard to local works were certainly well received, although the idea of Road Boards levying rates up to 2s. in the £ seemed to strike Southern members as absurd. The Local Public Works Board will probably be established, as its constitution seems well calculated to avert the ever-present danger of political log-rolling being carried out successfully. Approval was also clearly expressed of the proposal to allow Crown lauds and Maori lands in boroughs to be rated up to the limits indicated by the gallant Major. Towards the close of the Statement the House waxed gradually more genial, and when the reductions of 5 per cent, on the salaries and wages, equal to £50,000, and 20 per cent. on. Ministers' own salaries, were promised, enthusiastic applause was freely accorded to the speech. The alterations in the property tax were also favorably received, and when the beer tax of 6d per gallon was announced, the Opposition members, and notably Mr. Ballance, joined heartily in the cheers and hand-clapping with which the announcement was greeted. Major .Atkinson concluded his speech by saying that an expenditure of loan money on public works of «£2,?00,0DD within the last nine months had taken place. Criticism from the Opposition, who know that they were mainly responsible for this lavish expenditure, ■was practically disarmed, and rendered void of all force for the time, by this statement. Mr. Macandrew hesitated about : accepting the beer tax at a moment's notice, but was very lenient in his criticisms. He is not a ready critic, or active in attack, and sat down after he bad claimed a right to think over what had been said before replying at length. It seemed at first as if the debate would die out at once. Mr. Richardson, however, expressed a hope that the Public Works Statement would be brought down almost immediately, as it seemed to him impossible that an intelligent expression of •opinion on the financial position of the •colony could be given until after the proposals in regaed to public works ■were known to them. Mr. Oliver rose, and in solemn accents gravely promised that his Public Works Statement should be made as soon as ever "the state of public business would admit." The House greeted this, statement with shouts of derisive

laughter, at which Mr. Oliver seemed rather surprised. The statement reminded me of a similar one made by him last year about the East and West Coast railway down South, which he said was to be " kept steadily in view."

Sir G-. Grey rose next, and in a most vigorous speech denounced almost every proposal made as uuholy, unjust to the poorer classes, and, in fact, seemed as though he were trying to persuade his hearers that all the ills which beset the colony at present were directly attributable to the class legislation which he pretends has been carried into effect by the present Ministry. He was replied to by Major Atkinson in a hot, not to 6ay an angry, speech. To this Sir G. Grey again responded, as the House was still in committee. Then the Premier took up the cudgels. Sir G. Grey again replied, and on each occasion spoke well, but there was so much political Billingsgate, and so many strong personalities were being bandied about, that though the House enjoyed the fun, the triangular duel was rather a discreditable one, and augurs badly for the futnre of the session. The debate was certainly a useless one, and many of the members apparently only spoke just for the pleasure of crossing swords once more with old opponents. Y.