HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. TUSEDAY, JULY 19. WANT OF CONFIDENCE MOTION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 133, 23 July 1881, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. TUSEDAY, JULY 19. WANT OF CONFIDENCE MOTION.

When the House resumed at 7.30, the debate on the Grown and Native Lands Rating Bill was continued. Mr. Sutton reviewed the whole of the Government financial and special proposals, expressing a general approval,- with the exception of the Public Works Board, and the reduction of the Property Tax, to both of which he was opposed. In Committee on the present Bill, he would suggest amendments. Mr. Saunders expressed .great disappointment at the speech of Major Atkinson, in moving the seeoud reading of the Bill. Government proposed nothing, and evidently intended to do nothing. The I effect of the Bill under consideration as to rating Crown lands would be to take money from districts where it could be profitably spent, and spend it in the midst , of tbe wilderness. He protested against this proposal as mischievous in the extreme. The Bill was utterly devoid of principle. As to rating native lands, he agreed that such lands should be rated, but objected altogether to the proposals of the Bill, as being unjust to the natives, who would have no voice in spending the i money. What was now proposed merely I amounted to confiscation. It was now impossible to restore the provinces as they had been, and he did not consider Sir G. Grey's proposals an improvement. Provincial executive bodies, however, might probably he created, and they should have no legislative powers. He would divide each island into four provinces, each with a Superintendent and four Councillors, elected by single votes of the electors. He would like the electors to be men and women voting as such, and not as property-holders. He would also have three Councillors elected by the Road Boards. The County Councils should he abolished, and Road Boards increased in number. He would stop all . the present separate local rates by local bodies, and let that House double the present Property Tax, and leave twothirds of the amount raised in the Road District in which it was raised. This would tend to economy, and obviate all scrambling for money. • Mr. Ormond regretted that they were called on to discuss the lavge questions raised by the debate, without having all the Government Bills before' them, and before the Public Works Statement had been made. The question of railway reform was largely mixed up with the question of local government, and railway reform people would have. He had carefully considered the proposals of the fipvernment in the spirit of one desirouSTO give Ministers his support, but he was unable to see anything satisfactory in these proposals which would stereotype and strengthen the present most unsatisfactory condition of affairs. Under the circumstances he felt it his duty to bring matters to an issue by moving aa aa

amendment on the Government' Bill that the .whole of the Government proposals in respect to local government and finance were unsatisfactory. ' He did this as a private member, but with the assent of several members who, like himself, had wished to support the Government, but could not support these proposals. He felt less responsibility in this course, as Parliament, being moribund, the carrying of such a motion as his would not affect the position of the Ministry until they had appealed to Ihe people. Still, it was with regret that he felt it his duty to oppose his former friends and colleagues. He complained greatly of the indecision of Government in dealing with measures, and delay in bringing down their bills. He would not now repeat what he had said on a previous occasion about local government, but would supplement it by saying that he thought Road Boards useful, and County. Councils useless, bodies, and that the two -should not be continued. The Road Board system, under a proper financial system, might develop into a shire system. If he could not get his own views carried out, be would rather assist in carrying any of the other local governm nt schemes winch had been proposed than support the centralists proposals of the Government. He did not think that County Councils should be entrusted with large rating powers. He denied that this House was really competent to undertake the redress of local grievances. Instead of the land administration being centralised by tbe abolition of Waste Lands Boards, he held that the administration of Crown Lands was one of the first questions which he should devolve upon local bodies. As to tbe Road Construction Bill, he strongly condemned it, especially the proposed Board. The amendment having been put, Mr. Walter Johnston said the reasons given for the amendment, and the amendment itself, were entirely opposed to each other. The mover proposed no scheme of bis own, and tbe common end for which Mr. Ormond and others seemed working, could only be the re-establish-ment of provincialism. He defended the Government proposals'generally, and reslied5 lied to several of che criticisms made, 'he proposed Board to advance money was nothing new in tbe principle. It was only the adoption of a plan working most satisfactorily in England. They could easily remit the sum advanced to any one body in any one year.. He believed the Government proposals were satisfactory to the country, if not to Mr. Ormond. They would promote colonisation.

After an adjournment of half-an-hour, Mr. Whitaker said he considered any idea of union between Sir Geo. Grey and Mr. Ormond was ridiculous. He felt a sense of relief at Mr. Ormond having at last declared his colors at an opponent to the Government. He had evidently been so from the commencement of the session.

Colonel Trimble at some length defended the Government proposals, which were well calculated to advance settlement and prosperity of the country. Mr. G. McLean thought Mr. Ormond should have given the Government notice of his intentions to move an amendment. He did not believe any person or Government could devise proposals which would be satisfactory to all parties. As to returning to Provinciah'sm, had the provinces existed. when the late financial crisis occurred, the colony would have bad to suspend payment. As to tbe Government haying done nothing this session, the passing of the Licensing Bill was of itself a great work. Mr. Fulton moved the adjournment of the debate until 2.80 next day. Tbe House rose at 12.35.