HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume VII, Issue 1311, 19 May 1886, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday, May 18.

Mr. Beaven moved the Address-in-Beply: He said the colonies should express their satisfaction of the Queen's approaching jubilee. The relations between the colonists and the Maoris were most encouraging •> He referred in eulogistic terms to Mr. Bryce's recent aotion against Mr. Bnsden. The depression was the result ot great social reforms and over production. Notwithstanding the i depression the finances of the colony were sound, The settlement of the land was a burning question, and he regretted to say tbere was ignorance of the groat liberality of our land laws. Tbe polioy of the Government as shadowed forth in the speech was of a steady, progressive character, He ooncluded.-by expressing his admiration of the zealous earnestness with] which the present administration sought to benefit the colony.^ Mr. Taylor seconded the address, and said be did so as the Government views coincided with his. He would .like to see large estates resumed at a valuation and the village settlements scheme applied.

Major Atkinson thought the time had arrived when tbe address should cease to be made the battlefield of party politics, and he trusted that, in the; future it would be made purely formal. The Government should bave mentioned the question of representation in the speech, and until they promised to deal with the matter, little business would, he thought, be done. No scheme for the future would be found id the speech. • He would tell the Government it was useless to build a network of railways and neglect roads, which were badly wanted to feed tbe existing lines. He said the speech was the worst he had ever read for faulty expressions.

Mr. Stout thought it unwise to abolish the address. They might as well abolish the Governor's speech. Tbe address was nsed to shadow forth the measures to be placed before Farliament. He said be conld not deal with the representation until the returns giving the population of the colony were known, und how it had changed. When the returns were complete, the Government would not shirk a readjustment', if found' necessary. The policy of the' Government waa ready, and Ministers had agreed upon it. Measures and 'statements would be down much earlier than usual.' >

Mr. Wakefield said there was a misunderstanding about the address.; It was merely suggested that by tacitly accepting it the Opposition should not' be understood to accept the opinions expressed in it. He thought representation should bave been mentioned in the speech, but the Premier's speech was satisfactory. If tbe Government put down its foot, and refused, to allow the House deal with more legislation than could be got through, they would would be taking a very wise step, and would meet with co-operation iv quarters whence they had never received it before.

Mr. J. W. Thomson thought the political agitation during the recess showed that the colony was averse to big borrowing schemes, and inclined. to prudence. He hoped a new Land Act would be introduced.

Mr. Turnbull attributed the depression to not producing enough. The Govern* ment had not overborrowed, but certainly private individuals had. Vast, same of money had been drawn out of the* colony, and he bad hoped the Government would have brought down a bold borrowing policy, as he was convinced it' would do much to relieve stagnation. Mr. Moss criticised the action of the Native Minister regarding native landg, which was viewed with the keenest dissatisfaction in the North. He took exception to the purchase of the battery site at Auckland, and the statement that the finances of the colony were sound. He agreed with Mr. Sevan that the depression was due to over production. New Zealand's over producing was debentures. Mr. Beetham said the address omitted the two great industries of agriculture and r commerce, and hoped that mention would be made in the mover's reply. Mr. J. O. Buckland criticised the lavish expenditure, and contended that it was their duty to cut down' luxuries Buch as the outlay. on the Hioemba,etc./ - Mr. Ballance said the House bad aa opportunity of reduoinffthe «stimatei when: they came down. "He denied that he had given the Maoris undue. value for their lands. The battery site'at l Taka^ puna bad been purchased at property;

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