PARLIAMENT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume X, Issue 1937, 23 May 1888, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday, May 22.

In the House this afternoon, Mr. Lance asked the Premier whether it was true that the Attorney-General bad stated in the Council that ' unless the Loan Bill were passed the colony would be brought to the brink of bankruptcy, and lead to disastrous financial confusion.

The Premier said Sir F. Whitaker had not used those words. All that he had Baid was that it would lead the Government into bankruptcy.

Several members contradicted the Premier's statement, and said they had heard Sir P. Whitaker use those words.

Sir H. Atkinson said if there had been any financial crisis he would have called the House together months ago. There was no pressing necessity for raising the loan immediately, bnt the Government were advised by their agents at Home that the present was a favorable time for floating the loan, and wished to take advantage of it.

RAILWAY PURCHASING.

The Hon. Mr. Hislop moved the second reading of the District Railways Purchasing Act, which was a legacy from the previous session. It' had been found impossible to collect rates under the Act of 1885, the machinery of which was difficult to work and clumsy. The arrears amounted tp £'15,000, the annual amount having reached nearly .£7OOO, and this, although the rate of interest had been reduced to four per cent., was calculated on a much less sum than these district railways originally cose. The present bill was intended to sweep away the difficulties now existing.

Mr. Cowan hoped the House would pause before assenting to 6uch sweeping changes as this Bill proposed. Too much power was given to the Property Tax Commissioner, and he objected to the retrospective character of the measure. He asked for a delay, so that the ratepayers may have time to become acquainted with the nature of the Bill.

Mr. Walker agreed with the last request, and, though supporting the Bill generally, pointed out one or two objections to it.

Mr. Duncan said that he must oppose the Bill unless some provisions were made for relieving ratepayers, who suffered unjustly from the working of the original Act.

On the motion of Mr. Mills, the debats was adjourned till Friday next, Mr. Hislop consenting.