IN THE HOUSE

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 9762, 27 June 1892, Page 5

IN THE HOUSE

THE ADDEESS-IN-EEPLT. |_EEOM ODE SPECIAL COEBESPONDENT.J WELLINGTON, June 25. Mr M'Lean, in moving the Address-in-Eeply, delivered a homily not unworthy a bishop. He implored Mr Carroll to arrest the physical and moral degradation o! the Maoris. In solemn tones, he referred to the great mortality amongst the legislators, to the uncertainty o£ life, and to the duty of making the most of one’s opportunities. In his peroration he said all the members could join in the closing prayer of the Governor’s address for the blessing of the Almighty, “ but,” he asked, “ what is meant by God’s blessing ? It is contained in the various elements, of which the land is one, and all who have no share in land cannot enjoy God's blessing.” The same was true of water, air, and lire; all must have their share. A slight titter indicated that some members anticipated that more fire than was agreeable might fall to their lot. Mr M'Lean hazarded the bold statement that he did not care two straws whether the Land and Income Tax Bill passed or not, so long as the correct principles embodied in it were grafted on to the laws of the Colony. His idea of correct principles was that all lands should be taxed without exemption, and there should be no tax on improvements. Mr Sandford, who seconded the Address in Eeply, wore a frock coat, and made no apology for the absence of a swallow-tail. In the course of his address he made a capital suggestion as to Customs legislation. He said that, if the members were unable to deal with the tariff question this session, he hoped they would at least call for the appointment of a Select Committee to enquire into the whole subject with a view to legislating next year. Eeferring to the settlement of the laud he urged the necessity of opening up moro areas in the South Island. A laugh followed his assertion that, if this were not done, the southern settlers would have to go to the North Island or, worse still, to Australia. On the subject of the Legislative Council, he expressed a strong opinion that we were within measurable distance of an elected Upper House. The country, he said, was crying out for the reorganisation of the Upper Chamber, and the Government that faces this question will have the country at its back. This evoked signs of approval from the Government side, and ofdissent from the Opposition. Mr Sandford was very emphatic on the Land and Income tax. In strong contradistinction to Mr MtLean, he declared forcibly that he would not approve of one iota of alteration in the measure. Eegarding the railways, ha would not make sensational charges of gross mismanagement, as made in other Colonies, but would say he was in possession of facta and figures proving that those who had lately bad the control of the Government railways have failed to realise what the main objects in the construction of these railways were, viz., the encouragement of industry and the settlement of the country. This point told admirably, and it may bo accepted as a foregone conclusion that the Railway Commissioners are doomed. Another point that was made was the declaration that there must be no more borrowing in the English market. A member interpolated, “ nor any other,” and this elicited a “ hear, hear.” Mr Eolleston promptly rose, and, after congratulating the new members, proceeded to criticise the Governor’s address. He started off with the extraordinary statement that the first sentence of the Address was the only one that emanated from the Crown without discussion from the Ministers. He also made the mistake of saying that no previous Governor’s speech had contained a special clause addressed to the Legislative Council. His hits consisted of accusing Ministers of occupying an unconstitutional position on the benches, and twitting them with not daring to come into

collision with the Council, when their policy measures were rejected. He regretted that in the Address no reference was made to General Booth's scheme, and his condemnation of that scheme elicited hearty marks of approval all round. Ho spoke till the adjournment, which was moved by the Hon. W. P. Peeves. la expectation of a slashing speech the galleries were crowded when the House reassembled last night, and the spectators were not disappointed. The Hon W. P. Reeves was in his best form, and for nearly an hour spoke in a telling, incisive manner. He took up Mr Eolleston’s speech, point by point, gave effective answers to some and with others turned the laugh against the leader of the Opposition. Ha produced an excellent effect, when referring to the attitude of the country towards the Government, by exhibiting maps coloured, so as to show territorially what proportions of the Colony supported the M nistry and the Opposition. The Ministerial districts were coloured red, and the Opposition green. About two-thirds of the South Island wera Government supporters and, in the North Island the proportions were nearly equal; but the advantage was on the Ministers’ side. Mr Reeves was answered by Mr Scobie Mackenzie in a solid argumentative, but not brilliant, address. He brought a bitter, rasping speech to a climax with an attack on the Premier for having vindicated the memory of Sir Frederick Whitaker from Mr Hutchison’s charges, “ like a man who would use the assassin’s knife. Sir, and then put on mourning weeds and go to the funeral.” After that, Mr Buckland faced the House, with a sheaf of notes. He had out up the Speech and mounted the pieces on sheets of paper. With these he fought his way with great labour through the Speech and things in general till half-past ten. The rumour now grew that the debate was to last all night, and during Mr Buckland’s speech the House grew empty, and the galleries nearly deserted. The final scene for the night came unexpectedly. When Mr Buckland had finished, Mr Eolleston wanted to adjourn the debate. The Premier had no wish to stop the debate, but urged that the Financial Statement was the best and the customary occasion for debating everything, and that the Statement was ready for Tuesday. Mr Eolleston promised nothing, the Premier accepting with very fair expressions of readiness to do what the House liked. The debate was adjourned, and the House rose after a dreary and useless sort of day.