EVENING SITTING.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 314, 8 June 1888, Page 3

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.30. Mr Fish said he had ouco been a Freetrader, but he had seen tho folly of trying to apply theories of other days and places whore circumstances ordered them totally

inapplicable. lie thought the Tariff to some alteration, and trusted the Premier would see his way to improve it. Ho approved of the financial policy of the Government generally, but considered that local subsidies should be abolished. He characterised the Property Tax as obnoxious and iniquitous, and would like to sec it replaced by a progressive land and income tax. He congratulated Government on tbe stand made against paying interest out of loans. A time had now come when a distinct line should be drawn in tlio House between Freetraders and Frotectionists, and he did not envy some of those who, while differing from Government on the Tariff question, still announced their intention of supporting them. If Freetraders carried out their theories to a logical conclusion, they would shut up every factory in the Colony.

Mr ticobie Mackenzie said they had had duties amounting to 16 per cent for years, and to what a state this measure of prohibition had brought the country. Yet Protectionists wanted them raised. This was all be intended to say on the broad question at issue, but lie objected to Mr Fish’s personal remarks upon himself, and retorted in very significant terms as to his own position. Ho had se:n what was coming', and had paused midway. What was tile difference between bis own attitude and that of the Opposition Protectionists, who had promised to support Government. They both stood on neutral ground. Alibis party asked for was that a Government bringing down a policy of Protection should ba supported by Protectionists, and not by Freetraders. Government ought to be reconstructed by admitting two or threo of tbe pronounced Protectionists into tbeir ranks ; then tbe Freetraders would have a chance to go into 1 ccognised Opposition. Tbe fact was the great prosperity of Victoria was tbe reason of the demand for protection, but no one could say that protection was tbe cause of that prosperity. Although it bad been said that the freetrade cause was hopeless, he thought they would yet be able to make their influence felt on tbe

tariff. Hon G. Fisher sai'd Mr Mackenzie was one of those accurately described as Wohblcis. Mobody bad ever yet been able to find out what bo really was, but now be had at last declared he was going into the Oppjsit'on. He traversed Mr Mentcath’e references to him>e) f , and said he would give the WeJ :l ugton electors a cbauce to judge hot ween them, and if he lived be would pursue Mr Menteath till it was settled. B's beLaa 'on'- was most angenerous, consideuugi.be gatuitous help he (Mr Fisher) bad given him to secure his election. He defended the education system from tbe attacks upon it, and showed that Government bad much reduced the cost ah; idy. It wa3 quite possible to do st"l more, but they considered it wiso to defer further alteration for a while. Speaking of finance generally, he contrasted the promised reductions by the Stout-Vogel Government with tbe actual reductions by (be present Government of L'233,000' If railways liad fallen off so extraordinarily and Merest bad to be provided on the new loan, tbero would bo no deficit th’s y ,r. Gove, ament had done all in their power to meet the exigencies'of tho case, and it was most unreasonable to grumble at them for nol doing more. Mr Walker said ihe Minister for Education had not been so clear as they had a right to expect. He had quoted the opinions of various aulhoriiies about the injurious tendency of early 1 "aiir'og, but had nor, enunciated a -f.hot opinion of his own. Undid not behove \ bcseaulho i <es; at auv late no harm war dono !o infants in Now Zealand schools. PaiFament had determined last session that the school age should not bo ieteifead with, and were not likely to a'cer tec decision. Alluding to M'Kenzie’s speech ho thought on reflection, ho would see his roma drs had gone beyond a ft*’ l : debate, and hoped he would withdraw (hem. lie had also charged tho Opposition wiln iusin cvi.y quite groundlessly. Speak' ig on tbe general question ho held thar protection would bo ft good tiling for ilie agrici '- ttu'e.l community as it would give them market a nearer their doors. His side dos : :ed every assurance in their power J carry tho tariff and budget propose'a generally, hut ho Jetniuded Government that had the Opposition taken a different attitude they ooukl shat lee all these proposals by bringing forward the speeches of the Treasurer and his t olleagues chi’-'ng the last three years. L must he remembered that the late Government bad begun tne wo’-k of ret cnchment before they left office and would have carried it oat quite as thoroughly as tho present Ministry. Ho disapproved of the Treasurer laying hands on the Laud Transfer Assi 'ance Fund. Mr Duncan moved an ad joe iment, and the House rose at m’dnight.