THE PARLIAMENT OF NEW SOUTH WALES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9773, 21 March 1895, Page 5

THE PARLIAMENT OF NEW SOUTH WALES.

POLICY OF THE MINISTRY.

OPINIONS OP THE PRESS. Press Association.—Electric Telegraph.—Copyright,

Sydnky, March 20. In the Assembly the Premier made a Ministerial statement. He said ib was intended to invite the Council to hold a conference on the Land and Coal Mines Bills. Ib was proposed at once to proceed with the Local Government Bill, and push forward a number of public works, including several light railways, with a view to provide work for the unemployed. The House would be asked to pass a Loan Bill before Christmas. Recent developments had convinced him of the ' necessity of legislation to deal with trado dispute?, and on Thursday ho would introduoe a Trade Conciliation Bill. Thursday would be devoted to the Federal Enabling Bill. The Government were determined to carry out their policy of unmistakeable free trade, coupled with direct taxation and rigid economy. The Financial Statement would be delivered in the first week in May, and local government, direct taxation, and the financial proposals of the Government, would come into operation on July Ist.

Sir George Dibbs stated that he intended to take a test vote on the direct; taxation proposals when the Bills were read a third time. He considered the local government question should have precedence of spurious federation.

Sir Henry Parkes, in a letter to the Press, condemns the present Government as the foes of federation. He combats the impression that'he is conspiring with Sir Geo. D'bbs, but he admits he is negotiating with the protectionists. Sir Henry Parkes make no secret of his desire in the lasting interest of good government to get rid of the present incompetent Ministry, and invites men on all sides of the House to join in rendering this service to the colony and Australia.

Sir Geo. Dibbs states that he was approached by a friend of Sir Henry Parkes, and asked to join the latter in moving a direct motion of censure on the Government, but he declined to fall in with the suggestion or entertain any idea of coalition. He never made any overture to Sir Henry Parkea, or had any direct dealings with him.

The Herald says the Premier's abatement bears strongly impressed upon it a recognition of the price he is expected to pey for support from the labour section, and his readiness to pay it. A crowd of proposals for the expenditure of borrowed money forms the most prominent feature of the programme. Remembering how short a time it is since the London market peremptorily refused to listen to further lending, this is an instance of how transient are the teachings of a most painful experience. The Herald commends the proposed conference with the Council and trades legislation, but considers Mr. Reid is too sanguine in regard to getting tariff reform through so easily. lb sarcastically refers to the position allotted to federation, which amounts to a declaration thai) the great question is to be treated with reverence, but not allowed bo impede the real business of the country. What has happened twice before will happen again. The Premier has at last given the Opposition a longdesired opportunity, and their policy will henceforward be one of strenuous opposition.

The Daily Telegraph generally commends the programme. In regard to federation, ib says Mr. Reid's clear statement has removed fears that were beginning to be felt in some quarters that he was cooling towards the question, and going to allow it to drift, as was done before. The statement came not a moment too soon. It considers borrowing warranted for the employment of surplus labour, if a commensurate return can be obtained from reproductive public works, and suggests that an intelligent application of the betterment system would go far towards solving the problem as bo where the money needed is to come from.

In the Legislative Assembly this afternoon, Sir Henry Parkes wenb on the warpath, by moving the adjournment, in order to call attention to an abuse by the Premier of parliamentary usage, in delivering a strongly argumentative speech under guise of making a Ministerial statement. The practice of' the House rendered a reply or discussion impossible. He also wished to draw attention to the state of confusion that prevailed throughout the country.

Mr. Reid here raised a point of order, and the Speaker ruled that the reference to the state of the country was out of order. All Sir Henry Parkes could do was to discuss Mr. Reid's speech.

Sir Henry Parkes went on to say that the action of the Premier showed a total disregard of the practices of Parliament. It was clearly unjust that the. Premier should discuss all the questions raised in hiu Statement. If the Premier was an archangel, instead of the opposite, he could not pass all the measures mentioned within the next three months. It was a piece of audacious insolence on the par of a smallminded man to say he would do in three months what he could not do in a century.

The Premier, Mr. Reid, in reply, said Sir Henry Parkes should be on the Opposition Benches. He did not want a man on his side of the House who was like a traitor and tried to undermine the Freetrade party. '»

The motion for ;the ; adjournment of the House was negatived.

The question of the reduction of the salary of the future Governor was raised. The Premier informed the House ho was making certain inquiries on the subject.

The Colonial Secretary, in reply to . a question, said the recent shearing difficulty

had cost the colony £12,900.