House of Representatives.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1052, 25 June 1880, Page 2

House of Representatives.

The House met at 2.30. Leave of absence for seven dayß was granted to Mr. Hamlin. Dr. Wallis asked, at what time copies of the Civil Service Commissioners' Report was supplied to the New Zealand Times, Auchlcmd Herald, Christchwda. Press, and the Otago Daily Times.

The Hon. J. Hall replied that the Report became public property as soon as it was forwarded to the Governor. It came from the Governor to him (Mr. Hall) about 7 o'clock on Friday evening, and was applied for by certain newspaper representatives. It was simply a case of vigilance on their part. Had other Press representatives applied for copies they would have been supplied. Mr. Jones asked whether the person who stole the report, as stated by Mr. Rolleston, would be prosecuted. The Hon. Mr. Hall replied that the copy referred to was not any one of those he supplied, and was by some means obtained some days before. If the Government could discover the person, he certainly would be punished most severely. The No Confidence debate was resumed by Mr. Hutchinson. He condemned tbe Property Tax as inquisitorial, and calculated to deter capital from coming to the Colony. The debate was interrupted by the adjournment at 5.30. The House resumed at 7.30. Mr. Macandrew resumed the No Confidence debate. He said he would support Sir George Grey's amendment, but denied that it was made with the intention of driving the Government from their benches and that it was a false issue raised by the Premier. He then, in a lengthy speech, criticised the Government proposals, and indicated the sort of financial statement he would have proposed had he been in the Treasurer's place. Mr. Oliver congratulated Mr. Macandrew on his skill in manufacturing financial statements, remarking that had he exercised his ability in that way when he was in office, it might have been better for the country, and undoubtedly would have been to the advantage of the Ministry of which he was then a prominent member. Mr. Ormond spoke against the Property Tax, as calculated to drive capital out of the Colony and consequently make work scarce. He preferred an Income Tax, and believed the country preferred it too. With respect to the Civil Service, he suggested the House should take off a lump sum, say £200,000, and the Government should make reductions accordingly. With regard to subsidies to local bodies, he thought it a pity if the withdrawal prevented those bodies carrying on, but was one of those things that must be done, or else face a crushing increase of taxation. He was afraid that in abolishing the j provinces they had not considered the geographical difficulty in governing from one centre and though he voted for it, he believed they would have to return to a modified form of provincialism. He thought in the present emergency, they should turn their landed estate into account. In any case, he could not vote for Sir George Grey's amendment. Mr. Shepherd followed, intimating that he would vote for Sir George Grey's amendment. Mr. • Sutton disagreed with the Government proposals but could not vote for Sir George Grey's amendment. The House adjourned at 12.30.

The Government reoeived a report of Sir John Coode on the Napier harbor works. It approves of the present works and recommends their extension at a cost estimated at £90,000. He adds that should a harbor of refuge be required the best site would be Cape Kidnappers, or on the southern shore of Poverty Bay to westward of Young Nick's Head. Mr. Bryce telegraphs that he had an interview with Ruakere, one of Te Whiti's principal chiefs who states that the Natives who erected fences were not acting under instructions from Te Whiti.