PARLIAMENTARY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6265, 11 July 1890, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(Br Telegraph.) WELLINGTON, July 10. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Legislative Council met at 2 30 p.m. children’s protection bill. The report of the Select Commit! :o on the Childrens Protection Eil', that the Bi'l bo a'lowed to proceed, was adopted. CALL OP THE COUNO L. In the call of the Council 31 were present out of 39. THIRD READINGS The Arbitration Bill and Corrupt Practices Bill were read a third time. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BILL. Sir George Whitmore moved the second reading of the Legislative Council Bill, which provides that members shall retain their seats for only ten years, and shall elect their own Speaker. Sir Frederick Whitaker supported the Bill. Mr Pharazyn opposed the motion. Dr Pollen moved that the debate be adjourned till Wednesday next. The Council adjourned at 5 30 p m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2 30 p.m. CHARGES AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT. Mr Mitchelson desired to move without notice for the appointment of a Select Committee to enquire into the charges made by the member for Waitotara ag? : nsfc the Government. Leave wae refused. Mr Mitchelson gave notice to move the molion next day. Mr Ballance said that the reason why objection was made to tho molion being moved without notice was that some difference of opinion existed as to the constitution of (ho Committee. THE FINANCIAL DEBATE. Mr Brace resumed the debate on the Financial Statement. Although he was a Government supporter, ho would not attempt any particular defence of the policy of the Gocernment. He questiooed very much, however, whether the attack of the Opposition on the Government benches was a firm one. Referring to the question of borrowing, he was as strongly opposed to that as any member of the House, but still he was prepared to accept the proposals of the Government, as they must have some money to open up roads. The demand for a dissolution at present was simply a bogus cry raised by the Opposition. There was no burning question before the country, and Parliament itself had not expired.

Mr Buxton thought that the position of the Government was a weak one, and if the House gave them supplies he hoped it would be for a very short term. Mr Duncan spoke at length in condemnation of the land administration of the Government, and expressed the opinion that the present Minister had been brought up in the wrong school to be a successful land Minister. He advised the Government to go to the country at once, as their administration was certainly not what the country could wish. Mr Menteaah supported the Government policy. He referred to the evils of party Government, and the policy of borrowing and claimed that it was the middle party who had restrained borrowing and had held the balance of power for the last three years. . The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 p.m adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. MrMenteath, continuing, said that he believed that; retrenchment could be carried further, but not so far as the country supposed. The real blame of the failure to retrench drastically rested not with the administration but with the House, who so readily continued the subsidy system. Sir John Hall contended that the Opposition showed an utter want of unity in opinion or action, excepting only in their desires to oust the Government. On the subject of federation he considered that sending delegates to the next convention would not commit the colony to anything, while it would advance the cause of commercial reciprocity. Besides the subjects to be discussed would be of great interest to New Zealand such as that of fiscal policy, postal and telegraphic communication, and most of all the naval defences. He quite agreed that both sides of the House should be represented at the Convention. Replying to Mr Hutchison’s speech, he ridiculed the statement that within the next two 1 or three years eight millions would have to be raised to meet loans falling in, &c. He admitted that there was depression in the colony, but he did notithink it was alarming in extent, nor was it likely to be permanent. It was due to the fact that people were not spending so much as they used to, but were reducing their indebtedness to the banks, and also in part to the cessation of loan expenditure. Our exports proved that the producing industries were thriving, and on the whole, he could see no cause for alarm. As to the Government preventing the exodus of popula-1 tion by belter facilities for settlement, he claimed that plenty of such land was now available. He advised the House to carefully consider the question of retrenchment, for it was possible to be penny-wise and poundfoolish, and by saving a large sum of money to cripple our industries. He suggested that a large Committee should be appointed to enquire thoroughly as to where retrenchment could be applied. Ho had heard most of the Financial Statements delivered in the colony, and that now before the House was the clearest, most exhaustive, most able, and moat useful of them all. Bearing in mind the record of the previous Ministry, the Government could anticipate the triumphant endorsement by the electors of the favourable verdict already pronounced by the House. Dr Newman strongly advocated the acquiring and opening up of five blocks of native land in the interior of the North Island. Though Sir Harry Atkinson was sometimes cruel in the amount of taxation he imposed, he bad not only been triumphantly successful in hia finance, but had been able to pay off £128,000 of his predecessors’ deficit, and had restored the credit of the colony.

Sir George Grey alluded to Sir John Hall as the author of the great land acquisition policy, and said that in his youth he had mopped up large , extents of lands by means of regulations which were perfectly dishonest, yet he and his follows did not think of giving up any of their unearned increment to relieve the prevailing depression. Mr O’Connor moved the adjournment of the debate. The House rose, at 11.25 p.ra.