PARLIAMENT.

Southland Times, Issue 2167, 16 August 1875, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

» — J»*f Electric Xcleg-rai»li. -♦ Wellington, Friday. In the House of Representatives on Thursday, Mr Murray moved that, as the change iv the mode of taxation from measurement to ad valorem duties has resulted in a very large increase of revenue, and as the Government, when proposing the change, stated that au increase of revenue was neither intended nor required, therefore, unless through increasing necessities Government require this increased taxation, the House is of opiuion that the duties now levied upon refined sugar and other articles of common necessity, should be reduced. The Commissioner of Customs said that Government was not prepared to alter the tariff, which, so far, had worked well, aud against which there were no complaints of excessive taxation. When the railways aud other works undertaken by the colony were completed, it might be a question whether any reduction could not be made iv the tariff. Mr Macandrew quite concurred with the spirit of the motion. It would be well if the House showed more interest in the question. Sir George Grey thought Government would take a wise and statesmanlike step if it were to reduce expenditure in many respects, aud take off some of the duties levied upon articles of common necessity. The Colonial Treasurer considered it would be a great mistake to reduce taxation until all tbe railways were completed. It would have been fairer to have introduced a motiou referring to Government the question of considering the advisableness of reducing duties on certain specified articles. Mr Reeves opposed the motiou, because all revenue would be required to moot interest on loaus, and expenditure on railways, which he did 110$ belieye woijld pqy.

The Minister of Public Works said that in a few days the Dunedin and Clutha line would be opened. To work it for 21 years, a company had offered to pay 8 per cent, on the total cost of construction. That did not look like not paying. He would be very much astonished if, in two years, the Christchurch and Timaru line did not pay interest on the cost of construction. There might be some small sections of lines in different parts of the country representing half a million on the whole that would do little more than pay working expenses, and there might be three or four lines representing £150,000 tbat would not pay working expenses, but these would not affect the total receipts from railways. The motion was withdrawn. ; ■„■-,, r Mr Eeader Wood having moved for certain returns, a ;■ The Colonial Treasurer took the opportunity of stAting how the colony would stand affected by this arrangement. Under existing .arrangements, the provinces this year received from the consolidated fund about £277,000 ; from their local revenues, £71,000 ; making £348,000. Under the pro. posed arrangements, when the colony had taken over the provincial services, the provinces would receive out of the consolidated revenue £345.000*. as grunts to road districts, £105,000; and for local public works, £60,060, which would give them-— less £71,000 before mentioned — £430,000', or £91,000 more than they had previously received. Mr Eeid asked where the £91,000 was to ccme from. The Colonial Treasurer said it would como out of the consolidated revenue. Mr Wood had understood the Treasurer to say that by the Government proposal, provincial districts would gain £91,000, but that there was to be spent £345,000 tor provincial seryices.ie., departmental expenses, maintenance of clerks and establishments. One reason for abolition was that they would be able to consolidate departments, and to reduce the enormous expenditure, which the Treasurer now stated was to be continued. Thus the change instead of being a boon to the provinces and the colony, wa curse. The Colonial Treasurer-- The hon. gentleman entirely misrepresents the matter. The subject then dropped. The following Bills were read a second time :— The Westland Waste Lands * Palmerston Water Works Bill • Campbelltown Athenaeum ; Auckland Institute • Auckland City Endowments and Eeserves ; Nelson City Loan • Anne Hood Grant Registration; Mining Companies "Validation ; Lands Transfer Amendment, and Chubbin Sale of Land Authorisation. On committal of the Otago Land Bill, Sir F. Bell expressed approval of the proposal to place no limit on the quantity of land to be thrown open on deferred payments, a system which worked well in Otago. He paid a warm tribute of praise to the provincial Government of Otago for the fair way in which it had administered the Act. He urged the House to settle the matter before the question of abolition was referred to the constituencies. Mr Fitzherbert thanked Sir Francis for supporting the Opposition in their appeal that the decisiou of the constitutional question should be relegated to the constituencies. Sir Francis Bell explaiued that he should be sorry if a political interpretation were put upon his words. He assumed that abolition would be determined this session, but could not suppose that a system which had worked for twenty-five years would be swept away by one measure, division, or vote. An enormous amount of work was to be done in constructing a system to take the place of the present, to give greater satisfaction, and to provide satisfactory means by which the expenditure of Government could be reduced and the public interest and management of public affairs secured. If abolition was fco be anything, this was but the beginning, aud the work before the House would tax to the utmost the patriotism as well as the intellect of every member. In committee on the Deceas ed Wife's Sisters Marriage Bill, on the main clause Mr Pearee moved that the chairman do leave the chair, which was negatived by 26 against 6—17 pairs. The foUowing bills were read a third time and passed: — The Wellington Harbor EeSirve Sale; Wellington Market Eeserve Sale ; Marriage with Deceased Wife's Sister ; Inspection oi Machinery, and Ford and Other Pensions. Saturday Tho Abolition debate was continued last night by Mr T. L. Shepherd, who made a clear, sensible speech in support of the Bill, contending that as many of the powers at present held by the Provincial Councils were given by the New Zealand Parliament, and not by tlie Constitution Act, therefore the same Parliament might take away powers. He thought that many of the members would be better employed loading drays, chopping wood, and milking cowa than in legit-latino*. Mr Jackson also supported the Bill. Mr Brandon made a very weak, ultra-provincial speech. He accused Mr Shepherd of attacking the provinces because he had tailed to do anything in the Council. It would be better to let the provinces go on as they had done, and not be constantly nagging at them. Give them the money proposed to be granted to Eo?.d Boards, and the provinces will carry ou public works mord economically and efficiently than the General Government. Mr Brandon's speech much condemned" the feeling being general for Abolition, aud the only

question at issue now being, first aB to time, second as to the form of the new government. Mr Aolleston moved the adjournment of the debate. Ou Tuesday a vigorous debate arose unexpectedly on Sir George Grey's motion for leave to introduce a Bill to enact that all orders in Council relating to confiscated land issued by the Government since twentieth July be null and void. Sir D. Ml can said that the Gorernment regarded the motion as a want of confidence one. Sir George Grey made a long speech, with much claptrap, although eloquent— equal laws for the rich and poor, and so forth. Sir D. McLean challenged him not to wait for a new Parliament, but to bring forward his changes at once. The Government courted the fullest enquiry. Mr Fitzherbert accused the Government of smuggling the administrative estate. Mr Stafford disapproved of orders in Council, dealing with the land fund. but justified an exceptional course, lie regarded the motion as a want, of confidence one, and censured Sir G. Grey for making reckless charges without venturing on a direct no confidence vote, to test the feeling of the House. It was insulting to the House referring to the next Parliament as the only impartial tribunal. He ridiculed Mr Fitzherbert's twice stating that members were afraid to speak till they had Sir George Grey among them. He declared that members were not such cravens and cowards. After a long and acrimonious debate, tbe Government refusing to state the course they would pursue until the motion was disposed of, Sir George Grey declared on his honor that the motion had not been made in a hostile spirit, and left ilic House with all his supporters except Mr Svvanson. A division took place, and 12 voted with the Government, Mr Cuthbertson stating that he bad been accidentally shut out, and would have voted on the same side. This gives at present the respective numbers a.s predicted before — about -45 to Government aud 30 to Opposition. The majority for the second reading of the Abolition Bill is expoeted to be 15.