The Tariff Debate. ATKINSON'S RESOLUTIONS CARRIED. OPPOSITION FIASCO. (BY TELEGRAPH-OWN REPORTER.)

Te Aroha News, Volume V, 3 December 1887, Page 8

The Tariff Debate. ATKINSON'S RESOLUTIONS CARRIED. OPPO SITION FIASCO. (BY TE LEGRAPH-OWN REPORT ER. )

Wellingtons November 29. Tni:ur. was a large attendance in the House yesteulay afternoon, when Major Atkinson moved his resolutions, which -were as follows : " (1) That in the opinion of this. House the imperative demand by the colony that public expenditure should be brough fc within the revenue, and the necessity in order to prevent tedious embarrassment that that object should be ettceteel vi ithout delay, render* it the first duty of the Government to press on the necessary financial measures. (2) That the time to be devoted to these measures rendeis it impracticable to gi\c bufiiciont consideration in the present session to such thorough revision of the Customs Tariff as is required, and thcicfore &nch revision should not be now attempted, but should be undertaken during the recess and submitted to L'arliament at the beginning of next session." Major Atkinson said that it appeared from what he had heard last week that there was a difference of opiniou in the House as to what they should do. Homo members thought that it was de-ir-able to revise the tariff tliis session, but Goeminent had come to the decision that it was impossible to do so. Sir George Ciey had objected to the tai iff being devised for them by someone else. Personally he would ha\e desired the revision of tariff this se-tion. He had thought about it before he took otlicc, and also since,, and had come to the conclusion that no man was capable of satisfactorily revising the tariff in the time available for the purpose. If they adjourned the House for a couple of months with that object, it would be impossible to give consideration totbeieorganisation of the Civil Service in the manner necessaiy to place the finances of the colony in a proper position, Both things, could not be done. Eveiy day they rendered it more and more impossible to carry out retionchmonfc for the period indicated. He had hoped when he promised that retrenchment that the Houso would lune been up by the beginning of December. The retienchment machine was difficult to set in motion, and could not be put in motion till they "-aw who was to be run. In reply to Sir George Grey, Major Atkinson said the resolutions did not necessaiily close members' mouths for the future, but they could if they pleased bring up the question later on, but Go eminent would treat any proposal to revise the tai iff as a party question. Sir Julius Vogel then spoke, but I need not send you his speech, as 1 wired a reaumi' yesteiday, He further said that it was a pieco of the grossest presumption (giving the Speaker at the same time a sly dig by asking if that were unparliamentaiy) for the Minister of Education to tell him that he was wabting the time of the House, and assuicd lion, members that he had only spoken three times this session on questions of policy. In dealing with the conduct of bu^ine.^s, he said that a moro misei ably-managed session he had never witnessed, and he gave the Premier the choice of saying whether this was duo to a concealed intention or paitial imbecility on his part. The piactice of a Government mo\ ing a vote ot confidence in themselves was an innovation fiom the French system, and was unknown in English Legislatures, &a^e where the House of Lords passed a vote of want of confidence against tho Government. The Opposition had come to the conclusion that it the Government were given lope enough, the usual result of a familiar character would follow. By the Opposition walking out the four Auckland members who had been returned as protectionists and declined to vote against the Government, would not have to re concile their vote with their consciences. A fiasco followed. Ifc was expected that the Opposition would walk out in a body, but Sir Julius Vogcl was only followed by some half-dozen members who marched out in single file. Mr Feldwick said that before the question was put he intended to demand a division. He had pledged himself to his constituents that if no one else did so he would move for the revision of the tariff this session. He was acting purely as an independent member, nob being a supporter of either Atkinson or Vogel. He disagreed with the statement that tho tariff could not be revised this session, and expressed his opinion that it could bo revised in seven or eiglit hours. Mr O'Conor said he would neither walk out of tho House nor oppose the resolution Nothing more could be done this session than adjust the finances as the Government proposed, and pass financial bills and meet again early next year. Mr Ward said that if tho two resolutions proposed by tho Premier were put together it would place him in an awkward predicament, as while, desirous of supporting tho first resolution, he should vote against the second, Ho hoped that as soon as this matter was settled the House would proceed to business, for ho was deeply sensible of the fact 'that a great deal of time had already been wasted. Mr Samuel said thai as Government had been placed 'on the Treasury Benches with the object of effecting retrenchment and economy, their hands should not bo fettered this session.

Mr FifodMwlrerfc said that lie had! promised to encoiwag© local industries &u.ftfeiently to enable goocte manufactured in tW colony to be sold 1 a& s» fair profit. Every Minister must have f uHy considered the 1 tariff question, and that, being so, he was annoyed to think that theyr had not tackled the question o f tariff revision^ this Bession, Mr Kerr censured Ministers for wot touching this important question, and- said that fear of losing 1 their seats had alone prevented them from submitting tariff proposals. The Premier-, in reply, said that Sir J. Vogel that afternoon hud given evidence of his courage and of his courtesy, bub his action was what might reasonably have been expected* from hid proceedings this session. Government had treated thehon. gentleman with exceptional consideration, but he feared to face the storm which he had raised. He had challenged the Government on this question, but ho was really shamming. The hon. gentleman had made mistake after mistake, disturbing the equanimity ot his followers, and his crowning mistake was in throwing out a challenge asserting that a majority of the House wanted the tariff revised this so*>sion. In addition to this want of courage Sir Julius Vogel a\ ould have to explain his want of patriotism. He claimed, to haxo a scheme that would biing the colony on I of its difficulties, which would cause a cessation of borrowing, make our railways prosperous, and enable our railway system to go on steadily, and why had he not brought it down ? Because he hod not got such, a scheme. (Ministerial cheers. ) If he wero patriotic then it was the hon. gentleman's duty to the House and to the Country to produce his scheme. To say he (Major Atkinson) had raised such a spirit of hostility against the hon. gentleman that the House would e'eride his scheme if it were j brought forward, was paying a poor compliment to hon. membeis and to hi& own position. He (the Premier) declared "hat never were our finances in a move disgraceiul state than when Sir Julius Vogel loft office. He charged Sir Julius with having that afternoon made a lengthy speech, and with then sneaking out of the House, being ashamed of the faces of his supporters. Only eight members had walked out, and a good &pi inkling of the Opposition party remained. What did that show "' [Here Mr Kerr interjected "Not shame, ' which drew from Major Atkinson the icmark that theie were some gentlemen who knew not shame.] He reminded the House that Vogel had twice failed in his task of tariff-framing, and promised that next session Government would bring down a tariff which they would or fall by. He hoped that the taxpayers would object to paying increased revenue till every means of reducing the public expenditure had been exhausted, and snid that that was the stand taken by the Opposition la^t year. The speech was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment, and resumedat7.3o, when Miijor Atkinson charged the hon. gentleman with intriguing, privately and publicly, ior a coalition botween the Government supporters and his o\\ n part}'. When he heard the hon. gentleman's proposal lrv^t session he felt that a coalition would be treacherous to the country. His policy was loose and extravagant during his term ofoflice, and after him might come the flood. The country hnd decided against Sir J ulins Vogel, and thus representatives had excluded him from oflice and meant to keep him out. Ho (the speaker) had been placed in his present oflice by the wishes of members, and even the member for Auckland Central, who had now gone in opposition bo the Government, assisted to place him thote. The Premier proceeded to refer to the question of reorganisation of the Civil Service, and said details of _ the proposed reductions would have been given if ib were not for the tactics pursued by Sir Julius Vogel. The hon. gentleman appeared to have mistaken the forbearance of courage in running away because he wa& afraid°to hear what his opponent had \o say about him. He hoped that after_ this division the House would address itadf energetically to the- work boforo it. A diusion was called for on the question., and resulted a& follows :—: — Ai'i:s, 44. Allen McGregor Anderson Mills Atkinson Moat Barron Monk Beethani Newman Bruce O'Conor Buchanan Peacock Carroll Pearson Cowan Rhodes Fergus Kichaidson (Mataura) Fisher Ross Goldie Samuel Graham Seymour Hamlin Stuart-Meulenth Hiblop Taipua Hobbs Taiwhancp. Hodokinson Tanner Izard Thompson (Mawlcn) Jackson Thompson (Auck. N.) Lawry Valentine McKcnzio (Ml. Ida) Whyte Marchant Withy

Nofs, 4. Duncan Fit/herberi, Feldwick Stew art

Pair 1 -;. For. Against. Macarthur Smith Ormoud O'Callaghan Mackenzie Uallance Russell Lanco i Hall Hutch i.son Pyko Cadman

wjv £g' thatf amount;, Mi- Downie Stewart ino?ed'an amendment, "That the only remedy of the Company in respect of suck difference {if any) shall be a right o» the part »f the Company to select fron> fcl*e authorised area," He explained that fche object of the amendment was to provide against any money guarantee being given by the colony. Major Atkinson opposed th© amendment, and said that he had been asked by several members to state th« opinioi> of the At-torney-General on clause 3. That opinion was that the Attornoy-Oeneral considered clause 3 was. suflicient fco prevent the Company from making any money claim, on the? colony. Mr Downie Stewarts amendment was then put, and lost by 39 to 34. Th& following, is the division list :. — Noes, 39 : — Atkinson jßiilla«co, Beetham, Blake, Buxton,. Dodson r Grauam, Orimmond, Guinnesjs, Hall, Hislop, Hobbs, Jack son, Jones, Joyce, Kerr, Lance, Leveatam> Loughiey, McOri'egor, Mitchelaon, O'Callaghan, O'Conor, Parata, Pearson, PercivaL lleevcs (Inungahua), Kichardson (Kaiapoi), Samuel, fcioddon, Seymour, Steward (Waimate), Taiwhango, Tanner, Taylor, Turnbull, Valentiao, Vogel, Walker. Ayes, 34 :— Allen, Barron, Bruoe, Co-wan, Duncan, Feldwick, Fisher, Fulbon r FitelieLfc, Ooldie, Ovey, Harolin, Hodgldnson, I/said, Kelly, Lawry, McArthur, McKei»zi& (Mount Ida), McKonzio (Clutha), Mills, Moat, Monk, Mosp, Peacock, Russell, Stowail (DunedinThompson (Mursden), Thompson (Auckland North), Ward, Whyte, Wikon, Withy. The report of the Committee was- then agreed to, and a message was ordered to be .sent to the Legislative Council lequesting; them to concur in it. The House ro&e at quarter to on© a.m.