GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1514, 3 June 1886, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

In the Legislative Council on Tuesday, Replying to questions, it was stated that Government regretted the attempt to introduce herring spawn had proved a failure ; that Government did not intend to introduce a Threats of Molestation Bill this session, but had no objection to members doing so ; that Government had given permission to a few Civil Servants to occupy paid positions in certain public companies. A proposal that a Committee be appointed to see what reductions could be made in the expenditure of the Council was negatived.

The Defence Bill was further considered, and reported with amendments. The Council adjourned till next day. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 3 30 p.m. on Tuesday. Replying to questions it was stated that the appointment of a Selept Cojnmittee to enquire into investments made by the Government Insurance Association would not be opposed by Government, and that the investments referred to were discussed at a meeting of policy-holders, and no purchases were made since that meeting ; that the steamer Tuiha had been engaged by the Land Purchase officers at Wanganui for days at £lO per day, and the expense was defrayed by the Land Purchase Department. Several new Bills were introduced. The Native Reserves Title Grants Empowering Bill was read a third time and passed, The Mining Company's Bill was read a second time. Mr Tole moved the second reading of the Supreme Jourt Reporting Bill, and explained that, with a few alterations, it was similar to the Bill brought down last year.— Mr Rojlestoq said Mr Tole should have shown some reason for bringing down this Bill in the face of the very unfavourable reports of the judges on it. Besides the present condition of the colony did not warrant expenditure of

this kind. He should not oppose the second reading, but hoped the Bill would not become law this session.

Other members having spoken for and tgainsl the Bill, it passed its second reading.

The House went into Committee on the Charitable Trusts Extension Bill, which passed without amendment, was read a third time, and passed. The Municipal Oorpsrfllions Bill waa further considered in Committee. The House rose at 6.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m.

Progress was reportsd on the Municipal Corporations Bill, and the House went into Committee of Supply. Major Atkinson proposed to examine the details and policy of the Financial Statement. They were apparently moderate, but the Treasurer really deserted the lines of the Premier’s Invercargill speech and followed those of his own, laid down at Auckland. The results of the year generally were satisfactory, but if the accounts had been properly stated there would have been no surplus. £12,003 had been kept back from local bodies, and £25,000 had been transferred from loan to defence. This, with overestimated expenditure, accounted for the apparent surplus. Then there was £25,000 from the Sinking Fund cre.lited to revenue which had no right to be so used, so that really there was a deficit of about £IB,OOO, instead of a surplus. When the previous Government left office the Land Fund was £BO,OOO in credit, but it had all disappeared and now was in debt £20,000. If the Property Tax had not been lowered the deficit of the previous Government, which the Treasurer proposed to fund for five years, could have been paid off. The Government made a great show of reduction of the Estimates, but he quoted from figures at length to show they were only reductions in name. They had no right to reduce (he Property Tax while charges were still being taken out of revenue and thrown on loan, as charitable aid, for instance, indirectly was. He contended they had done a very foolish thing in consenting to the conversion of loan operations, for they amounted to paying per cent, after six years, while it was certain money could then be got cheaper than that. He approved of the proposals of Government re borrowing by local bodies, but objected to the continuance of subsidies out of loan. The expenditure on public works exceeded the votes by £120,000 and no explanation was given in the Statement. The Treasurer appeared to have forgotten liabilities outstanding, for while he stated there were £BOO,OOO to be yeted as the House pleased there were really £1,190,000 charges already incured, so that including the proposed loan, they would in fact want £2,700,000 to carry out the proposals of the Statement. He went through the schedule of liabilities in support of this' argument. The whole Statement from beginning to end showed that Government had not grasped the financial position of the country at all. He defied them to give effect to the proposals of the Statement under £4,000,000, and if they included the North Island Trunk Loan, it would be £5,000,000. Thus the Statement was, as be said at the beginning, only apparently moderate. Unless they wanted heavily increased taxation they would have to face retrenchment and make very large reductions, and that this very session. They must set their face against any new works whatever until they saw what money was wanted for those now in hand. He believed the House had made up its mind, but if it had not then the burdens would be heavily increased and population frightened away. Sir Julius Vogel ridiculed the idea that there waa disunion between himself and the Premier. What he said to Mr Buckley really was that they should map out their scheme of railways and adhere strictly to it, but not necessarily that they should go iu for the whole lot at once. No subsidies had beau withheld from local bodies, but some hud not had time to take advantage of the Act. There was no secrecy about the £25,000 of Sinking Fund. It had been duly notified in the Gazette according to law. He defended the conversion operations, and quoted from Major Atkinson’s former speeches to show that the latter had formerly been in favor of a similar course. As to retrenchment, it was a new cry to hear from the leader of the Opposition. He certainly had left in the pigeon-holes a scheme faintly shadowing an attempt of the kind, but it really involved an increase of expenditure gradually amounting to £200,000 a year. He maintained the Civil Service was not over paid. The liabilities on pablic works would devolve on the new loan, according to the regular custom by which the liabilities of one year became new votes of the next. The balance of £BOO,OOO was thus quite free for the wants of the next two years. He congratulated Major Atkinson after his defence of the Roads and Bridges Act, upon his candid admission that the Government proposals were better. His idea that four millions would be wanted to carry out the Government proposals was altogether wrong. By economical administration, £BO,OOO or £40,000 would be saved during the year, and he defied anyone to say that Government had not been careful to save in every possible way they could. He concluded by thanking Major Atkinson for the good temper lie had displayed in criticising the budget, Mr J. W. Thoiqson contended that the Government wanted to borrow too much. A million a year was quite enough. It' n surplus could be shown at all, it ought to have been much larger than £31,000. No member of the Government except the Minister of Public tYorks had shown any desire to retrench during the recess. The debate was adjourned till 7.30 next day, and the House went into Committee on the Municipal Corporations j Bill, thirty clauses of which were passed with slight amendment. The House rose at 1 a.m.