PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE. OPPOSITION EXHAUSTED THEMSELVES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 2336, 28 August 1875, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE. OPPOSITION EXHAUSTED THEMSELVES.

GOVEIINMKNT LIKELY HAVE TO FOKCE DIVISION. . WuDNKiSDAy, -August 25. — Tho speaking power of forty members has been exhuubtcd, und tlio Opposition aro hard set to prolong the debate. A disorganised move was mode to extend it by uu amendment made by Mr, Digtuui that the .Bill bo read that day eye mouths, aud only himself und b'hechan bpoke to the amendment. It was put liust uiglit and lost.' Hi o debate will be resumed on Thursday, nud it is anticipated that "Friday will sco the diyisiou, if any is come to. It Is doubtful if tho Opposition will ask for a division on the second reading, but it is probablo that ono will be iorced. The/ Government havo the best anil most logical speeches ou their side ; which is a mult that was not anticipated ut the beginning. Tho . House has risen equal to the. occasion, awl 1 the debate as a wholo is equal to «ny which' ever took place in the Assembly. There has beeu v worked freedom us v rule from personal imputations. They were eouliucu to one or two loose speakers, aud they fell dead on the House.

Fkidav, August 27.— The debate is proceeding with great rapidity, and forty-three 'members had givcu their opinions up to l:i*t night. Tho debate will bo continued to-day ; ;but it is not expected thatilrwill be completed until next week.' Mr. Swauson spoke hut night, and made a good speech from v provincial point of view. Mr. Swuusou aud Mr. BruudOii appear to bo the only persons iv the House who believe iv the provincial form of government as it now is. Mr. Oimoud spoke. -well iv favour of tho bill, uud showed that ther'o was no coherence iv the Opposition; that they could uot agree ou any leading 'question. lie recommended the Government, before the session closed, to consider the subject of the incidence of taxation, uud to tell the House that, now property had benelitted by tile construction of public workts it wnp able to bear a larger sliaru of tho burdens of the country. He contrasted Sic deorge Grey's despotic rule in tho early days with his professions of to-day in the causa of liberty; Ho suggested that it was possible he hud an ase to grind on his own account, uud that he merely used his position in the House to strike A blow against the Imperial Government. He Btated that it 'would be v misfortune if that geutlemau attained to power, us there would inevitably bo a want of that cordial relation between, him, as Premier of the Colpuy, aud tho Homo Government, which would be detrimental to 1 the"l)etsf ; interests of the Colouy. Ho showed 'th'e incVnsisteucy'ot Mr. Fitzhc'rber't in now denouncing as vicious the grant the -Hood-Boards out of-tbe consolidated tfeveuue.; (wliijat.iulßi)7( wliijat.iulBi)7 tba£ gentlcmau, as a mchibeV of fne Goverument'of tlie day, pro- / posed to double the amount but of the cou-. eolidated revenue for the eatne purpose. The speech . was very, well .received, ,nnd, was v complete-refutation of many of tlie 'specious • arguments of the Oppqsiiion against the bill. Amongst the notices of motion wus one by Sir Donald McLeau to introduce a Bill for placing' the control of contibcated lands under ordinary waste laud laws.