GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NEW ZEALAND.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8832, 16 July 1890, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NEW ZEALAND.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, July 15.— The Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. Several unimportant bills passed through several stages, and the Council at 4.5 p.m. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, July 15.— The Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT DEBATE. Mr MeArthur resumed the debate on the Financial Statement, and Baid he,, did not agree with those who considered the present debate a waste of time, as this was the first Financial Statement that had been discussed for the last three years. Although he disagreed with the Government on some material points, especially tho tariff question, he thought that, on the whole, they deserved well of the country. Mr J. C. Brown held that the administration of land by the present Minister had not been successful. He looked forward to the time when, with a smaller House, they would have much better legislation. Mr Kelly said the Government had not, in any way, carried out the proposals they made in 1887, and the estimates were now rapidly mci easing, the increase this year being enoriroas. Mr Moss had listened to many Financial Statements, but the present one was the clearest and most able he had yet heard in the House. He contended there was not the slightest necessity for a second session. Mr Taiwhanga considered the remedy for the present state of things was to abolish all land laws, and to have a new set of members altogether in the House. Mr Mitchelson, in closing the debate, said he had lately travelled all over the country, and he elicited information on all sides that a dissolution was not required, either now or last year. The Government were just as anxious to go. to the country as the Opposition, and he felt convinced that when the elections were over the parties would be pretty much the same as at present. The Government now possessed the largest majority for years past. They intended to ask for full supplier, with the intention of calling Parliament together again in the first or second week in April next. They were also prepared to go on with the business this session, and if the Opposition met them by obstruction the responsibility would rest with them, and not with the Government. The debate was interrupted by the 5.50 adjournment, and on resuming at 7.30 p.m., air Mitchelson, continuing, said that with regard to the primage duty the Government had received letters from some of the largest importers in the colony to the effect that it was the fairest tax that could be imposed. He might say that when the advance was made to the New Plymouth Harbour Board the Premier was under the impression that the Public Accounts Committee had sanctioned it. It had been stated with respect to the Rotorua purchase that the Government made it in the interest of the Bank of New Z aland. He had been ten years a member of the House, and never during that time had been approached by the Bank of New Zealand one way or the other. The question that the House go into Committee of Supply was carried without division. THE ESTIMATES. On the vote of £1755 for Colonial Secretary's Office being put, Mr Monk moved that the first item be reduced by £1, as an instruction to the Government that the Committee was of opinion that a further reduction of the Estimates of at least £50,000 could be made. Mr Mitchelson said that the Government were determined not to take the amendment as one of "no confidence." They could not agree to the amendment, but if the House saw fit to carry it, the Government would do their best to give effect to the reduction. Mr Ballance said the position taken up by the Government was most unsatisfactory and unconstitutional. He moved that the first item be reduced by £5, as an instruction to the Government to reduce the Estimates by the amount of the primage duty. Mr Mitchelson asked whetherthe amendment meant that the Government should take back the Estimates. Mr Ballance replied in the affirmative. Mr Mitchelson said in that case tho Government would accept Mr Ballance's amendment as one of "No Confidence," as no Government could consent to a proposition of this kind. A lengthy debate followed, during which a large number of members spoke, but the ground covered was very similar to that traversed during the Financial debate. Mr .ballance's amendment was lost by 34 to 23, on division as follows :—: — Against Mr Ballance's amendment (34): Allen, Anderson, Arthur, Beetham, Bruce, Cowern, Fergus, Goldie, Hall, Harkness, Hislop, Hobbs, Humphreys, Izard, Lawry Alacarthur, Mackenzie, (Mt. Ida), Marchant, MsGregor, Mitchelson, Moal, Monk, New man, Peacock, G.F. Richardson, Russell, Samuel, Saunders, Seymour, Stuart - Menteath, Tanner, Thompson, (Marsden), Thompson, (Auckland North), Withy. For Mr Ballance'B amendment (23)^j 'Ballance, Blake, Buiton, Cadman, Duncan, Feldwick, Fiaher, Fish, Grimmond, Hutchison, Joyce, Kelly, Mackenzie, (Waihemo), Moss, Percival, Reeves, (Inangahua), Reeves. (St. Albans), beddon, Steward (Waitnule), Taylor. Verrall, and Walker. . Pairs for Mr Balance's amend, ment : — Taiwhanga, Guinness, Turn bull, Fitzherbert, Jones, Ward, Grey, Larnaoh, Loughrey, £. Riohardeon, Lanoe, HtQYfur Kerf. Farata, ikrroa, gmitii. ma W)*tt, For thi Qoy^wsatj

Messrs Fulton, Dodson, Atkinson, O'Connor, Pyke, Do.vnie,. Stewart, Rhodes, Ross, Bryce, Hodgkinson, Wilson, White, Buchanan, Taipua, Ormond, Carroll, and T.McKenzie. - Mr Monks motion was then put and carried by 34 to 7. The vote waa agreed to, and progress waß reported. The House rose at 2.15 a.m.