EVENING SITTING.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XIII, Issue 3636, 25 June 1880, Page 3

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.30.

Mr Macakdhew continued the debate. He said he hoped there would bo no more borrowing. They could not stand the drain of iuterest. That was the cause of much existing depression, but public works should not be stopped. The policy of 1878 should be carried out, and tho funds raised in the colony. .Retrenchment, he believed, would enable further taxation to bo dispensed with. Local bodies might well be left to raise money for their own wants. Fothing, he contended, would render the Property Tax acceptable to the people. He denied any desire on the part of the Opposition to oust the Government—that, was a false issue. They were not • bidding for office. The ship was on a leeshore, and insteed of fighting for command all hands were required at the pumps. He read a statement of financial proposals which he thought the Treasurer should have made instead of the one he did make. He objected strongly to the proposed expenditure in support of a standing army; and also to the method of dealing with local bodies through an irresponsible board. He accused the Government of having unneces. sarily lowered the credit of the colony at homo. ,He challenged Beader Wood and Saunders to give effect to their views by moving that the estimates be sent back ,for re-construction. Whoever carried a proposal of this kind would be the saviour of his country, Although he did not consider Ministers salaries too high, he should vote for their reduction as ho had done before. By way of example he denounced the late Government for telegraphing to. tho Home Government for six thousand emigrants, but had they come, he did not think there would have been a single man unemployed iu the colony now. It seemed terrible that so many should be starving at home while food was so cheap here. Enormous pressure had been brouht to bear to force Government to carry on immigration. Mr Oliver said it was evident the Opposition had no common ground of uniom The debate was not really on the financial policy of the Government, but on all sorts of wild individual suggestions. He contended that the Property Tax, being the law of the land, it was not a fit subject' of discussion in the present motion. That tax really doubled the land tax which the Opposition so much loved. He replied to many charges made against the Government. It was not likely the proposals for fresh taxation would be acceptable; but in making them, the Government had simply done their duty, If they could honorably resign their seats on those benches they would only be too glad to do so.

Mr Osmond defended the abolition of subsidies as inevitable. Ho agreed with taxiug native land, but strongly condemned tho proposals to tax Europeans to pay the tax on native lands. He also condemned the proposed board. (Stiil speaking.)