HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Timaru Herald, Volume LII, Issue 5167, 13 June 1891, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

lhe House met at 2.80 p m. TAKING THIS OATET. Mr Eparima Kapa, member for the Northern Maori District took tho oath, and his scat. THE lAND Bill. Mr McKenzie gave notice of the introduction of the Land Bill. * BEPLIE3 TO QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, it was stated that only £292,276 was now available out of the loan for tho North Island Trunk Railway ; that it was the intention of the Government to give effect to tho awards of the Commissioners appointed under tho Havol and Military Betllers' Act. STOCK COMMITTEE. Mr McKonzie moved tho appointmont of a Block Committee, to consist of Messrs Buchanan, 0. H. Mills, Wright, McCJuiro, Khodes, Duncan, Macintosh, Houston, Lawry, and the mover. Sir John Hall drew nltontion to the omission of the nnmo of tho Hon. G-. F. Richardson, and hoped that it would be reotißed. Mr Eichardson, m speaking on the matter, flatly contradicted the statement of Mr McKonzio at Palmorston that he had found the Land Department m a di»organieed state, and that thousands of pounds wore spent by inspectors m the past without any control from tho Department m Wellington. Mr McEenzie hud east a slur on tho wbolo of the Stock Dopartmont whon ho said that tharo was not a competent man m tho I)o---partment to place at its head. The bqccobs of tho administration of tho Stock Dopartmont m the paßt had been shown by tho incroaso m sheep m Otago and Southland. Mr McKenzie asserted that the Babbit Department was completely noelootod when be took office, and ho repeated now what he had stated at Palraornton, that large sums of money wore spent without control. In travelling through tho country ho had adcortaincil that stock inspectors woro not to be found at their duty, but at lawn tennis grounds, bowling greens, oto. Mr Richardson asked whether it waß m order or good tasto for the Ministor to mako such wholesale charpo9 against officers who could not dofond thomsolvos. The Speakor ruled that tho Minister was m ordor. Mr MoKonzio said that whether it waa m good ta*to or not, ho should not shrink from doing his duty, and ho was prepared to meet Mr Kiohardeon at any Urn and defend bio land administration,

Mr Bichaidson contended that it was onl, fair that the Houao should be put m posses sion of proof of the chargoa by the Miniate of Lands. Mr McKenzie said thufc the hon. gentle man should adopt the proper course and mov a Tote of Mo Confidence m the Minister o Lands, and he (Mr MoKenzio) would be pre pared to meet it. The motion was agreed to on the voices. THE UNEMMOIBD DIFFICULTY. Mr Fisher moved a series of resolution! respecting the unemployed difficulty. Tha Premier said that the Governmenl agreed n-ith the spirit of the resolutions, anc as the wu.lo question was under consideratiot by the Government, who would shortly inak< proposals on the subject, he suggested thai the resolutions bo withdrawn for the pre' sent. Mr Fisher agreed to the suggestion. THB CUSTOMS TABIIP. Mr Fish moved an amendment of the Customs Tariff, so as to remove tho dutiot now placed on the necessaries of lifo, and that the loes of revenue from this be made good by an additional duty being placed on certaia articles. He claimed the support cf a Liberal Government m his action, as the Premier himself had m 18S7 declared that tho duties could bo taken off tea and sugar. Tho Premier said that the amount of duty which Mr Fish proposed to abolish by his resolutions was £263,000, and the value of the luxuries proposed to be taxed was £55,000. In order to make up the duty thus lost to the colony no less than a hundred per cent, would have to be put on the luxuries, ihe Government could not agree to the motion. A discussion ensued, whiob. was interrupted by tho 5.30 p.m. adjournment. The debate will be resumed on Tuesday: THE ADDRE33 IN EBPLT. The Houso resumed at 730 p m. Mr McGuire moved the Address m Boply. He thought the Governor's speech would have a favourable effect on the colony as well ns on the empire generally. Tho Government aw deserving of the thunks of tho colonists for effecting retrenchment without inconveniencing the various department?, and ho trustod the Government would eco their way to abolish the property t>>x and introduce a land and incomo tax both progressivo and graduated. He suggested taxing totalisitor ticke's to tho extent of 61 each by which sufficient revenuo could be obtained to pay the cost uf charitable aid. lie belrevcd that the land laws m tho past wore not so satisfactory bb the Governments of the day had wished, and he would Use to sre the ays! cm of perpetual lease and deferred payment enacted m a more advanced form fhaa they had at present.. He was thoroughly m "sympathy with the present education system, but the boards should be abolished and school committees bs m diroct communication with the Minister. iTo believed m secondary education, but those enjoying it should pay for it. Beferring to Federation, ho hoped reciprocity would ensue, tie said that tho sooner Iho Bankruptcy Till wa9 removed off the Statute Book tho batter it would be for tho commercial community generally. He favoured the adoption of a simple criminal coda. Mr Buiek seconded tho motion, and eulogisori the Ministry for Iho policy shadowed forth m the Speech. Ho thought that suoccsa would coon roll back to the colony, but the time had arrived whan the colony must live within its moans and avoid living on borrowed capital. He was ploased that the Government had tho backbone to carry out reirenchment, and intended to place the Civil Service on n boltor footing than it ever was before. He regretted that the Government had mado no intimation of what it intended to do with regard to ihe quoßtion of Federation. In this colony they must discriminate between the real and the imaginative bßnefits which would result from federation with Australia, and for his part he would not sanction joining m a federation which ignored the question of ono man one vote. The advantages to bo gained from federation with Australia were not so groat as tho advocates would make U3 believe. Kegarding Iho necessity of fodera- j tion for defenca purposes tho English bondholders had too much interest m this colony for the Mother Country to neglect it m case of an attick from a hostile nation. As to the reconciliation of capita! and labsur he was opposed to legislation m this matter, but if it wsia to b'j dono it must be of an inlricato and delicate character. He was glad to soo that the Government intended to impoee a tax on land values, and he favoured the Electoral Bill, but m order to remove improper pressure by employers over employees, the result of tho poll at small country booths should not bo declared, but the boxes be returned to tho chief booths. Mr Bolieston osked tho Premior to consent to au adjournment of the debate until Tuesday. Mr Ballance objected. Mr Bryce said that owing to the extraordinary action of the Government he felt compelled to move tho adjournment of the debate. He said that the giving way by tho strong side of the House to the weak side would not be time lost, ond strongly contended they should give heed to this request of the Opposition. (Opposition orieß : "Wo have no leader!"). Be repudiated any intention of discourtesy to tbe Government. Tbo motion for adjournment was negatived on tbe voices. The Address m Eeplv was then adopted. The Houso rose at 9.10 p m. until Tuesday afternoon.