Parlamentary.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2066, 18 August 1875, Page 2

Parlamentary.

HOUSE OF EEPEESENTATIVjES.

EVENING r^ITTING.j t

WELLEyGTOIfer

This day.

Tliie Abolition "SebSte

The House resumed at 7.30,

The debate on the Abolition Bill was re-opened by Mr E,olleston,,'.who said he always endeavoured 'when'speaking in the House to B do so froma colonial, point of view—dissociating his ' position' 4 "aY Siiperj intendent from that of member; of the i House. He then adverted'to what j ProvinoiaV , Governments f. f5 had; i^dpne already in public worlcs and education, and: jp, ..; the many social/, benefits^ Wjhich had resulted and would result from local government. What for the bill ? The people were not dissatisfied. If therejhad bees bad,.administration that should have" been rectified. The short comings of one province should not tie made a pretext-to destroy all. Neither should the question be dealt with from a narrow ,and „monetary "pointf:6f*Wiew.!.^-Even <■ what""the Native Minister called the. constant dis-play-pjß, 'anj;agomsmjbjefe*!eetf ;th,9 GigqMaU and Provincial Governments was but a sign of wholesome actiyityi andj a^ttej^tion to the political interests "of tlie people. The Government in bringing forward this measure/showed a forgetfulness of the f first want oPnational"life'. JThe orgatffea--tions of governments and society were' like those 6f-Jnature,C'c6iitihudus' dnd^ptogressive. This bill was opposed to all true principles of constitutional Government. While, however, he was satisfied that we could not remain as we are, circumstances had arisen which necessitated great changes, but not-in the manner proposed by the Government. The financial position of the country required all their attention. The colony was now in that position that > the/ Pusitomap venue would:!.pay. little .LmbreJJlbari the interest upon borrowed money. Every family in the Colony contributed from £20 to #30 ,ger.. head. . JEvidently the bill arose'frbm our financial ne6e ssities. The Government were mistaken in thinking they could, control the affairs of the country, from a : centre.. They : misunder?; stood t the- value*- df*Oocal - government. Their plan. was opposed to the idea of simplification of government as seen in the examplesoor,f r , Canada ,and the.; United States. Tltiey should'have -endeavored to make the two co-ordinate governments wprk together harmoniously, and while exercising a wholesome restraint, they should have aided the Provincial Governments in carrying out their work of progression. He maintained that the election of Superintendents and Provincial governments was an essential of popular Government. Provincialism was, no doubt, much overgrown, but any change necessary would naturally come with

time. If Provincial Governments had Failed in carrying out properly th'e< functions entrusted to them, tho fault lay with, the General Government. He referad...to/7^£ryeys and gaols. The Wlißlo- T fldministration of the General Govcjjfritaerit, had "'not been such as to Qorauifendlitseirto^the people. His idea of simplification of the form of govern;-' m|nt£w.as!i a (division of the colony intcsh|re^,'-^^ be coterminus with the electoraC^Ultricts; to possess local org^nisraticinf iSlnd to have large powers of government and taxation; but he saw nothing of this nature in the Bill. He secure the efficient operation of Provincial Governments. They should have been more fairly represented in the Upper House. system of taxation. Gaols, asylums, and charitablednstitutions>sb'(MldCbe chargedj on thecustomsorevenue.- The real-theory! of land revenue was tp t devote^ the,,pro-j Spectiveiof any; reference to* me compact of 18564 j/He> cQuld'inake; n,otßiog of the! bill but chaos, and thought its introduc-1 tion inopportune.' First we were never Sr^l|N& <€M nativfaiflmtfhani now; then the House and the Ministry; were never in a more disorganized state; than >n,ow.f' In;th>rtMihi§lryltK6re'lsJßoi guiding mind: the hon. member for Timaru pulled the strings.^ The,adminis-. tration'bf Government in nlany 'tnirigs was! unsatisfactory, but Eminently so in the matter of confiscated lands. If this bill passed the land fundlwould; become com-, mon property. lie was strongly opposed to that clause of the bill which provided for the requirements of such provinces as had no land* fund" by treasury bills. If this bill were passed, immediately a cry of separation would be rai3ed. Mr Bo wen replied. He denied that finance had caused the Bill. If there had been financial difficulties the provinces created them. - J^ever yet had there been a Colonial Treasurer who did not from time-toitime protest against the raids made for money by the provinces.. "•Ten*' yearsvv- tfgo' the !ih'<sn. ll" member for the Hutt charged £125,009 to > lk e ldari'^accovmt', having Ti¥d {&" provide fliat sum for the requirements^ of, provinces. The Hon. John Hall said'lt was impossible to guard,the colonial-che.B,jk, from,su,ch #& gsnised banditti, w^o^ear demand yourTmoney ror,-.your rlife.f- No wonder, therefoje^the-.^tWilicasurer determined to sweep .them away altogether. If they were not, the country would be landed^ in .financial, disaster.,. The hon t gentleman quoted from a lecture' of/ Mt Godley's, givqn- twenty years ago, which was prophetic of life position the provinces had arrogated. . T^e^cirpumstances which required proTine|alisfi^^ifipnu,no longer existed,- and' ftsh continuation Vwas detrimental W .the. unity of Jap 1"1 -<x>lojny v . Referring 'toWKe cry, raised. ~*boa^ the liberties" of, the pebple^', 1 pared Superintendents - to -t£e"- paßsars, who*; always ignored, , tH©:-' people's repfesentatires.^and aj*peftre,d^dir,oct-4o , the'people by plebisciteif' They-Jiad^n instance of; this V.personal Government , when a council one day passed* a resolution favoring -abolitioji*. -arid next day 1 rescinded it becauYe'if'was displeasing to ithe Superintendent. It was easier to .govern Kew Zealand now from one centre jthan to govern England in.theiime ofiheif grandfalhers.r-How , could-people maintain that'the existence of provincialism was jnecessary when it existed i in-no other 1 country. If that were fair reasoning, then the Heptarchy, under which some jOf the noblest qualities of the British jrace were brought out, should have^pq-. jtinued to this day. A change was necessary ; t everyone, admitted it;, and the Super'infenderits also;fforr r when' the cry came from the NortbTarid Sputh-forabol^-j tion, the Superintjehdents'^aid all 1* or' none. ...The Honorable gentleman explained" "that by " retaining' Provincial districts they did so^ bjecause there was a mass of legislation m each 1 province that extended no f irfcher" thanits'boundaries, and to prevent confusion they determined to leave those laws valid for the present; and they wished to avail themselves of £he" services of" the_ Supfrintendents" during the" transition in the same way as a person taking over a new business would retain the old assistants. They had[ - > charged with reducing the capitation allowance, f but. that was balanced by several prbvin--ciaWcharges"' being" talcen over by • the General Government. Only two courses were left open to the Government, either to carry out abolition and earn the r gratitude of the-country,'o'r return to tfbscurity' with the gnawing- that accompanies cowardicer ■ "c Mr, Murray opppsed'the bill, apd casfc r a great many imputations upon'the Government and its 'administration.^ Mr Ballance made his maiden speech in defence of the Abolition Bill. ~ The speechwas exceedingly good in ..matter and manner. He combatted in detail "the chief arguments urged against the Bill by d?ffer,ent speakers, and wa,s enthusiastically cheered on concluding. - - - -\ Mr Keid moved^' an ' adjournment, "which led to" considerable "discussion! 1 The Government steadily opposed v the adjournment .'.A. division.', was, taken, w p here there were 35 for resuming Ihe debate and 21 againstr It was -now mid* night, and more discussion ensued upon adjournment. Ultimately— 1 -- Sir Donald McLean, moved that the debato be resumed at 2.30 p.m. that clay. Another long discussion was followed' by another division—eyes, 12 ; noes, 34. , "Mr Thompson then moved an amend-, ment to resume the debate at 7.30 p>m. on Thursday, evening. (This was about 3'a.m.) Sir Geo. Grey, Messrs Keid, Eeeves, Murray and Fitzherbert followed, appealing to the Government not ,to hold to their intention. 'About ten minutes to four Mr Sheehan announced that the Opposition were satisfied at' having made their protest, and the House adjourned. 1 »