General Assembly.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 98, 5 September 1868, Page 3

General Assembly.

THE OPPOSITION POLICY. [by submarine telegr__ph.] At the Opposition rooms yesterday, the following resolutions were agreed to, which Mr Fox tabled for Wednesday :— " That this House has no confidence in the Government, because — 1. While approving the dissolution of partnership between the colony and the provinces, the House is of opinion that the arrangements for carrying out such dissolution are eminently unfair. 2. Because the Government do not propose to give effect to one advantage which should be giveu from the dissolution, namely, the reduction of taxation. 3. Because no adequate provision is made for setting a limit in respect to future Native and Defence expenditure. 4. Because the Government propose to leave the country in uncertainty as to the future mode of government, and territorial division of the country." Wellingtok, This Day, 11.57 a.m. Xkobby rumour says that the Opposition is united in a desire to put an end to the financial partnership between the General Government and the provinces. They will not, however, with a mere view to consistency, act so as to involve any province in difficulties for want of time to face its position. They propose to make the dissolution of partnership practically complete, so far as putting an end to the complex system of accounts, the neverendiug disputes, and the annual logrolling in the Asserably?7 They will endeavour to avoid precipitating a crisis, or throwing the provinces absolutely on tbeir own resources of local taxation, without an interval for meeting their position, where the absence of a land fund, or other circumstances, might make such a course improper. Their plan is based on a capitation grant, different in amount from that of the Government, and applicable to ordinary expenditure. They consider the adjustment proposal, in reference to loans, a great injustice ; that it makes those provinces which have been frugal and have borrowed least, pay for the public works of those that have borrowed heavily ; that though manifestly unfair, it could not be ultimately reversed if agreed to ; and that it would probably lead to the invasion of the Middle Island land fund by the North, as an act of retaliation. They are determined to fix some limit, both of time and amount, for the continuance of special expenditure for Native and Defence purposes. The Southern members say they will be liberal, but they insist on some definite line of financial responsibility being imposed. Their Local SelfGovernment policy is one of encouragement and development, but in connection with Provincial instead of General Government centres. Endowments to outlying districts from the land fund are concurred in. Goldfields districts, such as Westland and the Thames, they would treat specially, with a view to real local administration of their resources for tho purpose of securing development and settlement.