General Assembly.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 102, 10 September 1868, Page 3

General Assembly.

Sept. 8 and 9. [by submarine telegraph.] Tuesday night in the House of Representatives was principally occupied in preventing a discussion on the Govern^ ment finance resolutions being taken in advance of those of Mr Pox tabled for to-night. The Government finally gave way. Mr Pox is now (Wednesday night) moving simply " That this House has no confidence in the policy of the Government." This Day, 12.35 p.m. Mr Fox proposed last night to give the provinces a capitation allowance of thirty shillings, each province to pay the interest and sinking fund on ita loans. lustead of the Defence Minister, he would have a Secretary for the provinces, to be appointed to secure as far as possible uniformity of action, unity of purpose, and harrqony of temper, instead of the conflict and uncertainty which now exist. A reduction in taxation, however small, ought to be attempted, if only to show the determination of the Government in this direction. He thought some slight reduction possible. He would delegate to the North Island provinces the management of Native Affairs, giving Mr M'Lean of Hawke's Bay the whole of the East coast district ; as rebellion in any province meant ruin, he believed they would solve the Native difficulty satisfactorily. He proposed to give £100,000 for each of twp years, and £75,000 for

each of three years, out of the consolidated revenue for Native and defence purposes. This sum to be apportioned among the several provinces. To stimulate peace efforts, each province would be allowed to spend whatever balance it saved from its allowance, on works requiring .Native labour. He desired to extend real local SelfGovernment to the agricultural and mining districts, in and by, not over the Provincial institutions. At present, and until the colony had been brought back to a position in which it might prudently expend, he did not propose to incur any additional loans. Messrs Graham, Curtis, and Reynolds supported Mr Fox's motion of " No Confidence." Messrs Stafford and Brown [who voted with the Opposition on the last great division.] opposed. The debate was then adjourned until this eveuing.