House of Representatives.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5093, 29 August 1884, Page 3

House of Representatives.

The House met at 7.30 p.m. Sir George Grey gave notice he would move for leave to introduce a Bill for the repeal of the Property Assessment Act, and in lieu thereof to introduce a Bill for imposing a Land tax ; also for the reduction of members' honorarium this session ; also to introduce a Bill to regulate the admission of persons to the practice of the law ; also a Bill to admit of affirmation in lieu of oaths. THE NEW MINISTRY. Major Atkinson said that they were aware that he had undertaken the duty of forming an Administration. He had so far succeeded, having secured the co-ope ration of six gentlemen, who were sworn in this afternoon. He himself took the portfolio of Premier and Commissioner of Stamps; Mr Wakefield, Colonial Secretary ; Captain Russell, Postmaster - General ; Mr Hursthouse, Minister of Lands, Immigration, and Agriculture; Mr Mitchelson, Public Works; and Mr M'Lean, Trades and Customs. That left one portfolio still to be filled up. This he hoped to be able to fill up before the House met again, at all events before they settled down to business next week. Considering the difficulty by which their proceedings were surrounded, he hoped they would extend to them the consideration the circumstances in which they were placed warranted. He trusted that by Tuesday next he would be in a position to make a statement as to the policy and proposals of the Government. He also expected on that day to be in a position to state when the Financial and Public Works Statements would be brought down, and their delivery Avould be made on the earliest date possible. Meantime, he would ask them to grant sufficient supplies to carry on the Government for the time being. He would not ask a large amount, in fact he would simply ask the amount proposed to be asked for by his friends opposite. It would be a little over a fortnight's supply, viz., a sum of .£75,000 for Consolidated Revenue purposes, and .£75,000 for Public Works purposes. In reply to a question, Major Atkinson said that the portfolio of Treasurer had not been filled up. It had not yet been decided as to whether or not he should take it up. Mr Stout said the intention of the Opposition was not to stop supplies that night. They recognised the necessity for these being granted. However, they meant to deal with Government in another way. This was simply a renewal of the Atkinson Government — a Government against a continuation of which the country had in the late elections most distinctly pronounced. In view of that fact he would give them notice that at the very earliest moment he would move that the House has no confidence in the Government. Major Atkinson denied that the Government he had just named could in any Avay be designated a renewal of the old Atkinson Government. It waa quite true he ivas Atkinson, but they would recognise the fact that he could not possibly help that. Government was in every respect a different Government from which was known and understood as the Atkinson Government. He was not prepared to go on with the debate of No Confidence to-night, but would be willing to have it brought on tomorrow. He did not wish to delay the business of the country, and would come to a division on the motion with as little delay as possible. Mr Stout offered to go to a division at once on the question. Major Atkinson declined, adding that he would be ready to do so to-morrow. After some further discussion to the same effect, The Premier moved — " That the House at its rising do adjourn until to-morrow." Mr Stout then said : I give notice that I will move, to-morrow — " That the House has no confidence in the Government as formed." THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Sir J. Yogel said the Deficiency Bills stood at .£600,000 on account of the consolidated revenue, and .£IOO,OOO outstanding on account of public works, but there was besides an amount of ,£400,000, bills authorised by the House as a temporary means of enabling remittances to be made to London. Members had no conception of the roundabout and extremely complicated manner in which financial affairs were conducted in the Treasury. Those .£400,000 of bills were handed over by Government as security to the Bank, or to cover payment of interest. In his time, when they were paying interest, the Bank had no right to ask for security. It was not right that the amount should have been omitted from the last Financial Statement. If current the bills should not have been omitted. It was true the money had not been obtained on them, but they should have been considered a liability, at least a contingent liability. There was great delay in payments by the Treasury for services rendered, especially in the outlying portions of the Colony, and it seemed to liim that an enormous amount of reform was necessary, not so much in the Treasury or Audit Office as in the communication between departments, though the Treasury got the odium of it. He made the remarks in no aggressive spirit. It was right that he should make the statement, so that the House would not vote money without information. He also complained of the

serious delays which occurred to persons, more especially contractors, in the Colony in getting payment of moneys due to them from the Treasury. In the case of persons living in remote parts of the Colony, the delay occasioned thereby was most vexatious, and in many cases which had been brought under his notice had occasioned a loss of 10 per cent. That meant, of course, that in consequence of this, to his mind, unnecessary delay the publio Avorks of the Colony cost that amount in excess of their real value; for lie could say he well understood that persons so circumstanced could not afford to have such a large percentage sacrificed out of their own pockets Avithout being recouped in some other way. So far as he had been enabled to enquire into the facts of the case it Avas not the Treasury that was to blame. The delay ayus occasioned by want of proper communication as between the Treasury and the departments. Indeed, it was the department and not, so far as^he could learn, the Treasury that was to blame. In asking for supplies for the appropriation of large services like these, it appeared to him that it was incumbent on the Treasurer to make a statement to them bearing on these and other points. These were only a few of the points which came under his notice during the short time he had an opportunity for going into the Treasury accounts. To his mind it was most improper that the .£400,000 Deficiency Bills should not be set forth in the public accounts of tho Colony. They Avere current, and therefore they became a liability against the Colony, and as such it Avas not right that they should be omitted from the statement of accounts of the Public Debt. \ Major Atkinson Avas not prepared to make a Statement, nor did he think it Avas j necessary under the civcumstanccs. In his opinion, Sir Julius Vogel's statement Avas irrelevant to the motion for going into Committee of Supply. He would, however'

address a few words to the House. What 1 they asked for was authority to spend money to carry on the Government. In his .Financial Statement the whole subI ject would be dealt with. He admitted much that had been said, but denied many of the conclusions arrived at. In reality, this was simply a dishing up of his Financial Statement of last session, in order to found conclusions for political purposes suitable to the present occasion. In that Statement he had asked for Deficiency Bills to carry on to the end of this month. He was not prepared to say what the amount was, but at the proper time he would be able to say. He admitted that the balances were small, but that was only Avhat was to be expected. Hit was desired they should keep large balances that could easily be provided for. He had been blamed for keepmg too large balances in the past. He admitted that there were £700,000 of Revenue Bills out. That was only part of the financial scheme he propounded for carrying on the Government to the end of this month. The £400,000 of Deficiency Bills Avere issued in anticipation of revenue, and as the revenue came in they were taken up. In proportion to their revenue they had less debt in this respect than England had. He contended that it was perfectly right that they should not appear in the public accounts. If they were put on the one side of the account they would only have to be put on the other, and no good end would be attained. As to the charges of payments being delayed in the Colony, necessitating an extra charge of 10 per cent, he did not know that such was the case. Where he had made enquiry, he found that the delay was occasioned by contractors not having fulfilled their contracts. There might be delays, but these were but few compared with the delay arising from the contractors' own faults. If on enquiry it was found that these delays existed, they would be rectified. On the motion of Major Atkinson, Mr j J. W. Thomson was appointed Chairman of Committees for this evening. Carried without comment. The House then went into Committee of Supply on message from the Governor that interim supply be granted. A Bill for the amount asked — .£1 50,000 — was then introduced and passed through all its stages. The House rose at 8.45 till 2.30 tomorrow.