ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 9146, 24 June 1880, Page 2

ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

(Evening Post, 18th June.) In the Legislative Council Mr. Whitaker laid on the table a number of papers with regard to the last loan, a petition concerning Native reserves was presented, two notices of motion were given, one bill was read a first time and another a second time. On the motion of Mr Wilson it was resolved that the Government ought to remove from tho roll of Justices recent insolvents and other unsuitable persons. When Mr Scotland's motion respecting Native claims to confiscated lands came on, the " previous question " vr&a carried, and the Council went into committe to consider the Laud Transfer, Gaming,

and Impounding Bills. In the Lower House ■ yesterday the Hon Mr Richardson was informed by Mr Rolleston that prisoners in the Lyttelton and other gaols awaiting trial had the option of wearing prison clothes, but he was afraid they were not given to understand that it was optional with them. He would instruct the justices to see that no hardship was inflicted upon prisoners awaiting trial, either in this respect or as regards being permitted to read papers, &c. The Post-master-General, in reply to Mr Stevens, said the Government lost threepence per letter on letters sent by way of Suez. Tho Treasurer intimated that Government hoped to be able to bring down a bill to secure the more effective audit of accounts of local bodies. The Government had not decided what slop's should be taken with regard to the £300 p.uid to Mr llees. Several questions arose out of the Native Minister's exposure of Native land " manipulations " on Tuesday last. Mr Bryce said the man who obtained £1000 from the Government by means of a fraudulent voucher was still in the service of the Government, but he (Mr Bryce) only became aware of the circumstances eight days before the assembling of Parliament. No steps had yet been taken to punish him, but the matter would not be lost sight of. A satisfactory statement would be laid on the table of the amounts charged against Patetere. In reply to Mr George, the Native Minister said he first discovered the blank voucher business last Christmas. Mr Sutton moved his long resolution relative to an improved system of local government, but after a short discussion the debate was adjourned. Then the adjourned debate upon Mr Hutchison's motion for a committee to consider the best means of settling the industrial classes upon the waste lands of the colony was resumed, but was again interrupted by the dinner hour adjourumont. Mr Rolleston made a "forcible" speech on the subject, in reply to what Mr Ballance had «aid the previous day. It was well known that Sir George intended to move the second reading of his Property Tax Repeal Bill, which the Government accepted as tantamount to a vote of no-confidence. When, however, the Premier moved the postponement of the first six orders of the day, in order to bring on the Repeal Bill, Sir George rose, and asked leave to have the bill discharged from the paper, and to move without notice — " That the financial proposals of the Government are not as a whole adapted to promote the welfare of New Zealand." His object in doing this was to have greater scope to discuss the financial proposals of the Government. The Premier entered a protest against Sir George taking the House by surprise, as that evening had been expressly fixed for discussing the Property Repeal Bill, and they were prepared to discuss it. Sir George said lie was prepared to give notice of motion and discuss it the following day, or if the Premier was really desirous of going on ho was ready to do so at once. Mr McLean did'nt think it mattered much whether the bill or motion were discussed, as it was not likely Sir George ■would get a majority, but he objected to being taken by surprise, and did not think facilities ought to be given to bring on the motion. Mr Macandrew pointed out that the discussion on the proposed motion would save time. Major Atkin* son said a division would be taken on the withdrawal of the bill, and then he would move that they should go into Committee of Supply, when Sir George could put his motion. The whole thing could be settled iv ten minutes. His side of the House would move that the bill be read that day six months, and would be successful in carrying it by a large majority. This would clear the road for the proposed no-confidence motion. After further discussion, Mr Beetbam moved the amendment indicated by the Treasurer, and it was carried, on a division, by 29 to 41, thus showing a majority for the Government of 12. The division list was (that is upon the question of the immediate second reading of the bill) as follows : — Ayes : Messrs Andrews, Ballance, Barron, Brown, Da Lautour, Fisher, J. 8., George, Gisborne, Grey, Hamlin, Harris, Hutchison, Ijundon, Macandrew, Montgomery, Moas, Pyke, Sedrion, Shephard, Shrimski, Speight, Stewart, Tainui, Tawhai, Te Whero, Thomson, Tole, Tomoana, and Wallis. Noes : Messrs Allwright, Atkinson, Bain, Beetham, Brandon, Bryce, Colbeck, Dick, Fox, Fulton, Gibbs, Hall, Hirst, Hurst, Hursthouse, Johnston, Kelly, Kenny, Levin, Mason, M'Caughan, McDonald, McLean, Moorhouse, Murray, Olliver, Ormond, Richardson, Rolleston, Russell, Saunders,. Seymour, Shanks, Stevens, Studholme, Sutton, Swanson, Trimble, Wakefield, Whitaker, and Wood. Major Atkinson having then moved that the House go into Committee of Supply, Sir George rose to move his want of confidence motion, and spoke upon it for one hour and three-quarters. The speech was eloquent but lacked force of argument. His object was, he said, to prevent a most disastrous system of taxation being imposed upon the colony of New Zealand. There was, however, scarcely anything new in his remarks. He inveighed against the holders of land having the power of oppressing the poorer classes, and possessing privileges detrimental to the happiness of the " whole human race." He likened the Premier to " a vampire in an eastern sultry clime" who sucked the blood of | his victims while creating a " soothing air." In referring to the Premier's speech at Leeston on the Property Tax, Sir George spoke of that constituency as "deluded poor souls," victimised by "an astute and wary juggler." The Leeßtonitea were also referred to as "poor bumpkins," who would give their blood to the vampire. To the Property Tax would be inscribed general depression, diminished trade, and other evils, and although Sir George disliked taxing necessaries, he preferred the one they had. Tears ago Sir George's Government wished to reduce Ministers' salaries, and reduce expenditure as the Government now desired to do, but were not permitted. He deprecated the sweeping away of subsidies, the rating of Crown lands, and the proposal to tax Natives less than Europeans, " and thus causing the JCuropean to hate the Maori." The proposed Public Works Board would be another bit of costly machinery, and meant that the money was lent in one room, paid in another room, and then disposed of among the little hungry birds who waited with open mouths for their share of food. Tho proposed charitable institutions was condemued as a measure for the creation of paupers. The condition of labourers, the admission of Chinese into the colony, the bringing in of immigrants wore all subjects upon which the ex-Premier condemned the government, and which entitled them, in his opinion, to be relegated to the cold shades of Opposition. He dared the Premier and his colleagues to go to the country. He asked why they did not bring down a fair Financial Statement, do away with the expense of immigration, the Agent-General's department, the Legislative Council, reduce the salary of the Governor, and uofc let the Civil Service bear all the brunt. Lot pensioners bear their share of the taxation, and pawnbrokers in Jinglarid pay theirs; let the Premier tmy a foU' Juand Tax. from the liiud-

holders in proportion to the advantages they derived, and increased taxation would be unnecessary. This would entitle the Premier to happier moments in i the decline of life— £n existence which, under present conditions, was a melancholy one. Sir George " perorated " with the above suggestions, and an in« timation that he and those who thought with him would never rest until ho had accomplished the reforms he had in hand, and had created—well, briefly put — " the unextinguißhab.e happiness of the human race." The Premier at once replied. He commenced by stating that the spsech ho had just heard was eloquent but wearisome, devoid of argument worth considering — " the old, old story, the old, high falutin, which we have heard over and over again." Mr Hall, in referring to Sir George's attack upon him, made a remark to the effect that it pleased him (Sir George) and didn't hurt him (the Premier). A great part of Mr Hall's remarks related to his Leeston constituents. Speaking of the reduction of Ministers' salaries, he said Sir George Grey ought to be ashamed to speak of that af ler his own conduct in proposing a reduction when in office, and then getting staunch supporters to move" and second a motion negativing it. " Why," said the Premier, " the reduction was negatived by his own supporters, and the proposer and seconder were afterwards made Justices of thePeace." He accused Sir George of insincerity; defended the action of his own Government, and, in meeting the various arguments of the previous speaker, endeavoured to show tbat he was utterly inconsistent. The Premier concluded by contrasting the doings of the late Administration, with those of the present one, and then sat down amid applause from his side of the House. Mr George followed by a criticism of the financial proposals and a defence of Sir George Grey's conduct. Mr Moss next rose, and remarked that his side, of the House were really not in . a position to continue the debate then, as certain papers promised by the' Government had not yet been laid upon the table. He moved the adjournment of the debate. The Premier, in a. slightly sarcastic manner, said he had no objection to that course "out of consideration " for the pan-y, but he intimated that if the debate was not concluded next day the Governmentproposed the House should sit on Saturday and Monday. The motion for -adjournment was then carried, and the House rose at midnight.