HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11847, 19 July 1893, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

(Per Pbkss Association.) ■ Wellington, July 18. The House met at 2 30. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS,-. Eeplying to Air Bdleston, tlufcllqn. Mr Seddon said he hoped to be able.ma day or two, before the debate on the Financial Statement was concluded, to mate the announcement as to the intentions of the Government with respect to the appointment of a Native Minister In t>b,e meantime the Native Bills were being Interpreted, and the whole of those measures - would shortly be before tho HohbeV f. .Replying to other questions it was stated Ih that the native legislation, proposed by "^^ I the Government, would prohibit private . I | dealings in native land. A Bill wag in preparation dealing with the question of issuing licenses to tobacconists, but the Government thought it undesirable to introduce it this seasion. With regard to the Old Soldiers' olaimg, it was understood that the Bill' of last session should be final. That a Bill would be introduced this session providing for the Educational Eeserves being vested in the Wastffl lands Boards of the colony. That the Government did not propose to introduce the Pair Eent Bill-,- this session. .: ■. That the Government would shortly state what course they intended to take with regard to the Midland Bailway Company's proposals, affecting thesettle- , inent of Crown Lauds in the Nelson and ; Westland districts. " That the Government could not intro. - dues the measure making more adequate provision for the payment of jurors. That the Government could do nothing : to aid in the establishment of night i schools. O That no reduction could be made in the-^B rate of interest charged by the Govern- H| ment Insurance Department on advances j made to policy-holders on the security of^B their policies. , That the Government would consider I the question of imposing an import daty ' on all imported photograph enlargements, - LABOUR BILLS. : ■ A Seloct Committee was set up.to,con« ' sider the Labour Bills. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. '," Mr Mitcholson resumed the debate on ; the Financial Statement. He congratulated the Hon. Mr Ward on having ; attained the honourable position of Colo.. ■. nial Treasurer, although he could not ,i agree with him as to the brightness of ! the future, for he thought on the con- ,i trary, the future had a very gloomy out- ' ; look. Acoordingto his (Mr MitcheUwn's) '■'• calculation tho surplus should have been „ stated at .£283,000 instead of 4512,283. ,i In spite of th° Ministers aEserft<mß to >> the contrary, ho contended that ttiewhole ■ i of the expenditure on Public Work's Bince ;\ the Government took office had been '-.'-' taken out of the Loan Fund, with the )ti exception of transferred from that ~: Consolidated Fund last year, and of 'that amouttt'iere was very little left now. He . quoted extensively from the fistureß to show to show the position of the Publio Work's Fund and said the Government had, during their two year's of office, control of 4864,563 of loan money. It seemed to him that the whole question of Government finance was based on an anticipated surplus, and if anything happened to that the whole scheme would break down, He defended the Native Land Policy of the late Government, and pointed out that a Urge portion of the native lands, acquired by the present Government werejnaccesnable, and could not. ba satisfactorily settled for the nßxt twenty years: He said the public debt of the colony had not beon reduced as claimed by the Government. The del ate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. The House resumed at 7.80 p.m. DEBATE ON THE I'INANCfAL STATEMENT. Mr Mitchelson continued his remarks.. Referring to the land question he quoted from figures to prove that there were less people residing on land in Maroh,- 1893, than in March, 1891. Ministers, were hi constantly boasting of the prosperity of -^l the colony, but he contended there was 1 no real prosperity and that there was greater distress in the colony at present than during the period ot the late Government's administration. He approved of the proposal to tax native lajds, and he mutt congratulate the Government on taking that step. As to native lands he was in favour of appointing a commission to consider the whole question, and it "* should include Judge Eichmond who was thoroughly conversant with .native mailers. On the subject of taxation he warned the Housa to be careful or they wouH bo b- lii^ht face to face with the single tax. tie differed entirely with the proposal in the Budget to give another turn of the screw and raise a graduated tax, for he had always been opposed to that impost. Ho scouted the idea that tho present Government was a nonborrowing Givernmont, and contended they had utterly failed to prove that thsir policy was ono of solf-relhnce. Mr Lawry, hiving complimented Mr ' ; Mitcholaon on thp touh of his remarks, .jrocee'lod to combat his statement that Civil Servants were nuder a reign of terror at p-csont. tio ' roferr- d to the siatomant nude both inside and outside tho House thai, he had sold himself body -J and soul to tho Government, If that %. were so they had got him very cheap, lid had never mule any compact with any Governmont, and oven if he were qnalj; fiecl to tako it ha should not accept a part folio from the Government, although he could say without egotism that his appointment a3 Minister would be popn'ar in the country districts in Auckland. Referring to nativo land matters bo defended tho administration of Mr ' Cadmsu, and s.iid he would have accomplished much more. He supported the : presont system of taxation, and spoke in ! favour of the Cheviot purchase. By i exemption of improvements the Governi ment had swept away the last relic of the ■ Property Tax. In conclusion, he said that i if the Opposition wore dissitisfiod with him or with hifc actions he would give thorn a simple challenge to come up to Parnell and fight his election with him,