PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11847, 21 July 1893, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (Per Pkess Association.) "Wellington, July 19, FINANCIAL DEBATE. Captain Russell was sorry he could not compliment the Hon. Mr Ward on hia Financial Statement, for there was very little finance in it at all. He defended the Bailway Commissioners, and advanced several argnments in support of the present system of management, holding that if the Minister of Public Works had a seat on the Board, the continuity of the management would be destroyed to the detriment of the service. The profits on the railways had enormously increased since the Commissioners took office, and he failed to see why the control should be taken oat of their hands. He disapproved of the proposal to remove taxation from improvements, as it would relieve thoto who could well afford to pay. At great length he showed how his conclusions on this point were arrived at, and he also explained his views on taxation generally. He did not object to reasonable taxation, but what was objectionable was the uncertainty as to whsit might happen, owing, probably, to the ill-temper of particular Ministers. In comparing the condition of the two classes he said that •what the country man objected to was that an undue amount of taxation was being placed on him in order to relieve the man in town. Mr Meredith, while agreeing with the siatement on the whole, regretted it did not ?make more detailed refer enca to questions of social reform and woman suffrage. He warmly complimented the Government on the Cheviot purchase, and having an intimate acquaintance with that pruperty he could say the colony had secured a great bargain. Mr Allen moved the adjournment of the debate, which was agreed to, and the House rose at 1.20 a.m. July 20. The House met at 2.30 p.m. WELLINGTON AND MANAWATU RAILWAY. Beplying to questions, it was stated that Government could not giva a pledge to afford facilities tor discussing the motion for the purchase of the Welling-ton-Manttwatu Hailway, but any honourable member could take his own opportunity to bring 6uch a motion forward. EXPORTATION OF FISH. Beplying to a question it was stated that the period of granting a bonus for the exportation of fish had been extended for five yeara. FINANCIAL DEBATE. Mr Allen resumed the debate on the Financial Statement. Eefetring to Mr Meredith's speech the previous evening, he said thit the honourable gentleman had placed the value on the Cheviot estate nearly 50 per c^nt. more than Government gave for it. In congratulating the House on the reappearance of Sir fiobert Stout amongst them, he pointed out that Sir Robert's speech the previous night was strong criticism of the Government's policy, and in many points waß in support of the arguments used by the Opposition, \iter referring to the administration under the Grey Woverninent, of which Sir Robert Stout was a member, and defending the Atkinson administration, he went on to say that ho agroed with the removal of the taxation from improvements, but he could not look upon the increase in the graduated tax in the same light. He criticised Sir Robert Stout's exposition of tho doctrine of new liberalism, and said it appeared to him to be a Bort of socialism that could not be worked out. He thought lease in psrpeluity was a disgrace to the col ->ny, and believed that *he co-operative system of labour was doing harm to the country instead of relieving the unemployed difficulty, The estimates of the present year were lighter than they had ever been, and si far from saving there was an increase of £134,000. The Premier's claim to have reduced the public debt of the colony was a sham, as it had been actually increased by more tlnn half a nrllion. Ho criticised at sotno length the public works policy of Government, wLich he thought could not fail to end iv disaster when summed up. His opinion was that the Financial Statemout showed nc thing but a hand to month policy from beginning to end. Mr Fisher complained strongly of the action of the Government in opposing the ratiirns be had moved for giving information of interest to the public on various subjects, Tho debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. Tho House resumed at 7.30 p.m. FINANCIAL DEBATE. Mr Fisher continued his remarks referring to Sir Robert Stout's speech of the previous night. He said that the honourable gentleman in that speech had opposed the graduated tax of the present Government, the exemption of improvements, and what he called " Eternal lease of the Ministry," that proved to him (Mr Fisher) that there were going to ba two Kings of Brentford, and that during the coming election Sir Robert Stout would endeavour to detract members from the Government party. He then referred to the policy of the Ministry and condemned them for their interminable interference with everybody in the name of democracy. If there was any surplus, Government ought to feed the education system, but Ministers invariably replied that there were no funds for the necessary educational works, and that proved that there was in reality no surplus. The fact was that Government was in a state of iiupecuniosity, and they could not carry on the work of tho colony successfully. He, however, congratulated Mr Ward personally on the care with which he had prepared his statement, and he would give the honourable gentleman credit for having honestly tried to set before the country the true state of its finances. Mr McLean, after answering Mr Fisher in regard to several local matters mentioned in his speech, and making extended reference to that honourable gentleman's parliamentary career, said he chought ths Financial Statement was a great improvement on previous budgets, as it showed the debit and credit side clearly. It was, to his mind, a reflection on the Treasurer and officers of the department to say that the balanca of .£572,281 was not a correct one.