HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wanganui Herald, Volume VI, Issue 1903, 22 September 1873, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Friday, September 1.0.

(Post.; MINTSTEIMAL 3TATKMEXT,

The House met at 2.30 p.m: After the usual preliminary business and replies to questions. : ■

The Pbkjuer. said he desired to make. a Ministerial statement, lie felt the position one of very serious importance,'-as affecting the relations between the two branches of the Legislature.; The Council, after a very brief-discussion, hnd thrown out the Provincial Borrowing Bill. The bill involved a number of very important points—the question of whether certain public works should be constructed by borrowed money, whether by the provinces cr the General Government, and who should boirow the money. The collateral question of the relations between the two Houses was now added. The House had not for the first time to learn that those relations were unsatisfactory, and in both the House and the country a conviction had grown tip that a radical reform in the constitution of the Council was absolutely jiecessiu-y. (Great .applause). The Government, in accordance with the constitutional practice had endeavoured to initiate this reform in the Chamber affected. The Government proposal was one of almost exceptional tenderness towards that branch of the Legislature but their most considerate proposals, had been rejected. The Council should at least have consented to consider the question, but it had declined the opportunity and time afforded for such consideration. The Upper House was evidently determined not to consider the question at all. If it should appear .clear .that the .opinion of the country was, that its. interests suffered by the constitution of the Council, then in that House they, conid at least apply to the Imperial Parliament to effect the required reform. The Council assumed the right to represent the property of the country. The House was bound to resent this assumption, and to claim for itself the representation of all the interests of the'colony. The Council showed also a growing desire to-interfere with'matters which properly came within the province of the Lower House. The position of the Council and the House of Lords was essentially different. The,members of the House of Lords were, great laud-owners, with numbers of tenants. Here, the members of the Council were mainly tenants, but arrogated the position of being; superior to all other classes of the commnnity (great applause). There was simply no "analogy between the Council and.the House of Lords. The Hon member was proceeding | to discuss the conduct of the Council in respect of Mr Sewell's late motion relative to. the financial position of the colony, when Mr Stafford objected that he was out of cider in referring to that subject under the circumstances.

The Spkakku- ruled .that the Premier was in order.

The Pkkmikk, after some further remark?, continued that the Co until had during the present session treated a number of bills sent to it in the most unceremonious manner. The District Courts Bill and tUe Provincial Borrowing Bill were instances. The action taken in reference to the latter was an attack on the Government, and raised the question as to whether the government of the colony should or should not rest with the Legislative Council. The Government would endeavour, how-, ever, to meet the Council in a spirit of a, conciliation, and would not countenance airy step of an opposite character. The crisis was, however, a very serious one, and it had been for some time culminating. The Gevernment saw no reason at present to use an}' of the constitutional powers of.coercion, such as an attempt to swamp ,che : Council. They were utterly opposed to such a tiling, but thought the House should, by. all constitutional means, endeavour to give effect to the policy which had the support of % to 70 representatives of the people. Theri: were mam' -constitutional ways in which this could. be done, and the determination of the House shown, with the oujeci of inducing the Council to re-consider its position. There were a mini her of bills already before the House, and almost passed, which were framed under the provisions of the-bill just rejected. These were now orphaned, but the Government proposed that they be taken lip, and the provisions of the rejected bill be embodied in each of them. The money would be raised practically on moi't-

;,age of Uio land-set a part by the provinces as security.; If O ho Council-wished to force the Colonyjto-borrow the money, then a special source of revenue must be created against which the money could be borrowed. The works were of the hijre.st importance and if the Colony was to borrow the money for them, it must impose a tax on the properly of the Colony to meet the increased liability. This was only an eventuality the. position now was that the Council had objected to a general power for the provinces to bovrow. If these were refused, a property tax—a tax upon all kinds of property—would be essential, but the mind of the (•i.iYorninent was" that there should be a limit below which property should escape taxation. The limit should. lie thought, be fixed at £500. The power of ratins districts for local works, which was conferred by the rejected . Borrowing Bill, it was not intended to embody in the various borrowing bills which it was intended to send up. The object sought to be attained by the clauses "which would be abandoned coukl be attained, under the Provincial Rating Act of 1871, at the option of the Provincial Councils. He had not been aware of this power when he introduced the Borrowing Bill. All the requisite machinery was already oil the statute book. If the Bills which it was proposed to be sent up were passed, : another session might be held in order to allow the Council to re-consider the main bill, in perhaps a modified, form. This other session might be held immediately or after a . short interval. Tlie business., of- the present session would accordingly, be proceeded with in the ordinary manner. He hoped the Council would not throw on the country the burthen of unnecessary taxation, but that by- other means the" necessary public works could be proceeded with. Mr Vogel concluded by formally moving the adjournment of the House in'order to "allow any member who desired to do so to speak.