PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XX, Issue 5916, 3 June 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

(per united press association.) Wednesday. In the Council, The Hon Mr Buckley, replying to Mr Bathgate, said the Government did not intend to repeal tho Contagious Diseases Act. On the motion of Mr Whitakor, it was decided to obtain a return showing the expendituro of loans from January, 1870, to March, 1886. Tho Defence Bill was read a third time and passed. The Hon Mr Buckley intimated that the Hon Mr Reynolds would be sworn in aB a member of the Government on Thursday, In the House of Representatives, Repyling to questions it was stated that the compilation of a New Zealand Year Book would entail the employment of a large staff of olerks, and be too expensive a work for the colony to undertake, unless Parliament voted the necessary funds for it.— That a road was being made from Murimotu towards Wanganui, the money for which was taken out of the vote for opening up lands for sale. A sum of £3000 was voted last year, half of which had been spent, and the other half would be spent this year* — That the Napier Asylum had been closed. — That Mr and Mra Agnew had no claim whatever on the colony. Dr Newman moved, That in the opinion of this House, it is advisable that reserves in land should now be set apart for charitable aid, higher, technical, and primary cduoa* tion, and harbours, and that the House requests the Government to give effect to this opinion by legislation this session. The Hon. Sir Robert Stout said that if that portion about harbors were omitted from tho motion, it might be accepted, He considered the freeehold system had been a curse to the colony. He did not think they could afford to set aside their agricultural reserves for harbors. He recognised that the South Island was more careful of its lands than the North, but that was the fault of the North Island. A lengthy discussion on the motion ensued. Mr Turnbull said he understood that in Committee someone intended moving that a Land and Income Tax should be substituted for the Property Tax, The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment, Tho House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr W. F. Bucklaad continued the Financial Statement debate by parodying tho Budget statement at length. He contended that the Treasurer had concealed the true position from them. The colony had never paid its yearly liabilities out of revenue since the constitution was granted, The depression was deeper than it had ever been, and the Customs revenue was certain to fall in view of the rush setting in for Kirn* berley, but no account was taken of this In the estimates-, Many of the charges on loan ought to come out of revenue. The Civil Servioe Retrenchment Bill was a sham. Great savings might be made in the Public Works, Eduoation, Legislative, and Lands Departments. The eight hundred thousand pounds in hand was not nearly enough for present wants, and they would have to raise another loan next year, unless the curb was put on. Maori land ought to be taxproducing, but the Government had not attempted to deal with that question as it ought. He urged that a really serious attempt at reductions on a large scale ought to be made. Mr Montgomery considered that instead of having a surplus they were really £36,000 to the bad, besides £52,000 on the wrong side of the land fund. He deprecated the borrowing policy of the Government, and insisted that they must cut down expenses. To test the feeling of the House, he proposed, aa an amendment, that the Government should be requested to reduce the current estimates by not less than £75,000. He believed that they could easily be curtailed by £120,000, but would not aak that. He quoted the example of South Australia and Now South Wales to chow what other Legislatures*had done when in serious financial difficulties, whether the Government liked it or not, He. characterised the Civil Service Bill as a Bill to inquiifl into the price of provisions, which was mere nonsense. They should begin by cutting down Ministers' salaries and travelling expenses. If the Government were really anxious to retrench, they would accept his amendment as strengthening their hands. The Hon Sir Robert Stout said the amend* ment meant the refusal of supplies to the Government, and they would not consider it in any other light. He combatted the argu- j ments used against the surplus, and the statement as to the Land Fund deficit and loan money being uaed for payments which should be made out of revenuei The whole of the Opposition argument went to show that the loan proposals were too small, and yet they did not want to give a loan at all. He offered to go into Committee of Supply and let the estimates be there cut down, if members so ohose, as was done with Captain Russell's motion. How did they propose to cut off £75,000 ? It could not be got out of the Civil Service. The only way was by inducing people to cast upon the local bodies increased functions, and do without the services they were now accustomed to t Neither of the colonies mentioned by Mr Montgomery, while reducing their expen* diture, had ceased to borrow for public works to develop the country, The Government were anxious for judicious retrenchment, but they did not want to create such a scare as that of 1879, which hurt the financial reputation of the colony. If the Civil Service Bill were passed, the Government, he reiterated, would be able to save £30,000 to £40,000 a year. He denied that they were a Government of Indiscriminate borrowing, and reprobated the prophecies of evil which certain members were continually making, Mr Fisher objected to the tone of the Premier's remarks, which he termed " cynical positivism," and accused the Government of haviDg stolen the ideas of their opponents and introduced the "spoils " system. There existed a system of corruption in the country which would task a Hercules to remove. He quoted from the speeches of Ministers during the recess to show their inconsistency, and ridiculed the idea of the Premier expounding finance. Mr Turnbull Baid Major Atkinson was sole author of the increase in the Estimates, and he would be pursuing a severe vote of een* sure on himself if he voted for the amendment. If members were sincere they would vote for the repeal of the Crown and Native Lands Rating Act, which would give an immediate saving of £62,000. He beliovcd the Government ought to borrow at least five millions to restore stability to the country. — Mr Bryce moved the adjournment of the debate, which was carried, and the .Jlouse adjourned at 12.30 a.m.