PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 7327, 30 January 1891, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The Address-in-Reply. Per United Proas Association ) Wellington, January 29. Tho House met at 2.30. Mr Shera gave notice to move that a respectful address bo presented to the Governor praying him to appoint Sir Gaoige Grey to the Legislative Council. Replying to questions, it vfas stated that tho Government would communicate with tho Agent-General and request him to furnish all information with respect to securing a better market in Europo for Now Zealand frozon meat. — That tho Manawatu Gorgo Railway would bo opened on Tuesday, Fobruary 10th.— That tho Government proposed to proceed with the classification of tho Citil Service during the recess, and a Bill would probably bo brought down next session for tho classification and regulation of the whole service — That the Government intended to go into the whole question of the incidenco of taxation during tho recess, but could notjgive an absolute promise now that tho Property Tax would bo abolished. — That there were no records in any of tho GoTernment departments of any cablegrams having passed between tho late Governmentand tho Agent-Genoral relative to tho retirement of the latter. Tho Hon. Mr Ballance informed the Hou«o that Mr Cadman had joined the Ministry, and takon tho portfolios of Native Minister and Hospitals and Charitable Aid. THE ADDEESS-IN-UEPLY. Mr Duncan resumed tho debate. Ho was glad to see that an amendment of tho Land Act was proposed and ho hoped that the Minister of Lands would sco that in every district thero would be provided land in sufficient areas for small eottloment, and of easy access. He complimented the Government for tho roforence in the speoch to the relations of capital and labour. The majority in favour of Mr Ballance was not, as Mr S. Maokenzie said, due to the accident of 6ho labour troubles, but to the mal-administration of the AtkinsonGovornment. Mr Moore thought that the late Government had taken tho right course in summoning Parliament together at the earliost possible period, and he also gave them great credit for their honoat uttompt to place tho affairs of tho colony on a sound financial basis. Mr Kolly (Inveroargill), as one of the labour candidates, wished to thank the Minister of Education for tho kind manner in which he had referred to the labour candidates. He felt convinced that any lneasuro brought down by the present Miuistor for Lands would bo of a satisfactory character Mr Dawson disagreed with Mr Scobie Mackenzie, that there was nothing in the Governor's Speech, as questions of land settlement and agriculture were the greatest questions of tho day. With respect to the advice of tho member for Mount Ida to the labour party, he might say that those members had been sent there to represent the electors of tho colony, and they were quite capable of looking after thomseives. He had great faith that the Government would initiate a policy such as would be benoficial to the wholo of New Zealand. Mr Rolleston had listened with great attention to Mr Pinkerton's speoch, and had come to tho conclusion that the member for Dunedin was merely representing one class. With regard to the present Ministry, nobody had paraded more than those gentlemen their desire of a settlement of the land. The Premier told them last night that in 1878 ho had refused to sacrifice the public estate, but in 1878 that gentleman had also rofusod to sanction a policy of protection. Why, the whole desire of ilr Macandrew, the late member for Port Chalmers, was the sale of land for cash, and the Ministry of which ho (Mr Rolleston) was a member found tliemeelves embarrassed by a wrong policy, which they had to amend as soon as possible Government had asked for three or four months to prepare their measures, but he maintained that if their policy was not proparcd beforehand thoy were not fit to carry on the Government. He concluded by proposing tho following amendment to the Address-in-Reply :—" To assure your Excolloncy that the adjournment of the House for a suitable recess, instead of its formal prorogation, would be in the interests of true economy, whilst saving expenditure in tho payment to mombers, which would not bo justified by the time occupied in dealing with tho business which is proposed to be submitted to us during the present session. Tho debate, was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment The House resumed at 7.30. Mr Saur>dor3 resumed the debate on tho Addrcss-in-Roply. His opinion was that the late Government had honestly ondeavoured to put as many settlers as they could on tho land, and ho hoped that tho present Government would carry out a similar policy. Tho new Government were entitled to any timo thoy asked for in order to prepare their policy, which, he believed, would bo for the good of the colony. Tho Hon. Mr Ballance eaid that Mr Rolleston had made a serious blunder in proposing the amendment, as it applied to that party which had brought members from their homes when it was quite uncalled for. The new Government had not had time to look into tho finances of the colony. The Financial Statement had recently been issued by the late Treasurer, but only that day a voucher had boen presented for £11,000 which had not been provided for in that Statement, and which was largely for salaries. He did not know how many more paymonts of this kind would have to be made. Mr Solleston's motion was practically ono of want of conQdonco, and in that light tho Government accepted it. He challenged Mr Rolloston to take the issue upon it. Mr Bryco said that Mr Ballance's position iv wanting to have four months of office uncontrolled by the Houße was such that had never been occupied by any leader before, especially one who claimed, hko Mr Ballanoo, to bo a Liberal. It was well known that a considerable number of momber3onthe Opposition side of the House took good care to enforce on electors that thoy were not pledged to Mr Ballance, yet they wero told that the lato Government should have resignod at once and handed over the reins of government to the member for Wanganui for four months uncontrolled by the House in any way. Was it conceivable that the Govornmont of tho colony Bhould bo handed over to a man who had not the approval of the House at all ? If Sir H. Atkinson wero at present in the House in his usual health, who should say ho would not possess a majority ? As to Mr Ballnnce, there was no public question on which ho w as not ready to hold ono opinion to-day and another to-morrow. The Govornmont were calling upon thoir party to vote themselves a doublo honorarium, but he hoped they would consider the question, and that the full amount would not bo voted. Tho Hon. W. P. Hcovcs said that tho honouiablo gentlmiun was very generous, but the Government would accept nothing troin him. Mr Bryeo asked what right the Government bad to four months of office uncontrolled by the Houso ? Thoy had tho right of a majority at the general election. Ho denied that there was an organised section of tho Opposition which repudiated Mr Ballanco at the election. Constitutional principle demanded that tho Government should have resigned office when they saw they were an a minority, as the StoutYogel Govornmont had clone under similar circumstances. With respect to tho sossions, Mr Bryco proposed tney should not make thi3 a no-confidence motion, but the honourable gentleman knew ho was going to be beaten badly. Next session would ba one of tho longest and most arduous hold tor a long time, and the honorarium then to be paid would not nearly componsato for that session. Tho proposal of the Government, therefore, was practically that members should receive £250 for sixteen weeks' work. The Governmentwore not responsible for this session at all, and tho Opposition wanted now to escape from tho unpopularity their own action had brought about. Mr Fergus said that when the Government had brought down their policy they would be ignomimously driven out of power, notwithstanding all tho tricks thoy had ased to keep themselves in power. Their proposal with regard 4 to the second session would, he felt sure, bo scouted by tho whole country Mr Thompson (Auckland) was willißg to give the Ministry time to bring don n their policy. He would not vote on the amendment as a party man, but according to his own judgment. Mr Heea asked whether it was fair Or just by a catch-vote of this kind to attempt to displace a Ministry which had only '.juat taken their seats ? ■.

Mr Thompson (Bruce) thought tbo Government entitled to fair time for preparing their policy, and was pleased that the Lands Department had been placed in chargo ot the present Minister. Mr Duthio considored the timo asked for by the Government altogether too long, as the men composing tho Ministry were o£ business capacity, and could easily master the details of policy. The Address-in-Reply Adopted. A Decisive Victory for the Government. (Per United Press Association.) Wblmngtoic, Jan 30. Aftor 11 p.m. Messrs Macarthur, Mellonzic (Clutha), and Swan supported the amendment and Mr Mills (Wairaea-Pioton) opposed it. Mr Hall said he would vote for tho amendment, as he believed the act never contemplated that for a sojourn of ten days in Wollington they were to receive £150. The amendment was then put and lost by 35 to 24, and the Address-in-Reply was adopted. The House rose at 12.25 a.m. The Division List. The following w the division list on tho question that Mr Rolleston's amendment be affixed to the Address-in-Reply : — Ayes (24.) Blake Meredith Bryce Mitchelson Buchanan Moore Buckland Newman Duthie Richardson Fergus Rolleston Goldie Swan Hall Taipua Harkness Thompson (Marsden) Lawry Thompson (Auckland) MoArthur Valentine MoKenzie, M. J. S. Wright Noes (35.) Ballanco Mills (Waimea-Picton) Buick O'Connor Cadman Palmer Carncross Parata Earnshaw Peroeval Fisher Pinkerton Guinness Rees Hall-Jones Reeves (Inangahua) Hogg Reeveß (Christchurch) Houston Saunders Hutchison Waitotara)Seddon Hutchison (D unedin) Shera , Joyce Smith (New Plymouth) , Kelly(lnvercargill) Smith (Waipawa) , Kelly (East Coast) Tanner . Macdonald Taylor Mackintosh Ward MoKenzie(Waituki) > Paisb. For— Against— Rhodes Duncan \ Mills (Pt. Chalmers) Fish , Russell Dawson