HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WELLINGTON.

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 198, 16 August 1873, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WELLINGTON.

. Tuesday E ron ing In {ho ITouso Mr Fit/herbert spoke four *lioiit>on the Financial Statement. Me smd the apathy of the Homewilling to bear and sutler ull tilings— made the discussion of the Government proposals difficult speaking without previous ciKie.iM.'^, As a free " lance " he would enjoy the luxury of speaking his mind. Ho had no hostility to Ministers. He be/iou'd none in the House wished to take their seats, lie bpoke simply as a representative of tho people, and characterised the Stateoiont as 80 elastic that it was impossible to codif \ so as to reduce it to a system of political opinions. It wn* mi possible to do otherwise than compare the Statpainht with itself. He rediculed the flowery language m purts of the Statement, ttfter which peoplo w,cre inclined to »ny " bunkum." The Government had not shown by one single action the desire to give effect to the beautiful seuti.neuts contained in the Statement. The Premier took < credit for the order pervading Treasury, Audit, and Control, but forgot that tho labor? oi tji© Finance Committee last bession brought -that aboirt. lie regretted that no such committee wus appomtod now, as nothing but hostile motions could throw any light on sundry matters except such » tominittee. H« was of oj.ip on thai raising 1 iant at 4 per cent was not neces-.irily economy ; as when minimum prico realised w about JtSO JOs, the colony really pars £i 16s 10J 1 percent per ,innum Had debentures been fixed at 4J per cent, per annum, better bargains had been made. He considered that putting Loans on the New £t!al»ind and Australian markets was a tmatake, calculated to frighten homo capitalists, who think thy,t we nro borrowing large and small sums from any oiw at ny\ price.. It wns also hard to say to the Provinces you shall oi'ilv borrow in the Colonies, and then spoil their ehimce by flooding those markets with colonial debentures. The Treasurer said, put by £800,000 undeniable paper for a rainy dry j but. it so, why hud ho rushed a paltry £200.000 into the market which looked as if he was hard up. He found fault with the mode in vwhich the liability of the colony was stated as ono sumi and tho contingent liability on account of tho Provinces anothe»-=-both made the gko lijjdity of the colony The policy of the Government " The search after equilibrium" he ridiculed as simply meaning having no mind or opinion of their own ; tins was shown previously in the financial statement. Heroin a different policy to that of 1871 was announced, but no internal evidence would convince him of the Premier's jmoerity m it while saying that I'm- colony would do colonial works and the provinces proi vincial works Up proposed to deal *ith real pro\incial works as road boards. Mr Fitzherbert proved the fallacy of speiking of the Imperial Government as the undisclosed guarantor of the colonial loan, and dwelt' on the ab>urJity of applying for the loan to the Colonial Government as re- | ferruig to the proj incus. The proposals for the prov inces to ; borrow for provincial works were coupled with such conditions that »o province could borrow except ruinously. The theory and practice of log-wiling was perfectly described as by a master of the art m the statement. In faot he was convinced that tb-e Treasurer did not wish to give efl'ect to •well beautiful aentiuiefits expressed. Regarding public works the colony received but little fop expenditure. The proposals amount to this— "grab all laj>d." The provisions that the Middle Island should give land to double the amount as security for railways, and two-thirds of lanil in tho North Ltlund betaken for the 6amc, were alarming. It would lock up the land from tfie settlement, and waa a wholesale and daring ignoring of the policy held by tlie colony for seventeen year*, that land should be' localised, ft is remarkable that the statement jpontaiutyj but one short paragraph on Immigration, and that the platitude was only fit for the Vice Regal *paoch. The evidonco before Parliament showed how the GoT«ij»uie»t had utterly foiled in the work of settlement, had taken the work on* of the hands oi the producer, gnd fuiled to show who pould do better. All that hud been done had been done at tho instigation of the producer. TUo polmy touched briefly on the tariff, and said ministers might make a trunk line of railw.n; but if their policy were carried out there would bo no local works nor roads, bridges, or settlement, *««1 wiMiout them the colony would be de#d The Pjrejni^r fy'Ully replied the honorable member's reui objection seemed to be that he could not get his £210 (XX) from the difficulty of the piw him** borrow ing in the A tut rahan markets. tSuch operations would not clash with home transactions. lie regretted that he could not alter the policy to suit the lion member. When he was in ofliee he did not appear to be so anxious for a settlement. Wellington had no right to complain of the General Government. He had learnt all his log-rolling from the lion member. Tho policy of the Gro\ernnient was to establish branch lines, and leave thp local yorks to tlu> provinces. He then replied to the remarks on the tanfl, and rallied Mr Kolleston a* coming out in a new character as the poor man's friend. Mr Pearce asked whether the Houao wns to understand that Government would not consider the question of a reduction of duty to five jx-r «p|it on certain articles. The Premier snd that ho would not say they Mould consider the proposals, but he thought tlie tariff should be uniform. The motion that the House should go into coinmittco was earned, m order that the tariff question might be Advanced a formal gtage. Mr Tairoa jcbterdijj- opened the question of confiscated lands by giving notiue of a (juestion to-morrou. "What steps should be taken by lJntirth subjects attainted of treason m New Zealand entailing by such attaint forfcituro of estate to obtain either for himself ov Ins heirs, reversal of attainder?"

Wedne*day. Tho Government stated that they would press on the District Court* Bill this session. A clause would be introduced giving Judges of Supreme Court power to exercise District Courts* jurisdiction. If member* wished to see the session 'horlciud, the Government was wilhug to take an extra day jM.>r peek for Government biHines". A resolution was reporte<l from tlie Committee on Ways and Means, and the hon Sir Vogel moved the eeoond reading of the bill, b Mr Murray objected to the 10 per cent, dutios, and advocated raising extra revenue othurwue. He had received a telegram stating that 7 per cent, would yield a large extra revenue. Mr McGhhvrdy advocated a land tax. Mr Gillies referred to his own efforts to modify tho tariff formerly. He said that ho noticed by section 11 th«it new appointments were oontemplnted. Appointing fixed export duties w ns not wise, for tho sale of the Customs revenue The opinions of skilled persons should bo obtained. Mr Hunter »aid that ad valorem duties afford greater facilities for delivery. Mr Webb ndvooatud ad valorem duties, but considered 10 per cent, too high, Mr Johnson compared the different tariffs, show n<r the increase under the new tariff. He olinllenged the ('minus•ionrr of Customs to produce statistics. Mr Reynolds said there wai a statement on the table from actual invoices. Mr Johnson said he would consider tho tariff item by ilom in committee. He said the Government evidently wanted the House to vote for increased taxation. The consumer really paid the Customs duties. He quoted proofs of increase under the now tariff. He did not behove tho statement that the proposed duties would not increase tho tariff beyond £10,000 or £12,000. Mr Shepherd said ilicre was no distinct information before the Home m support of the alteration, and there was no reason for so much angiy feeling and complication throughout tiie country. The increased duties might deorease the consumption on certain Fraud could easily bo cheeked by heavy penult io* The new t.iriffw.is not noeded. Whatever increase of revenue was necessary for the country would be romi'diml by i»< >. i,ed population. He would not oppose the bill, but fleautM more information. Mr Cuthb*rt«on wu I the rrque«t for exaot information was unreasonable- He saul the ad valorem *VBtem was elastic. The duties wore more ensilj collc-t.-rl. The argument that a uniform tariff of 10 per cent, would nwivase tho revenue was fallacious. The stagnation of traJe would continue contemporary with their dUcusiion Mr ISoynoMs sni.l he would urge upon the Government the responsibility of the provnt ranlf. The present time was not proper time to discuss itetus in tUe tariff, He hoped the Hmiso wouM pass the bill. Mr Stafford .efened to tho apeech of Mr Johnson, and .sud that the tut iff would f.ill he.ivily on the consumers, ll vvinil.l !jo coiibulculjly uicieiwed in the proposed taxa-

tionatthe \-cry time when tk» £m»mw? ettfrwi ***»*■*» i no intention .to increase taxation. U «■«* f«&e ;a*«t6«wpt to eutrap the House. The C'i>U/»«winnw tii ivas*to»3 «W not undeserving of reprehension £«* n^gtetos? (U Mtfom himself on tho tan(F question. He nr»a: »«i |wep*>*:d ito" oppose the second reading of the bill, b«t &« wwxltf di-vide the House with the view of securing » autacftut ott «a«r- 1 tain articles, j Mr l'.uker, Nelson, said fresV taxatLm cfarfd wtftWj imposed without more inforwaAiou. 'j Mi Revdor Wood mid j,{ tie Gov&nuu*.t «w*i«t *4t J ai l i\ cat a valuation far the 3«*t st&sia* wkdt tfn&e «6i Jli be pi iced ni return o/t' mjports a».l evpw-ta. Last. sawUm ' the Colonial Tieasuiwr had pionaiseti to m«re*ce 6h« *ag,#u j distilled spirits. Would he introduce snefc « bjjli tbia I session. Mr Reynolds replied in tbj nogatire. Mr Woo.l said tho Q-ovenunent promised to introduce such a hill last session. Mr Brandon hoped the Governnjeat; would reduce the duty on hat ness. Mr R')lleston oppoged the tiriff because the House was not informed regarding the leveuue returns (under the present and former tat iff. Tho tariff" would press hardly upon the industrial classes aitd tho people with small lixed incomes. j Mr Vogol said tho difficulty on the part of the Opposition was uuderaLandmy the result of the change. He objecte \ to intro lucuiig {jutj&tiuus as to the working of the measure into the discussion If any olasi (4 the community were liable to bear taxation it was the \jroiking men, who had no light to complain for bearing a fair share of taxation under ad valorem duties. Singe tlift new tariiT was established the warehousemen had beeu very active, and no doubt were ovei looking their own interests, and expending a large amount of public spirit. He had himself received a large number of telegram*. No doubt they were acting in the inteiests of the working men. He could not compare the present ivnd former tun (fa, as them \tm no common point of departure The new tariff would increase the duties ou expcusiive articles, but would decrease them on others. Ho hud reeeiyud a. telegram from a manufacturer of boots and shoes m Duncdin, .stating that he would havo to close his business if the new tan IF ptused; and another telegram had been received from an importer of boots and shoes to the same, effect. The result, therefore, would bo that they would have to dispense altogether with boots and shoes. The Goreinment could not put any more : information on the table than n compilation from a few invoices at the disposal o'- tho Government. The new tariff would not yield a loss. If it did yield an increase it would enable the country to pay so-no of its debts. The country ought not to be ruled by the importer*. Figures showed that the new tariff would yield JC90.000 increase on the revenue. The Government were prepared to take the responsibility ,ef the tariff. The Governor has issued a warrent, ordering an enquiry into the grounding of the Ladybird. The investigation will be held in nbout tew days. Captain Daniels is at present in Whanganui. In the House, yesterday, in reply to Mr Tairoa, the Hon D McLean said that ti special Act would be necessary to obtain a reversal of the attainder of treason by natives involring forfeiture of land. In the House of Repiesentatives to-day, in committee on the Customs Tariff Bill, a long discussion took place on tke Bill. The Speaker spoke at length advocating the ad valorem system. He criticised the Budget, and s«iid that last session £125.001) w.is chaiged to the loan account for capitalisation of interest, instead of being prov ided for out of current revenue. Mr Vogel said the principle was right, an Income tax j was objectionable. It would bear heavily on conscientious i people. A property t.ix would prevent improvement, and hinder settlement. The liabilities of the colony were not heavy. They could be doubled or trebled without" ajay serious mischief to the welfare of the colony. Mr .Reynolds, in reply to Mr Johnson, n»id that foe, Melbourne valuation would be placed on the sjo«ds imported direct from Victoria. In the discussion on the, schedule of the bill Mr Johnßon moved an amendment that the uniform ad valorem duties be reduced from ten to seven and a-balf per cent, instead -of ten per cent.