LAST NIGHT'S SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. The No-Confidence Debate.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1413, 23 July 1881, Page 3

LAST NIGHT'S SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. The No-Confidence Debate.

Mr Hursthouse continued the debate. Referring to Mr Wood, he admitted his brilliant talents, but said that by mistaken conduct ho had dragged constitutional government through the mire. Instead of the fall which had taken place in wages being an indication of stagnation, he thought they would have to fall lower before many industries could be profitably carried on and real prosperity established. He strongly supported the Government proposals as supplying a concrete form of local government. At the same time, there was, perhaps, too much government. He did not think both counties and road boards were required, and of the two he preferred the road boards. If any simple scheme for opening up the country were proposed he would support it, but in the meantime he would \ote with the Government. What was now wanted was the maximum of funds with a minimum of official expenditure. He advocated repealing the Triennial Parliaments Bill. Mr Gisborne reviewed the history of local government in New Zealand. The provinces should have been improved not abolished. With the proposal to rate Crown lands he agreed, and to some extent also with that of rating native land, but he totally disagreed with the proposed method of distributing the funds by means of a paid board. He denounced the Disqualification Act. Such a proposal was demoralising to the House. He defended Mr Ormond's action in moving the amendment. It was no satisfaction to districts like the West Coast, languishing for self-government, to be told that the general administration of government had given general satisfaction. Were the amendment to be rejected they would see the humiliating spectacle of another session passing without anything being done, for even some of those who would vote against the amendment would also vote against their measures. The Government might long ago have introduced the Redistribution Bill without waiting for the census returns to secure mathematical precision. They could even last session have remedied the gross inequality existing. He regretted that the late Government had not left a local government bill in their pigeon-holes when they \rent out, so that the present Government might have appropriated it, as they had all the other measures they had passed. He would like to see districts larger than the counties, but smaller than the old provinces, with power to the inhabitants of each to elect a government or governing body, having full and exclusive power to deal with all local matters, by legislation or otherwise. Such bodies should also have defined revenues to appropriate, and, each district should settle for itself the nature of its subordinate bodies, whether road boards or otherwise Mr Whyte agreed that the Government proposals were not perfect, but he objected to turning the Ministry out and having a dissolution and then another session, although he would not at all object to a second honorarium. At the same time he did not see much chance of improvement oil the present occupants of the Government benches, and he should vote against the amendment.

During his recent visit to Japan, a very high compliment was paid to Sir E. J. Reed at a dinner 'given by Admiral Kawamura. A dainty diah was se f . before h,im ? from which ( directly it was cut there flew bat a' number' of small birds with written sentiments of welcome attached to their legs. •Tnta American actor, Edwin Booth, has had the honour of dining with the Prince of Wales.