LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1863, 14 June 1884, Page 2

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

j THURSDAY. ' Mr llichmond moved the Add^ess-in-Reply. Sir O. Wliitmoie epoko at length in praise of the Governor. He was opposed to the propei ty tay, and in favour of a land tax to be spent locally. He was in favour of muTngiation, but opposed Mi HollcoWs land policy. He believed m Mr Bryce's policy, but was opposed to fedeiation. Messis OH\or and McLean spoke, and the debate was adjourned.

FRIDAY. All other business was postponed on eccount of the political crisis, and Mr McLean lcsumed the debate on the address. He strongly advocated the new native land policy. He hoped at the im pending election the South uould lettiin men pledged to the new system. He ridiculed the tlneatened dangers of Fedeiation, and said the 1 isle from convicts must be seriously considered and action taken. On the Northern Truuk Railway question party ieeling should be forgotten and that route adopted which uonld most rapidly advance the North Island, for it was impossible for one part of the colony to benefit without the whole colony benefiting. He defended the action of Government on the grain tan if. He blamed Government, however, for ever reducing the r.ites. He argued great prosperity to the North Island when there was a good native land policy and the country was opened up by railways, and the Northern railways would pay far better when completed instead of being left in sections. The Government could go to the country in ripe old age, and with a grand record, though it was well that a Government should not last too long; and if another fairly able and practicable Government could be formed, a change might be beneficial ; and if there was a new Government he hoped it would, when leaving off, have as creditable a career as the present M inistry to point to. He laughed at the gloomy fears of some as to the colony's prospects. The present slight depression was ephemeral, and would soon pass away, and he considered the outlook most encouraging. Capt. Fraser spoke' strongly mi condemning theie'deration proposals. Mr, Waterhouse considered emphatically that the depression was not of the temporary, nature Government, thought, but that its, effects w^ould be felt for tens of years. The Repression was dueto our having- Jong been living in a fool's' 'paradise ; to the reckless extravagance of many yelfs* which has caused 'an ehorn&ns inflation of land values prndfictitiousprosperity^ It would not be justifiable to make jtlie fcforbnerri Trunk Railway;- i seeing, that neatfly'alLthelandiwas in .'na_tis\e s \hands. He was wholly opposed to perpetual leading '(applause),' which' w,a's [opposed to the genius of the-race. He approved of ,of by land- boacd3p,a^d» was in favour, of federation, nqped to see uU^ .•. , ,»",,;. '