GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3124, 23 July 1892, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. FRIDAY. The Council met at 2.30 / The Settled Land Bill, Orakei Succession Investigation Bill, and the Kaiapoi Native Reserve Bill were put through the final stagoe. The Oyster Fisheries Bill was further considered and amended in committee. The Council rose at 3.15. HOUSE OF KEPRESENTATIVES. THURSDAY. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr Scobie Mackenzie, continuing the debate on the Financial Statement, said a more vicious or dangerous finance was never proposed to the House than that contained in the Statement. Those who knew the Premier in public life would recognise in him the Jubilee Plunger of New Zea/and. Touching upon the expenditure of last year, he said it was £120,000 more last year than the previous year. Referring to the proposals of the Government in regard to local borrowing, he pointed out that when Major Atkinson had proposed to borrow from the Trust funds of the colony, the present Premier had attacked it strongly, and described it a? borrowing in an underhand manner. He (Mr Mackenzie) criticised the Colonial Treasurer's financial abilities, and said he was improving, but too slowly to be of any use to this generation. He censured the Government for trading on the financial ignorance of the people by stating that they had reduced the public debt of the colony when they had done nothing of the sort. This was the first time in the history of the colony that only individuals of the right colour were appointed to positions at the disposal of the Government. The people at present might not see the impostures that were being practised upon them by the present Government, out they would in time see that this Liberalism without freedom wns no more than the body after the soul had left it. The Hon. W, P. Reeves pointed out that Mr Mackenzie, when Major Atkinson's proposals to borrow the public trust funds came before the House, had supported them, and denied that it was borrowing. Now, however, when the present Government weie doing exactly the same thing, he condemned it vehemently. This was an instance of his consistency. He (Mr Reeves) freely admitted that a portion of the surplus was due to Major Atkinson, the able and determined Treasurer who had charge of the finances so long, but it was not due to the members for Mount Ida or

Bruce, but it was he (Mr Reeves) and othei

members of the then Opposition, who had forsaken party ties', and supported Major Atkinson on that memorable occasion. He referred at length to the position of the public debt, and asserted there was a net reduction of £117,000. Dealing with the question of the withdrawal of capital which was so often referred to by (he Opposition members, be asserted that the rate of interest '.van not higher than usual, and said he had never until the present year noticed respectable firms advertise money at 5| per cent. He denied that capital was being withdrawn, as stated by the Opposition, He had been accused of being a socialist and a communist, but he was no communist. In conclusion, he said members should tiike every proposed change on its merits. If it were a good change they should accept it, but if bad it should be rejected. Mr Rhodes said his opinion was that the only thing foreshadowed was fresh taxation, which meant increasing taxes on land, and this was a serious question for the farmers.

Mr Sandford moved the adjournment of the debate, which was agreed to. The House rose at half-past twelve a.m. FRIDAY. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr Hutchinson (Dunedin), Mr Reeves said he was having a short Act drafted which would probably deal with the question of carrying into effect a judicious system of compulsory attendance at schools. In reply to other questions, it was stated that a Bill would be brought down this session to repeal the Arms Act, and that nndeavonrs would be made to get the number of school books in the public schools reduced to the smallest limit. Mr Sandford resumed the debate on the financial statement. He said the Government had been chargeld again and again with having no views of their own. He fnr one bad never sunk his individualism, nor had he ever gone into a division on any matter under the whip of those who chose to drive, and he said those who supported the Government could give good reasons tor that support. They had no choice in the matter a» the Government were prepared to go to a greater extent in the direction of their views than the Opposition.

Hβ was still speaking at the 5.30. ndjouromeot. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr Fish, referring to the Government administration, gave it as his opinion that handwriting was on the wall for them. A.< au instance of the terrorism practised '>n the civil servants by the present administration, he said that in previous sessions members 'if the Civil Service freely conversed with members of the House, but this year there was a marked change in that respect, and one of those gentlemen had actually stated that it was not safe with the powers that be for them to be seen conversing with occupants of the Opposition benches. Rnferring to the financial statement he pointed out £350,000 was not sufficient for the prosecution of the public works and he considered the pnper course for the Government to adopt was to riise a moderate loan of £500,000 which should be ear-marked for special work. By present proposals of the Government depended on their next surplus for these works, but if the finances failed there would simply he stagnation and commercial depression. He fearlessly asserted that unless something occurred to hurl Ministers from the benches financial rum would soon over take the colony. He spoke strongly against the cooperative system introduced by the Government, and he objected to this inannor of bolstering up the working classes. Mr Eirnshaw, referring t > Mr Fish's frequent changes of front, quotod from several speeches made by him on former occasions in proof of his statement. As b> the Financial Statement he pointed out that the press which had howled down the Government policy and stated they were marching to a deficit had on the whole received the Statement with remarkable favour. Speaking of the land question, he hoped the time would never come when they would sell the neople's patrimony for a mess of pottage. He was opposed to freehold tenure, although he would not vote to turn the Government out on ihat ground. (l<eft sitting midnight.)