HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 3031, 21 July 1893, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wbmjngtoic, July 20. The House met at 2.30 p m. THE FINANCIAL DEBATI.

Mr Allen resumed the debate on the Financial Statement. He criticised Sir Robert Stout's exposition of the doctrine of "New Liberalism." It appeared to him a sort of Socialism, that could not be worked out. He thought that the lease in perpetuity was a disgrace to the colony, and that the co-operative system of labor was doing harm to the country instead of relieving the unemployed difficulty. The estimates for the present year were higher them they had ever been, and so far from saving £53,000, there was an increase of £134,000. The Premier's claim to have reduced the public debt of the colony was a sham, as it had been actually increased by more than half a million. He criticised at some length the public works policy of the Government), which, he thought, conld not fail to end in disaster. His opinion was that the Financial Statement showed nothing but a hand t» mouth policy from beginning to end. Mr Fisher complained strongly of tht action of the Government in opposing the production of several returns which he had moved for, giving information of interest to the publis on various subjects. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr Fisher continued his remarks. Beferiing to Sir Robert Stout's speech of the previous night, he *»aid that the hon. gentleman in that speech had opposed the graduated tax of the present Government, the exemption of improvements, and what he called the eternal lease of the Ministry. That proved to him (Mr Fisher) that there were going to be two kings of Brentford, and that during the coming election Sir Robert Stout would endeavor to attract members from ihe Government party. He referred to the policy of the Ministry, and condemned them for their interminable interference with everybody in the name of democracy. If there was any surplus it was the duty of Government to feed the education system, but Ministers invariably replied- that there were bo funds for necessary fcducstional works, and that proved that there was in reality no surplus. Ihe fact was t hat the Government were in a state of impecuniosity, and they could not carry on the work of the colony successfully. He, however, congratulated Mr Ward personally on the care with which he had prepared his Statement, and he would give him credit for having honestly tried to set before the country the true state of its business.

Mr McLean, after answering Mr Fiiher in regard to several local matters mentioned in his speech, and making extended reference to Mr Fisher's parliamentary career, said the Financial Statement was a great improvement on previous Budgets, as it showed the debit and credit &i< «• clearly. It was a reflection on thj Treasurer and the officials ot the Department to say that the balance of £512,281 was not a correct one. It was, 'he believed, a pure invention of the enemy to say that the Civil Service was under a reign of terror, and he had the opinion ot one head of a Department to the effect that the Service was never in a better condition than at present. He whs in favor of the railways being placed under the direct control of Parliament. He had always beeu in favor of exempting itnprovmenta, but be did not very much favor the graduated tax. As long as the Government pursued their present policy he would be found supporting them. Mr Wilson complimented the Treasurer on bringing down such a clear balancenheet as he had submitted to the House. He was glad to find that an additional vote was proposed for surveys, as such expenditure was absolutely necessary in bush districts, but he regretted that no proposals were made for dealing with the flax industry, and that this staple product of the colony was not adequately represented at Chicago Exhibition. Surtly out of the surplus the Government might grant a bonus for the encouragement of feuch an important industry. He was entirely in favour of the removal of taxation from improvements. Mr J. W. Kelly moved the adjournment of the debate. The motion was agreed to. The House rose at 1.25 a.m.