HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 3036, 27 July 1893, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30 p m. THE ** AI/TERBD" PUBLIC WOKKS Si-ATB-MENT. The Premier laid on the table the explanation of Mr Blow, Under-Secretary for Public Worke, respecting the alteration in the Public Works Statement last session. Mr Blow'a explanation was to the effest that he alone wag responsible for the mistake chat occurred in the Statement, and that Mr Seddon was in no way to blame for it. f The Premier moved that Mr Blows explanation be referred to the Public Accounts Committee. Mr Rolleston seconded the motion. In J doing so he said that he hoped the charge i he had made against the Premier would also be gone into by the Committee. That charge was that the Premier proceeded to argue on incorrect figures contained in the Public Works Statement, and that although the figures were altered no alteration was made to the public in the remarks made by the Minister for Public Works before the figures were corrected. The motion was agreed to. . labor. Mr McKenzle (Clutha) moved the adjournment of the House on the question he asked with regard to the unemployed at Catlin's river. A long discussion ensued on the unemployed question and the co-operative system of labor. A large number of members took part in the discussion, which was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. THB FINANCIAL DIBATB.

Mr Sandford resumed the debate on the Financial Statement. He thought Mr Ward would prove a worthy successor to his late lamented chief. He defended the Government finance and resented the assertions that because the members of the Government parly criticised the Statement, it: showed a falUng off in their allegiance. They could not conceal the fact that the unemployed difficulty existed, but it had been grossly exaggerated for interested reasons. Ihls seriously interfered with the Government in dealing with it. Mr Rhodes congratulated Mr Sandford on the tempeiate tone of his sp ech. He complimented Mr Ward on being the first native born Colonial Treasurer, but he could cot congratulate h'm en his Budg-fc, a<3 it was not hia work. Referring to the financial position of the colony, he warned the Government that unless the public works expenditure was reduced, they would, if a f&H occurred in tho revenue, find themselves without any money ac the end of the year. He objected to the taxation proposals, one ground being that they pressed unduly heavily on tha country as compared with the town ; but lie supported the exemption . of improvements. Mr 0. H. Mills referred to the lamented dpath of the Pi-eiaier, and said that tha colony could ill »fford to lose the services of such financiers as Sir HarryAtkinson and Mr Balla?.:ce. Dr New mm protested against the plat form speeches of Ministers, and deprecated the manner in which the Premier Had spoken of Sir Harry Atkinson, end slandered him He lidiculed the statement that the Government was a nonborrowing Government. After a few words by Mr Kelly, fljr Shera moved the adjournment of the debate.

The House rose at 1 20 a.m.