OUR RAILWAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 163, 11 July 1900, Page 2

OUR RAILWAYS.

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.

COMPLETION OF MAIN TRUNK LINES. .

(By Telegraph—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day

In the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon Mr \Vilford (Wellington Suburbs) moved a lengthy resolution to the effect that it is desirable that greater progress should be made in the settlement of the lands of the colony by a more rapid construction of the railway lines now tinder construction, with such additions' and alterations as may be deemed necessary after enquiry, and that a Select Committee of :15 members of the House, namely, the Hon. J. G. Ward, Messrs McNab, Morrison, VV. -Fraser,-■Stevens, Monk, Me--Guire, .)". Allen, Colvin. Collins; Guinness, Mills, Meredith,' Hon. Major Steward, and the mover be set up, with power to call for persons and papers, and to report within one month on. "the cost of. completing the various trunk lines, probable receipts and expenditure of the lines when, completed/ and probable rate of '•% interest. The hon. member, in support of his motion, . said the time had come when the railways should be pushed on. He iVa's not, however, in favour of large bor-, rowing for the purposes stated, and he suggested that the Government should consider the question of constructing light lines, which would open up the country for settlement, provide easy access to markets, and enlarge the \ output, of produce. He appealed to hon. members to regard the question frflm a colonial and not a mere local standpoint.

Mr Guinness said the House had distinctly affirmed that it was the duty of the Government to borrow money for the completion of the main lines of railways, and not to take the funds necessary out of the pockets of, the taxpayers. It was, hot just that the present generation should bear the whole burden of constructing the railways by which the future generation would "benefit. As the House, had. affirmed the necessity for completing the lines by borrowed money, the time had gone by for discussion upon the principle. He condemned the system by which money was taken out of revenue from taxation' to construct railways.which enhanced the value of properties owned by wealthy lam! owners. He thought the colony should borrow a million a year for a period of three or four years until tho lines were completed. -

Mr Mills (Wairau) advocated .the completion of the main' Trunk lines in tho South Island. In the course of his speech ho said there had been expended on public works in the South Island a total of £12,000.000. against £7,000,000 in the North Island. -

Mr Stevens (Manawatu) advocated the completion of the North Island Main Trunk Railway by the Central route. The Hon. Major Steward supported the motion. • • WHAT THE AUCKLAND PEOPLE WANT. Mr La'wry said, whilst the Auckland people would be glad to see the railway completed, they desired that it should pass through country that would pay. Between. Marton and Pipiriki there was some of the' finest country in the world. It was a great farce for the Wellington Railway League to send a Special Commissioner to examine the route. There were 40 miles of country in the Central route on which there was not one solitary settler. Would''it not be more beneficial to take the line through payable country than across Mr Stevens' desert? The aim of the advocates of this line was to monopo-' lise the trade of the rich districts on the West Coast of the North Island, and to shut Auckland out of it. A SOUTH ISLAND. COMMITTEE. Mr Massey deprecated waste of time ,in discussing the question of routes. Speaking as an Auckland member, he was willing to leave the question of route to the Government, to Parliament, or to engineering experts. In setting up the committee care should have been taken to represent all parts of the colony, but 11 out of the 15 members of the proposed committee were South Island representatives, whilst Auckland was only to have one. He proposed that the names of the Hon. J. G. Ward and Mr McNab be omitted, in order to give notice for the substitution of two more Auckland members.

NOT A BUSINESS-LIKE PROPOSAL.

Mr Fowlds complimented the mover for his ability .in working up the. ABC into which he had divided his resolution, but if -any member of a business firm were to propose- such a thing as was expressed in the motion the result would be that he would probably be landed in gaol. The majority of the proposed committee were South Island representatives, and .if Auckland interests were to be intrusted to that committee Its chance of fair play would be very small indeed. About four millions of money had been expended in railways in the South Island in excess of the amount spent in the North Island, and at least a million more was spent in the Southern portion of the North Island than in the North. Auckland had for years contributed a quarter of the customs duties of the colony, and had a population of one quarter the total of the colony. If the motion were passed it would not provide for expenditure in the Auckland district. He would oppose the motion, because it entirely ignored the interests of Auckland.

Captain Russell complained that Hawke's Bay was not represented on the committee. He characterised the debate as apathetic. 7-Ie regarded the line between Auckland and Wellington as the most important of those proposed. Regarding the slow progress made in the construction of the Makohine vaduct, he pointed out that the Atbara bridge over the Nile was completed in one .year. He believed the completion of the lines mentioned in the motion would involve an expenditure of £7,000,000.

NOT A GOVERNMENT MOVE.

The Minister of Railways declared ■that the Government had been no party to the motion, but the proposals of the Government with regard to the railways would be placed before the House shortly, and he ventured to say would be satisfactory to the House and the country. He pointed out that the Atbara bridge was constructed on the link system, wheh. would not be suitable for New Zealand, and cheap coloured laboui was employed. The materials were made in America. The railway policy must be considered with regard to the "general interests of the colony

as a whole. The Government would frame the railway policy upon the reasonable wants of the colony and the general .Convenience, but they would not go in for heavy borrowing. The time was not ripe for it. He would lay on the table in a few days a return showing- that the concessions made on freights amounted to £75,----000. He regretted that the question had been raised of the North Island versus Sodth.

MrWitbeford was glad.-to observe that Ministers were disposed to accept the situation in relation to railway extension.

.Ml Napier protested against the levity which had characterised the debate. The speech of the mover was "mere.sound and fury, signifying nothing," and the motion itself was vague, but the Auckland members did not intend to be snuffed out. They intended to press on the completion of the North Islajid, Trim); Railway. He declared that no. country in the world v/o.ulcl construct railways: on the same system as in New Zealand. If the lailway expenditure were distributed ip.' order to pacify certain /members, the House would relinquish its functions as the trustee of the people. Tt was absolutely a crime for the House to waste time in mere discussion. An attempt, had been made to introduce the apple of discord among1 the Auckland members, but they would continue to be united on the railway qiKTiion. At present Auckland resembled an island in its isolation from tlu» rest of the colony, and it was humiliating that it should be in that condition. If the lands purchased out of the ear-marked loan were devoted to their proper object, there would be no necessity to borrow. THE. PREMIER'S VIEWS.

The Premier made a forcible speech. Tie said the whole question was one of means, Last year £1,374,303 was expended on public works in the colouy. This year £200,000 would be required for defence alone; /whilst rifle ranges would cost, another £30,000. Under existing circumstances it would be very unwise to go into the London money market with a loan, and consequently other arrangements had to be made. With regard to the million loan authorised last year, he pointed out that the Queensland loan had been raised at 92. Rolling stock, advances to settlers, and other objects would absorb a large sum, and he was decidedly opposed to stop all other expenditure in order to complete the North Island Main Trunk Railway. THE DEBATE ADJOURNED."

At one-o'clock in the morning, Mr McGuire (Egmont) moved the adjournment of the debate, which, after a brief discussion, was agreed to on a division by 2(5 .to 15, and the House adjourned at 1.25.

The folowing notices were r;ven to-day:—Mr Jackson Palmer to move that he following be added to Air Wilford's motion relative to railway lines, after the end of paragraph (F): "(G) The cost of completing the Thames-Tauranga railway from Paeron to Tauranga, and the probable revenue to be derived therefrom. (H) The cost of' 'completing the North Auckland railway to Whangarei, and the probable revenue to be derived therefrom." " "