HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 237, 3 October 1908, Page 9

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WELLEH3TON. Friday. TTMIC WOEES ESTIMATES. Shortly after 4 o'clock this aiternoon jjje House went into Committee of SupbW for the consideration oi zhe Public fooiis Estimates. Mr Arnold urged the dams of the Lawrence-Roxburgh railray, and the Minister for Railways made a statement on the subject, the chief point being that in due course provision be made for the Otago Central line. Unfortunately, most of his remarks ijthe inaudible, a misfortune that has occurred frequently of late. Mr T. Mackenzie spoke on behalf of the Catline railway, and expressed the opinion that in the neaT future the Cat_ins district would be one of the chief sources for timber supply. Many members urged the claims of local lines. Tha Minister for Bail-ways, in reply, yid that the Otago Central and other lines would receive full consideration next year. There was no reason to suppose/the Qtago Central line iwoold not le carried to an extent which was in acardance with the desires of the settlers oi that part of New Zealand. Mr Eemington said that lie had not tie least doubt from his own observation that the co-operative system had been a success on the North Isl_i_nd Main raihray. .The work had. been carried ' oat rapidly, and the cost had been well ■•.within the mark as compared with pri- ;' sate contract prices. - The vote of £900.-000 for railway construction was passed. Mr Hemes complai_3 U that the vote - for rolling stock had Seen reduced from • £230-000 to £185,000. The country, ho ' said, needed mare roflinj stock. •The Hon. W. Hall-Jones said that the | Bailway Department had a very fair amount of rolling stock, and- the vote for the previous year had been specially I large in view of the completion of the Inmk line. The Department had perhaps Jieen. slack in charging demurrage. P-AEUAMKSfTAIty BUILDINGS. A;'discussion arose in regard to the i .old Parliamentary Buildings, and the contract that was cancelled after the lire. -Mr. Massey said that the House i should be given an ear'y opportunity to discuss the scheme for the erection of j new bmldiiigs. The Minister for Public Works said that the House would have j fall opportunity to debate the matter. SCHOOL BUILDINGS. Sir. Massey said the House should be I given, details regarding the votes of j £45,000 for school buildings and £25,000 j ; for technical education. The Minister of Education said that it would be im- I poFsible to give the information asked for. Application for grants were coming ■ in aU the time, and each application had to be considered on its merits. A grant authorised in one yetr naglit .not be . expended for several years. The system followed was the only satisfactory one. Mr. Taimer said that the Minister's explanation could be easily understood, and there was no suspicion of favouritism, hut it would be satisfactory if Parliament were informed what proportion of the expenditure the various districts nce'ived In answer to some further de..j»k, the Hon. Mr. Fowlds said that were was nothing of the prison system about any of the individual schools. Sane of the schools were large, and the Wort of the Department was to break ! wem np as far as possible under the cottage system. He recognised the Wae of subdivision. TOURIST YOTT.. t. , A - k D. protested against ' w _ laTge expenditure on "so-called wnnst Tesorts." The extravagance was Deplorable- he said, and the amount of jwmey spent at Rotorua and other tourist resorts was an absolute crime. m ] public did not get the benefit. The Pwhchouse-keeper did, and the voice of

the people would be heard In the matter. The public money was needed to develop hack country, not to provide pleasures for casual visitors to the Dominion. ROADS. Mr. Herries commented on the state of the votes for roads. He contended that the back-blocks roads vote, in instances, had simply been transferred from the ordinary list of votes Tor roads. He said that so far 6_s the expenditure of votes was concerned the worst sinners were the local bodies. The Department was far in advance of them. Several members asked numbers of questions concerning particular roads, and specific votes on their districts, and the last .ote was put through at 1 a.m. BILLS P ASSET*. Amendments made in the Old Age Pensions Bill were agreed to, and bill passed. Amendments made in the Counties Bill were also agreed to, and measure passed.