EOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10480, 19 October 1899, Page 3

EOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

MORNING SITTING.

PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATES.

After the Telegraph Office closed thii morning, consideration of the Public Works Estimates was continued. Midland Railway, £60,000. Mr ROLLESTON and Mr DUTHTE protested against the expenditure, the former stating that he was prepared to use every means to stop useless expenditure, until they got a satisfactory explanation from the Government as to their intentions respecting the line. He contended that the country should have an opportunity of expressing an opinion as to whether the line should be further proceeded with, before any more money was soent upon it. The PREMIER said that the_Midland Railway had so often been Before tne House that he did not think it necessary to explain J anything about it. The Government was [ in no way responsible for the difficulty that had arisen with the Midland Railway Company, by which the Government was compelled to take possession and carry on the lineMr PIRANI moved to reduce the vote by £5000, as an indication that the House objects to further expenditure on the line. Lost by 30 to 21. c Mr HERRIES moved to report progress at 3.20 a.m. Captain RUSSELL complained that the Minister was attempting to force the Public Works Estimates through at one sitting. The motion to report progress was withdrawn at 4.30 a.m., and it was agreed to , pass the railway vote and meet at noon. The total railway vote passed without reduction. Progress was reported, and the House roae at 4.50 a.m. MIDDAY SITTING. The House met at noon, when consideration of the Public Works Estimates was resumed. Class 4, construction and maintenance of roads, was under discussion at the adjournment at' 1 o'clock. AFTERNOON SITTING. The House resumed at 2.30 p.m. in Committee on the Public Works Estimates. Mines Department, Great South road, Westland, £2000. Mr PIRANI moved to reduce this item by £5 as, an indication that there was a too-lavish expenditure on- goldfields generally, and the West Coast in particular. This was Josb by 33 votes to 19. Cbptain BtfSSELL said the population of the West Coast wae decreasing, and yet tihe votes, this year for that/district amounted to £106,000. He protested against such a lavish expenditure at the expense of other districts in the colony. The PREMIER defended the expenditure, contending that a large portion of the money was required to open up Crown lands. Captain RUSSELL asked for information regarding the item £15,000, prospecting deep levels at Ross Flat. Mr CADMAN explained that the vote was to be expended as a subsidy, and was in accordance with the Mines Act. ■ Mr RAWLINS did not think the House justified in passing the vote. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. EVENING~SrrTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. in Committee of Supply on the Public Works Estimates. . . Deep levels, Ross Flat, £15,000. The PREMIER defended this vote, explaining that it was subject to the company expending £35,000. Ifthe operations proved successful they would be of immense benefit to the district. Captain RUSSELL asked what were the reasons for the colony voting £15,000 to a private company, and give 100 acres of lan- for the purpose of testing ground. He considered the report of Mr Napier Bell on the subject against the proposal. Mr CADMAN explained that the money was" taken from the vote authorised by Parliament. If the House decided to go back upon the vote for deep levels, he had nothing more to say: but the company would have to spend £35.000 before they could claim the subsidy of £15.000. Mr MASSEY contended that the conditions upon which the money should be advanced should be that if the venture proved a success, the money should be paid back, and that the State should only advance money in proportion to the amount expended by the company. I "Mr TAYLOR thought that if the venture ! was as good as represented, private enterprise should carry it out. If the vote were passed, they would have some enterprising ' gentlemen drawing not Ross Flat, but the coffers of the country. There was no lack of private capital in the colony if the enterprise were a genuine one. The PREMIER denied that there wae any political advantage to him in advocating the vote, as the company and the shareholders had always been his bitterest opponents, ; but he recognised that if they were suc--1 cessful, it would prove of great advantage to the colony. Mr RAWLINS saw he had inspected the claim, and had come to the conclusion that the vote was not warranted. He did not find fault with the voting of money to assist mining, but contended that a more economical and effective system of testing the Ross Flat could be adopted. Mr R. McKENZIE contended that no more legitimate opportunity for assisting mining existed in the colony. Mr TAYLOR would sooner see the Government expend the vote on the purchase of two dredges, whch would prove much more beneficial to the colony. Mr McGOWAN, while acknowledging that he had no personal knowledge of Ross Flat, considered assistance to the goldfields highly desirable. Mr MONK contended that every ounce of gold won in the colony had cost £6. He objected to the vote as unwarranted. Mr SLJGO thought that mc Government should be very careful to make such conditions in granting the vote that the State should not be the loser. Mr PIRANI moved that the vote be struck out. This was lost by 25 to 20. Purchase of native land, £50,000, Mr MONTGOMERY asked if it were correct that the procee-s of native land sold for cash were paid into the consolidated fund? If so, the system was a bad one. i The PREMIER said the time had arrived ; when the porchaixs of native land should cease and that system would come into ope- ! ration as soon as the Act nassed, which, he ; hoped, would be this session. I Air MONTGOMERY meved that the vot* bs* reduced £500. as an indication that the I Hous» d.d not approve of the disposal of the ' proceeds of the sales of land, and that these

should be paid into the Public Works Fund instead of. the Consolidated Fund. The system of paying the proceeds of the sales of native land into the Consolidated Fund for tne purpose of swelling the surplus was bad. Mr iiOGQ said no native land was sold for cash, and charged the previous speaker with attempting to mislead the House. Air RO-LLESTON thought the Government was wasting a great deal of moneY on the purchase of native land which was|not worth the cost. Iti was no use, however, the House attempting to deal with the subject in the last 'hours of the session. Messrs KAIHAU and denounced the native land purchase system. Messrs HEKE and G. HUTCHISON ■thought the vote should be struck out. The PREMIER explained that the vote was. intended to complete transactions already entered into, but it was not proposed to enter into fresh negotiations for the purchase , of native land. i Mr HEKE moved that the item be struck out Tins 'was lost by 29 to 13. Mr MONTGOMERY'S motion to reduce i the item by-£SOO was lost by 33 to 19. ! [Class 8, public buildings, £155,170, was , under*<iiscussion when the telegraph office ' closed at 2 a.m.] j