WANGANUI RIVER SERVICE.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13610, 20 December 1909, Page 7

WANGANUI RIVER SERVICE.

AN ACRIMONIOUS DISCUSSION

THE PRIME MINISTER ANGRY

(SPECIAL TO "THE PBIJSS.") "WELLINGTON, December 18. Something approaching a scene took place in the House this forenoon ithort!y before the luncheon adjournment, tn« subject of discord being the annual vote of £2000 for the Wanganui Kiver improvement, and that of £700 as a subsidy towards the Wangnnui River seivice. Mr Pearce (Patea) said there was dissatisfaction on the part of settlers in the district with regard to the steamer service. He did not wish t«> sic the Government take over the present service, but in the interests of the district something would have to be done. Mr Hogan (Wanganui) declared that sot tiers were charged different prices tor the same services. Until the district naj bettor roaded tho settlers would continue at the mercy of the company. Mr T. E. Taylor: Who owns the service !' Mr Hogan: You are driving at Ministerial ownership. Mr Taylor: 1 was only asking a question. Mr Hogan went on to say that more than once it had been hinted that Ministers had an interest in the company, and the Prime Minister, over two years ago, had denied that he or any of his Ministers were interested in any way. He urged that the Prime Minister should givo the House an assurance that he would get a at-ale of charges drawn up before paying over tho subsidies. Unless this were done, he would move to reduce the vote or strike it out altogether. The Prime Minister said he saw, prior to the last election, a statement in one of tho country papers, and. there had been an allusion to it by a gentleman who was now a memoer of the House, to the effect that Lady Ward was a shareholder in the company. '"It is a dastardly lie," the speaker declared, "for, as a matter of fact, none of us owns, or ever has owned, shares iU it. Anyone is an abominable, crawling, contemptible creature to say such a thing either inside or outside the House for party capital. More than that, they are too contemptible to live. A similar statement was made with reference to Mrs Seddon,. which was also a cowardly lie." Sir Joseph stated, that even after it had been denied that Ministers were connected with the company, it had been stated that members of their families were shareholders. These were absolutely contemptible misrepresentations, not worthy of anyone. In ninety-nine out of a hundred instances the vote of £2000 for the improvement of the river went to the River Trust, which was established for the purpose, and of the £700. half was paid by the Postal Department for mail eervico and half by the Lands Department'for the purpose of assisting the settlers. If the present sen-ice was not satisfactory, the Government would have to put on their own service, or acquire the present system. Mr T. E. Taylor said he was glad to have heard, such an emphatic statement on the question of ownership. He did not know of any service in New Zealand that was so much criticised as the one under discussion. He moved that the vote be reduced by £5. Mr Hogan said now the Prime Minister had assured the Committee that he would insist on a scale of charges being drawn, up, and endeavour to secure the same treatment for farm labourers, bushmen, and roadmen as the settlers got, lie (Mr Hogan) could not support the amendment, but if no improvement wore effected, "he would be prepared to strike out the vote next session. The Prime Minister said lie would undertake to see if the company would draw up a fixed scale of charges, and he would also enquire as to whether it w%as desirable that the Government shculd acquire the service, and report to the House next session . In reply to a auestion, Sir Joseph said that'the statement that Lady Ward was a shareholder in the company had appeared in a Palmerston Ncrth. paper. Ho added: "Mr Buick knows all about it." Mr Buick said he was not sure whether he made use of'the statement. The air was so thick- with rumours at election time that Lady Ward had shares in the company, that he might have repeated the statement in the heat of debate. If he did make use of the statement he would withdraw it entirely. Upon a division Mr Taylor's amendment was rejected by 42 votes to 26. Mr Sfassey said it was a very extraordinary thine that a bushman should be chareed the same as a tourist on the WauganuL river, whilst & settler was carried for a lower rate. Ho hoped that the Government would insist upon a fixed scale of rates. He had heard! rumours that had been going about, but he took very little notice of rumours at election times. "I have," he added, "been accused of every crime in the Decalogue except murder/ and I am not sure-that I have not been accused of that. No one in this House has been slandered more grossly than I have been." Mr Laurenson: Oh, Oh! Mr 'Massey: It is a fact. If I told members all that has been said about mc it would make their hair stand on end. The Hon. T. Mackenzie: It is only an iiidication of greatness. Tho vote was subsequently agreed to. Later in the day Mr Buick said that he had looked up the reports ot his election speeches in tho Palmerston pipers, but he could find no record of any allusion by him to Lady Ward in connection with the Wanganui River service. The only reference to the rubject was a y statement to the effect that "there were peculiar tales as to the connection of the Government and the Premier with the ELatrick Company at Wanganui." This was all he could find. "Therefore," said Mr Buick, "I withdraw my apology, as I did not make the statement." Sir Joseph Ward: I am very glad to have the hon. gentleman's assurance, but I would remind him that there is a statement in another report, which makes an allusion to-Lady Ward and not to myself. Mr Buick: I have not seen it. .Sir Joseph Ward: It appeared all the same.