PARLIAMENTARY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3167, 23 August 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Monday. The House met at 7.30 p.m. PBJVILE&E. Mr Pyke -withdrew hie notice of motion on the privilege question. The Speaker explained the reason why he interupted'Mr Pyke on Friday was because he was convinced that no breach of privilege wae involved in the matter. GAMING AND LOTTERIES 8i11,.' On Mr Dick's motion, after a brief discussion, the Council amendments in the Gaming and Lotteries Bill were agreed to. The Bill was therefore passed minus clauses 3 and 15. BAII/WAY CONSTETTOTION , AND IAND BILL, Mr Hall moved the second reading of the Eailwaya Construction and Land Bill. After reviewing what had been done in railway construction, he pointed out that tbere were three methods open for carrying the works further, one to borrow money as heretofore, another to guarantee interest on cost of construction, and the third to give grants of land. From tbe two first we were debarred for gome time to come, and tbe bill proposed to adopt the latter system, which bad worked ■well in the United States and Canada. Due provision would _ be made in all contracts that the land given was properly settled, and not held for mere speculative purposes. Sir George Grey utterly condemned the principle of the bill, which would tend to make the population beggars, and create a class of tenants paying rent to absentee landlords. He advocated direct borrowing for the jndicious prosecution of public •works, or such a system founded on true principles as his Government had proposed in The land grant system had proved a curse in America. Mr Eichardson supported the principle of the bill, but pointed out that_ great alterations would bare to be made in the details to render it operative. Mr Bastings urged that the bill should be referred to a select oommitte of practical men. In ita present shapo it would be

utterly useless, like the District Kailwaye Act) and from similar causas. Mr G-isbornc supported the bill. Mr Macandrow declared tho bill useless, and mourned the non-adoption of tho plan proposed in 1878. He was altogether opposed to further foreign borrowing. Mr Levin warmly supported the bill, but urged tho necessity for making its provisions more liberal. Mr Oliver approved of the bill, and thought it could in committee bo easily made effective. Tho plan proposed was the only one by which many highly necessary lines could bo constructed for a long time to come. Mi* Moss opposed the bill, as it -would not be much use m the North Island, where there was a scarcity of any Crown lands. Mr Collins supported the bill. It would give Nelson and other places which had not been well treated heretofore a chance of getting railways, and at any rate exempt them from being taxed to make lines elsewhere. Mr De Lautour did not think companies could borrow money so advantageously as I the colony, and that indirectly we should pay too much for our railways under these proposals. Mr Reid supported the bill, but admitted that it had little chance of passing through the late period it was brought clown. Mr Levestam opposed any proposal to make other lines until the trunk lines originally promised were completed. Nelson had only mineral lands, and would derive no benefit from tho bill. Then when other districts did benefit, it would be used as an argument to deprive Nelson of its representation. Mr Pitt supported the principle of the bill, but pointed out a number of alterations required in the details. Ho also pointed out that, although this bill did not deal with the question, the Government were proposing a deviation of the South Island trunk line as originally promised. He attached no importanee'to Sir G-eorge Grey's objections. Mr Seddon strongly opposed the bill as a departure from the public works policy as accepted by the country. Eailways constructed by companies as proposed would complete the lines of the colony. The land was as much a colonial asset as our railways, and it would be as reasonable to sell the lines we had made as to give away the land to make new lines. The G-overnment could borrow cheaper than any company, and should do so to make profitable lines like the Wellington and Foxton one, which was too good a thing to give to any company. Mr Gibbs opposed the bill. Mr "Weston, while warmly approving of its principle, supported tho reference to a select committee to improve the details. Mr J. T. Fisher supported the bill, and regretted that it had not been passed ten years ago. Mr Shepherd altogether opposed the bill. It would be reckless extravagance to allow companies the terms proposed to construct railways. The land proposed to be given them would in most cases be worth more then the whole cost of the work. The bill was in principle and detail essentially vicious. Mr Hall replied, promising to consider the suggestion about referring the bill to a select committee, and expressing his readiness to accept any reasonable amendments. The bill was read a second time on a division of 31 to 5. The House rose at 1.20. Tuesday. The House met at 2.30 p.m. THE PUBLIC WOEKS POETFOLIO. Mr Bastings gave notice to ask if Ministers intend to carry on the business of the country with the Government as at present constituted, or whether they intend to appoint a Minister of Public Works, and if so whether they will do so before the close of the session ?