THE MIDLAND RAILWAY DEBATE.

Evening Star, Issue 7361, 5 November 1887, Page 2

THE MIDLAND RAILWAY DEBATE.

[From Que Paruamkntary Reporter.]

WELLINGTON, November 4,

At the evening sitting yesterday,

Thp Pbe-mier moved that the House go into Committee of the Whole to consider the Midland Railway question and the proposed amendments'of the. contract of which he had given notice. Ho explained that the Government, in making any further concefsianSj were determined to strictly confine the Midland Company to the lands within the proclaimed district, and he hoped that the House wouM see its way to grant the further concessions asked within the pro c'amed district. Another important matter was the question of mining within the proclaimed district. This was a complicated and difficult question, and, instead of leaving it open, the Government had come to the conclusion that 750,000 acres would cover all the possible area likely to be requited for mining purposes. Ihey therefore asked authority to convey a definite amount of 750,000 acres, and in doing that they proposed, on the other hand, giving the land they require without taking alternate blocks. In some minds there was a feeling that in granting that concession the Government were'giving away the birthright of tbe people of the Colony, but it should he recollected that the Company's land was subject to taxation, and the House might therefore reft satisfied that the Company would promote settlement. These were the main points to which the House wanted to address itself. It'shbuld' be observed that the provision had been made to provide against' untimely and improper eales. The other matters were merely questions of detail, although of considerable importance. There was a provision in the Act of 1885 necessitating the Company being registered in New Zealand; but it appeared that if this were insisted on the Company could not carry on. It was therefore proposed that the Company should have a representative here who could be sued or sue, and any suits (should th« so arise) would be he ard fn New Zealand. The Government had given this matter great consideration with the view of making the most of a difficult subject, and in hoped the House would consent to go into Committee of the Whole, have a useful and friendly discussion, and come out with resolutions that might be acceptable both to the Company and the "Colony. Sir J. Vogel said that the House was indebted to the Premier for the clear and concise manner in which he had stated the cage, and then propeeded to explain; first the history of the foimation of the Company and then, the various negotiations with the Government. Ihe amendments proposed by the Government to the amendments suggested by the Company were fair and reasonable. The modifications now proposed were essentially of a desirable charaoter, and yet of sneh a nature as the Company would not be warranted in refusing, In Committee he would ask tbe Government to agree to further modifications. Mr DOWNIB SraWABX urged that some of the oonoesnons proposed to be granted should not be conoeded oy the Colony. The construction of the railway was not open for consideration, inasmuch as the Legislature, after many discussions, had decided that it should be constructed. He pointed out that some of the sresent5 resent Ministry had in the past taken up a ostile attitude towards the construction of this railway, and it seemed to him that their present action Was taken with the view of conciliating their opponents. It was unfortunate at the outset that the whole of the parties to the contract were not in New Zealand, so that it could be discussed point by point, The correspondence showed that the Agent-General was eminently qualified for the position he occupied, and had protected the Colony to the best of hit ability, From the nature of certain of the concessions the Company were desirous of exacting, unless the relations between the Company and the Government were more clearly defined, there was the prospect of a gigantic lawsuit, in which the honor of the Colony, would be concerned.

The Premier rose to explain that if the amendments hp proposed were assented to it was proposed to enter into a new contract, and to introduce a short BUI to reduce the whole jnattsrinto an intelligible shape Mr Stewart was glad tolear that such was the case; for it seemed to him that it wtuld puzzle a Philadelphian lawyei to make out the contract. One of the most important pouts in tlje original contract was that the Government ' were to select alternate blocks of land, and this had now been abandoned. Abandoning thai right was' an important departure, for the 'alternate - blocks would hata been given an enhanced value through the line having to run them and hy settlement, It seemed to him that in this question one side of the Hou»e was trying to outbid the other. The Hon. E. Hiohahdson, replying to the last speaker, said that the late Government had recognised the able services of the AgentGeneral in respect- to the settlement of the Midland Railway question, It had further been said that the preseat Ministers were trying to outbid their predecessors in regard tp, the terms ofere4 ti th.e Company;.hut he denied, this, and pointed out that the present Cabinet had paid their predecessors the compliment of asking their feelings with respect to the terms required. Instead of anyiattempt to outbid the «ther side, Ministers-were merely trying to make the best of the bargain. Mr Hctchisqv complained that an attempt was.hqng made to modify the contract by jjostile coiregppndence. In Committee he would ask hoq. members to decide that the land should not be sold by the competitive system, and to make terms whereby settlement would be best promoted. In this important question the Colpny's interest.should be conserved in some respects.. - ' I Mr Mentbath said that by agreeing to the amendments proposed members .were only staving off the evil for two or three years, and that the difficulty that would then be presented land the Colony in financial destruction. . The proposals indicated that tfce Company were altogether top weak fpr the task they ;had undertaken; and secondly,, a disposition on the part of the Government to give an exaggerated advantage to foreign capitalists, The Colony was really floating a three-million loan for this work, which the prospfctus announced was tocpat only L 250.000. The Colony would ultimately, have to buy the line, and the Midland Company wero brokers, into

whose hands valuable securities were being pot for the mere purpose of being melted. Mr Perceval maintained that the Company should get land to the value of LL,250,000. (Cries of "No, no") He strongly supported granting the amendments proposed. Mr Taylor spoke iu a similar strain. Mr TrtBNBDLL, though*lw»yß a supporter of the line, was Bomewhat staggered at the alterations proposed in the contract, and felt that we were gcing to be troubled with a series of lawsuits. He objected to the proposed alteration of the method in selecting the land, and also to the extension of the time far completing the line. The Company was a ricketty one, and be hoped that, in place of going into Committee that evening, further time would be taken for the consideration of the matter. Mr Grimmond objected to the alternate blocks being abandoned, and to placing the land and the people in the hands of a foreign company. He would oppo.e the proposed alterations.

Sir G. Gbky, in an eloquent speech, said he tiusted that the House would pause before committing itself to this new departure. When he knew how small the territory of New Zealand was, and when he felt certain that before long so large a population would occupy this country, it was incredible that millions should be given to a foreign company, and that the people should be tenants of that foreign company. He thought the Government should refer the question to a Committee for investigation and report. A wrong was being done in hurrying on a matter of such great importance. He objected to the Government endeavoring to settle this question simply in order to secure a long tenure of office in peace. DrHoDOKiNsoN and Mr Fulton opposed going into Committee of the whole, and the bitter moved that the matter be referred to a Select Committee to report. Mr Blake said that not one-third of the members knew anything of the nature of the ground about which they had spoken. He objected to the reference of the question to a Select Committee, but was not opposed to the matter being deferred for a week for further consideration.

Mr Valentine strongly supported the construction of railways by land grants, as population would thus be induced and settlement effected. Mr Seddon raid the welfare of the whole people of the West Coast depended on the decision of the House. It was useless to refer the matter to a Select Committee, for the only point for decision was how far amendments in the oonttact should be agreed to. Westland had only got twenty miles of railway out of the whole of the Public Works policy. Mr Buchanan: What about the sludge channel?

Mr Seddon : If the hon. gentleman were in the Kumara sludge channel up to his neck, instead of sneering at the West Coast, it would be no misfortune to the Wairarapa, which he has the honor to represent. (Laughter.) The speaker defended the construction of the line, and said the fact that it relieved the unemployed difficulty was a practical answer as to the necessity of continuing the work. By Mr Larnaoh'a reservation in January last alternate blocks were protected; but he thought that the reservation proclamation was withdrawn, as it was included in the 750,000 acres. The Premier here suggested that, as there wad no chance of finishing the matter at tbii sitting, an adjournment should now be made till Tuesday, and if after considering the speeches that had been made the Government deemed the appointment of a Select Committee the best course to take they would be prepared, to support that course. The Government had no desire to push the matter on hurriedly, and he therefore moved the adjournment of the debate till Tuesday. Sir J. Vogfl acquiesced in the crane suggested, and remarked that it was satisfactory that two Governments which differed widely in many respects should see the advantage of proceeding with so important a work, and one which was necessary to the advancement of the Colony. The adjournment wai carried and the House rose at IL3O p.m.