POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 14529, 3 December 1910, Page 5

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[From Our Paexiamentars Reporter.]

WELLINGTON, December 3. WHERE IS AUCKLAND? While the Public Works Statement was being discussed in the House of Representatives last night Air Glover complained that no provision had been made in the Estimates for the erection of a new railway station in the Queen City of the North. '

A Member ; Where is - that Mr Baick: Whangaroi. Air Laurenson : Otahuku. Air Davey: No; a town on the ehora of the Waitemata.

Air Glover modestly assured members that Auckland was the city ho had in his mind's eye, and contended that the building which at present served the purpose of a railway station was a disgrace. “ I hope the Alinistcr, out of the goodness of his heart, will make provision next year for giving Auckland a railway station which will he at least a.s good as the edifice they have in Dunedin,” added Air Glover. WATER ROWER. •Speaking on this mailer, Sir Joseph V an] said ho resented tile suggestion tluit the Government’s water power scheme was a leap in the dark. It was admittedly an undertaking to be approached with caution ; likewise, no big project could be undertaken without a certain element of risk. If the Government had waited for figures to prove that there was no risk, this country would not possess the railways, tramways, telegraphs, and various State departments which gave cheap and effective services to the public at the present lime. In this countiy great water power wait going to waste, and the Government had no right to fail in their duty because of a possible risk. The development of the scheme would he carried out with the greatest prudence. There was no other countiy in the noriel possessing such great possibilities fra - the harnessing of water power. He ventured the opinion that tho development of one of these schemes, preferably Lake Coleridge, for the supply of electricity in Canterbury would be attended with such success that there would he a demand from all parts of the Dominion for further development. WANTED, A CAPITAL. Air 1 ■uittrenson moved to reduce the vote for new buildings by £l. "as an indication that the House was of opinion that before expending mote money on public building! in Wellington the Government should lak< stops to ascertain Hie cost of founding a new capital city.” He was, he said, firmly convinced that the day was not far distant ’ when the seat of government would be removed from Wellington to a place where conditions were more favorable. The only thing to oppose the project was the vested interests of Wellington. AH he asked was that full inquiry should bo made. It was nearly midnight when Mr Laurenson spol;.\ and members were obviously opposed to spending valuable time in discussing tier subject. Sir Joseph Ward briefly pointed out tho difficulties of even the consideration of such a pioposal ns that suggested. Air Glover urged the claims of Auckland as the capital, but the House exhibited a considerable degree of impatience, in spite of its natural tendency to hilarity on such an occasion as this, and it was evident that the amendment was not accepted seriously. “Vote,” sang out several members, and the House voted: For Mr Laurenson, 23; against Air Laurenson, 39. MUNICIPAL LAW. The Alinistcr of Internal Affairs, in moving that the amendments made in the Alunicipal Corporations Bill by the Legislative Council be agreed to, staled that the Bill did not contain an amendment of the principal Act, giving more effective procedure to municipal authorities to deal with insanitary dwellings, as asked for by the Dunedin City Council. He had found it impossible to get an effective clause prepared to put in the amendment to the Public Health Act. Tho member for Caver,-ham had twice failed by a technicality to get a clause put in the Bill, but in order to remedy this defect the Alinistcr hoped to have a consolidated Public Health Bill introduced next session, when Hie defeat in the existing clause would, he trusted, be put right. AMENDING BILLS. Amendments to the Land Settlement. Finance Bill and the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill were introduced by Govcrntn's AKssagc. In the former Bill clause 8 (providing tor an assurance fu.mll was sttuck out. and in tho latter Bill amendments weie made providing that the Judge of the Arbitration Court may be made an ordinary Judge, and to enable the Court to go on with the hearing of any dispute, notwithstanding any irregularity in the framing of the dispute, providing _ the provisions of the Act ate complied ~ with.

The amendments made by the Council to the .Municipal Corporations Bill and I lie .''hops and Offices Bill were agreed to.