MIDLAND RAILWAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 537, 3 October 1902, Page 2

MIDLAND RAILWAY.

£150,960 FOR THE DEBENTUREHOLDERS, ALLEGED IIUSII MONEY,, A LITTLE BAND OF STONEWALLERS, (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, last nighfj ' When the Midland Railway Bill came before tlicv House late last night, proposing to pay the debenture-holders a •sum of £1511,000, Mr James Allen stated that the colony was under a moral obligation to the debenfire-hol-ders. Tlie colony now held the line, and had a surplus from it, and something, lie thought, should be dono for these people. He thought the sum of £150,1100 should lie paid to the deben-ture-holders. He thought the clauses of the Bill should be re-drafted. lie did not think the money should come out of the public works fund. The Bill would have the effect of settling the matter once and for all.

Mr Fisher wanted to know why Mr Blow, in an official document, had said that the Bill was introduced last year —when the Premier had stated he had no intention of introducing a Bill this tsession he wanted to know why they were now asked to vote £150,000, in one night, to “ these blackmailers,”• who came to thei House every session, aud petitioned for this money, which was “ blood money,” to purcinsc their silence. The people who would lienefit by receipt of the money were not poor people, but speculators. There was no liability on the colony to the delrenture-liohlers who were appealing, Mr Russell thought that the colony could not afford to have its name blackened in connection with Hie' matter. Government were acting wisely and prudently in.having this railway trouble sfct-tled.

Mr Heke thought that the House ought to treat the delrenLure-holders in the same manner as the natives under the Native Land 'Pities Bill. Tney lull to protect the persons who had entered into this transaction.

Mr Hornsby said that he would enter his most emphatic protest against the payment of the money of the colony to the debenture-holders, which, lie -said, was not justifiable They had been asked to pay a sum of £ISO,OOCf as “ liush money.” He thought that the people ’of the’.colony should be given an opportunity of saying whether or not this large amount of money, should jre paid to the debenture-hol-ders. Me maintained’ that the Premier had cabled to his colleagues from Capetown,, telling them to give a sum. of £150,000 to these debenture-holders as “ hush money.” Mr Collins thought, that the colony had very largely Irenefited by I he expenditure of the debenture-holders in constructing the, railways.

The second reading of the Bill was carried by 45 to 8.

The Bill was then taken in committee, and an immediate stonewall was commenced by Messrs- Fisher, Hornsby, O’Meara, Gilfeddcr, Ilogg, Ell, Barclay, McKenzie, and Wilford* and it proceeded until noon to-day* when Mr Fisher moved to take the ruling of Mr Speaker on a ruling of Mr Pirani, who occupied the chair, Mr Pirani informed the Speaker that the House had for the past seven hours Seen discussing two 11 otions that the Chairman leave the Chair. The debate had been considerably irrelevant, and he had endeavored to confine the discussion to'ihc motions. Mr Fisher said that the stonewalling had been carried out without disorder or scenes, and in a most respectful and decorous manner.

Mr Piraili sakl ho had ruled that stonewaHlii'Jl oudgit to Ise confined to the motion before the Chair, and that newspaper articles discussing me constitution of the Ministry and articles appearing in newspapers in tie Old Country dealing with the Midlanu Railway could not, he introduced into tlie debate. Mr Speaker said that he had noticed the business for the past seven hours had been conducted in an ordi-

nary manner. Therefore, there was n occasion for him to interfere.

Air O’Meara then renewed the stone- ( walling. I-Ie said his constituvius ami people of the colony would suiter very j considerably if the Rill was placed on , the Statute Rook. The Rill was he- , jug put through by the Government j with the help of the Opposition in ( very indecent haste. The Rill should ( remain over until next session. r i he colony’s resources were not mexhaustible, and if Bills such as this were to he put on the Statute Rook, instead of their resources being inexhaustible, it would he found that they had exhausted all their resources. He though'', to prevent such a disaster overtaking their exceedigly prosperous colons- members should be g.ven an opportunity of going carefully through the Bill again and consulting with members who desired to place the Bill on (he Statute Book. If the Premier was present he would no doubt have given them reasons for the proposals in the Rill, in order that they may place them before their .-onsLituenls, and justify themselves if they supported the Rill. r l’he motion that the Chairman leave the chair was lost by .'l2 to S Sir Joseph Ward said that the Government had in no way provoked the obstruction that had taken |uace in regard to the Rill. He main Lamed that the Rill could not have been introduced at an earlier stage of the session. Government had endeavored to get the Bill through, in order to enable the credit of the colony to be put in a proper position. The Government had placed before the llou.sc all the information that they had at their disposal. In regard to the Bill, the Government recognised that they weic taking a verv serious responsimlity m the matter.' He asked the members Ot the Opposition to stand by Jie Government on the Bill. He ronsmeied that the honor of the country was. at stake, and the course they weie raking was the only one that cuuld be taken. Mr Fisher said that it was impossible to get poor men’s claims m the colony recognised, speculators, money-lenders, and Jews in London were to be given £150,000. Mr Wilford said that the debentureholders in England were waiting with their arms open for this dole from the New Zealand Government. The Bill ultimately got through its committee stage with amendments, by 2.‘10 p.m. on Thursday. Mr Fisher rose on the-third reading, and maintained that the members of the Opposition had crossed the House and voted with the Government on the Uiil while only last week members of that body would not agree to voting a pension to the wife .of a lieptena;il. who had keen killed in booth Attica. The Opposition, in globo, were assist in? the Government to make a ft lll 6i' J £lstl,Ui)U to gilded lords m Lngland The Bill had been suddenly sprung on the Legislature when mem-be-s -knew nothing about 't, and he (Mr Fisher) was at a meeting m Te Arp when lie received a message that the Bill was before tne House. Air Fisher's little contingent of eight stonewallers, Messrs Hornsby O’Meara Gilfedder, Hogg, Lil, Barclay, Wilford, and R. McKenzie also gave reasons for stonewalling Bie: Bill lining the night, and stated that they were quite prepared to answei to their constituents for it. On the llnrd leading Government were detemled lot bringing down the Bill. l“e I üb|ic Accounts Committee last session had recommended that the debenture-hold-ers he paid £130,000, and the Government could not therefore remain quiescent and do nothing. The Government had received u communication from the debenture-holders’ solicitors, offering to accept £150,000 in full settlement of their claims, and the Government had to do something in the matter the Government had therefore hi ought down the proposals in the Bill. A division was taken on the tmiu reading at -1.-15, and resulted in buy for the Bill, and nine against, Mr McGuire voting with the lines, i The Bill‘Was passed by 5 p.m., having been before the House, which sat continuously, from 1 .0 p.m. on Wednesday. '