HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7542, 13 August 1886, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thursday, August 12. Tho House met at 2.30 p.m. / RAILWAY REFORM. The report- of the select committee on Mr Vane's railway system was brought up.- It' stated that while the evidence adduced had not been sufficient to prove that thesystem would he a financial success , or to warrant its application to the railways .■'na a whole, it had been shown that there ■' was great discontent with the present administration, which was neither cheap nor satisfactory. > The committee, therefore, bearing in mind the great 'importance of '.. the subject, were of opinion that a trial should be given to the system recommended by Mr Vaile on an isolated section of Hie railways. In order to guard against loss it should be stipulated that the local bodies in the district in which tho experiment was tried.must first strike . a rate sufficient to recoup any deficiency, ■ estimated from theprevious year's revenue. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, it was stated1. That Mr John Lundon's expenses in - travelling through the Bay of Islands v district explaining details of the special settlement regulations were paid by the Government, as that gentleman was well acquainted with the district. . 2. ' That it was not true that the Gov- • ernment refused to allow Government trucks loaded with stock. to run on the Mans.watu Company's line. . PROPERTY TAX BILL. . The Proporty Tax Act Amendment Bill was brought down by message, and read a first time. GOVERNMENT INSURANCE BILL. The Government Insurance Bill was rece. l V°/ 1 c b .y message with 'a new clauso, winch Sir Julius Vogol explained was to enable the Governor to sign orders of discharge in connection with mortgages. Die consideration of the clause was postponed till half-past 7. WAIMEA PLAINS RAILWAY. On the motion for the re-committal of ■ the District Railways Purchasing Act Amendment Bill Mr Richardson said the Government had made the best arrangements they could with . tho Waimea . Plaius Company, and when the amount of ■ , cash payment was reduced the company '■.refused to sell. The Government there- ' , fore wished to give the,, House another , ■ '. opporiunity.of making up their minds to }• '^.accede to. the company's terms, If this

were not done he ; would recommend the Government to drop the bill. Mr Cowan begged the House to give the same relief to the ratepayers in the district in question as had been Riven to. others whoso railways had been purchased. Tlioy had incurred a liability of between £15,000 and £17,000. Mr Cowan outerecl at some length into the financial question, and pointed out the advantage to the Government of possessing the line. . Mr Peacock, Mr Conolly, and Mr W. F. Buckland spoke in opposition to the 'proposal. The debate woa interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.