AFTERNOON SITTING.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7929, 19 December 1887, Page 2

AFTERNOON SITTING.

The House resumed at 2.30 p.m. in Committee, of Supply on the . PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATES. Sir Julius Yogel continued the dis- • cussion on the vote of £80,000 for harbor defences. He contended that the defence expenditure was the result of a panic, fostered by officers of the Imperial service. lie was quite prepared to admit the responsibility attaching to his Government tor this expenditure, : and he was quite prepared to accept any blame for it, but it was impossible for the Government to resist the panic that, was created owing to the war scare that occurred a few years ago. Some 17 years ago Sir Donald M'Lean, who was' the Defence Minister, v • and a colleague, of his own, prepared a scheme of defence "for the four principal harbors of New Zealand, which was to cost only £20,0C0, whereas now an expenditure of nearly half a million .had been incurred. •, He considered it was utterly useless spending a large amount of money ■ in fortifying the harbors of the colony, as the danger of foreign Powers setting fire to the towns was very remote. What was required was a thorough strengthening and organisation v of the. volunteer force. He contended that all the liabilities spoken of by the Government coitld be saved if the Government desired to do so, and the expenditnre could readily cease without any harm being done. He was entirely favorable, however, to making New Zea- • land a naval station, and to paying part - of the cost of two war vessels on the coast. That was a much ruore effective means of defence than fortifying the harbors of, the colony. He would not oppose the present vote, on account of the liabilities entered into. Mr Marchant moved that the vote be re--duced £24,000. After further -discussion, Major Atkinson said he was certainly astonished at ' the speech made by Sir Julius Yogel. That speech should have been made two or three years ago, before the colony was committed to this extraordinary expenditure. He submitted that it was an extraordinary doctrine for an ex-Treasurer to - admit that he was a party fa tb,ro\yjng away nearly ha|f a million of money, He (Major Atkinson) did not altogether blanie the late Government for incurring the expenditure during a war scare, but he blamed them for the manner in which the money was expended. The more they looked into it the more they saw the recklessness of the whole thing, and there was no care whatever exercised in the matter. The present defences, he admitted, were absolutely useless for defence against a squadron, but they would be exceedingly useful in case of threatened bombardment from a foreign ship unless an indemnity was paid. In this respect he did not think -the money was at all wasted. . Sir Julius Yogel must know ' perfectly well that all- naval authorities were bound to have ports into which they could run for coals and for refitting purposes. If they refused this expenditure, the British Government would certainly not do their share in defending ports into which their ships could not ran for refitting purposes. , He contended that the Government had acted according to; t\\e best information that was obtainable, anft he hoped the House would' agree tQ the - vote. The Government did not propose tp do any m,qre than complete fte wor^s. already in hand, and surely it would be a • wise thing for the House to agree to that, If they refused to make provision for pas* sible attack from .foreign, vessels, and great damage resulted in oonsequenoe, there would oe a sharp revolution of feeling all over the country against snoh action, '■ Mr Merchant's amendment was lost by 25 to 23, and the vote of £80,000 carried. Class 11, rates on native lands, £15,000. — Carried. Class 12, • thermal springs, £3200.— Carried. ', Public Works, departmental, £5000.— Carried. Class 2, railways, new works, £96,000.— Mr Allen moved that this vote be reduced by £21,000, but subsequently withdrew the amendment and the vote was carried: Permanent way sleepers and 'rolling stock, £26,100.— Carried. Surveys, £4000.— Carried. Class 3, roads, £20,000 Carried. Class 4, purchase of native lands, £29,700.— Carried. Class 2, railways, new works, construction, and land, Helensville northwards, £10,000. — Carried. Grahamstown -Te Aroha, £10,000. — Carried. PutaruraRotoruaj £40,000.— Carried. WoodvillePalmerston, £40,000.— Carried. Manga-mahoe-VVoodviUe, £37,OOO:— Carried. The House rose at 5.30. ' • i