PARLIAMENT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume III, Issue 286, 11 August 1882, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

[PER UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, August 9. WANT OF CONFIDENCE MOTION. Major Atkinson moved tho second reading of the North Island Main Trunk Railway Loan Bill. Government had to consider whether it was better to bring down one or two Bills, and after consideration decided on the latter course. By that meas the matter would be simplified, and a greater amount secured fov main trunk lines. They would be better able to resist undue pressure for branch and other lines. He understood every- i one thought that the North trunk line should be made, but the 8 niendment intimated showed he was mistaken in ' that view. An enormous saving had been effected by railways in travelling I and hauling. He estimated that saving alone between £300,000 and £400,000. Then, again, thej had settled 100,000 persons in New Zealand from the" old countrj. The condition of these people j and their prospects had been vastly improved, and if they had done nothing more, that was a great work. There was nothing in the present circumstances to make them shrink from further borrowing, so long as they spent it on reproductive works. The total number of men employed now by Government contractors on Government works was about 3000, and with the number dependent on theae, and the number required to supply them, there were at least 10,000 souls to be considered. Were tbese to be thrown out of work at mid-winter? Sufficient money could not be raised in the colony, and they were bound to go to 1 the London market. Regarding the North Island railway it was argued that tho loan should not be authorised until the direction of the line had been decided upon, and the difficulty with the natives overcome. It was not intended to raise the money till this was done. He submitted that the proposal of the Government as a whole made the apportionment of money as between the two islands fair. If they did not authorise tho North Island loan now, when they were asked to pass it at some future time the South Island would be putting forward additional claims, for another two millions, and increased borrowing would have to be resorted to with the view of satisfying ifcTiese claims. The rule laid down -with regard to railways was that they were to extend only the main trunk lines, and in the case of branch lines continue those alone likely to give the quickest return for their outlay. If the amendment had any meaning it was -that they were to have no loan at all, and that all public works were to be stopped for the present. Either it meant that, or it meant a crafty proposal to get into office, and once in go on borrowing as before. Mr. Montgomery, iii moving that the loan proposals of the Government were : no i; satisfactory, objected to t]ie whole of the loan proposals of the Government, and not to any one bill. They had been told that it was after consideration that two bills had been decided upon. , What he wished to see was that the burden of these loans should be placed on the right shouderß. He had never given it to be understood that he was against bor, rowing altogether for the extension of public works, nor had he ever objected to substantial . justice being done to the North Island. Common prudence, however, suggested that railway routes should be decided upon before money was allocated for them. The North Island line Bimyly said it was to be carried south from Awamutu, but nothing was said as to the direction in which it should be carried south. ■ No provision whatever was proposed for the Middle Island east and west coast line. The Treasurer should have asked for the moderate amount, say, half a million, to complete railways well advanced and to carry on till next session, and then bring down a more elaborate proposal next year, when they were better prepared with their plans, and not have a proposal for railways along routes of which they appeared to have but little idea' He thought it would be far more prudent to delay these-Jarge loan proposals for a year. Mr. Johnston replied, ( but no report of his speech as come to hand.) Mr. John Buchanan moved, as an addition to tho amendmont, the words — " Inasmuch as it is not expedient during this session to authorise any new loan," and he spoke, against any large loan at present. The Hon. Major Atkinson said Government did not intend to raise the North Island million loan till they were in a position to determine tho route of the line and to commence it, and as to the three million loan, it was only intended to raise one million a year. ' Colonel Trimble spoke in favor of the Government proposals'. Mr. Sutton expressed regret' that the Government had not seen its way to keep out of the money market for another year. He was not > enamoured of the loan proposals, but he could not give a vote to oust the present Ministry in favor of one to be formed from the present Opposition. Mr. Batbgate defended the administra* of the Grey Government, and held that even if wo got the enormous loan of four •millions, which, was" very "doubtful, it would only drag the colony down to bankruptcy and ruin. Mr. Isaac Wilson would vote for tho second roadiug of the Bills,, but would try and get the schedules altered. Mr. Connolly strongly supported tho Government policy. . Mr. Do Lautour, at considerable length, criticised and condemned, tho general administration and policy of the Government. Messrs. Levin, Hurst, Petrie, McKeuzie, Rutherford, and G. Green supported' tho seconud'eadiug of^th'e Loan Bills. Messrs:lifoyce; 'Moss/and Fish opposed the BiUs. \>" :-s 4 , Mr. Stevens, moved the adjournment' of the debate, which was supported by Messrs. De La^utour^ Atkinson, Sneehan, and, others. .Mr. Sutton find others wished to go oti. and take the division. Mr. Montgomery- said he was. quite pregared (6 do tui|,: but ultimately the 1 adjournment was 'agreed' lto, 1 aira the House rose at 2.50.