PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 2541, 27 September 1893, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

[SPECIAL Td STAR.] WELLLNGTQKy September 27. DEBATE ON .PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. Speaking to the Public Works Statement, the Premier pointed out that the _ policy of tbe present Government was to settle the lands, and, therefore, it was important that money be spent on roadigtf lands for settlement. He denied that thfr pnblio works expenditure for the •, year was made to influence tbe coming-X elections, and said that the amount.askeid / was not excessive. The Governmdnt believed their revenue, would keep up andthey intended to pursue the • course they had laid down for the settlement abd colonisation of tbe country. Mr Richardson said the whole of the proposals of tbe Government might b« summed up by words, "Let us eat atK& drink t for to-morrow we die." for every scrap of money would be used up by next year.

Sir R. Stout said they must either go in for a loan or restrict expenditure to a quarter of a million a year. They were now face to face with the question : where -, they to begin borrowing' again ? and he \ did not think the oolony was prepared for i tbat.

Mr Bolleston said tbe present estimates were about the greatest mess he ever b&w, and they were drifting back into the; eyßtem of purchasing votes all over tb&jj country. , J v>':M Mr Brace considered that land fandi should con tribute to the roading of thes land.

The House got into Supply at 2.45 a.m., and passed the whole of the esti* mates in fifty minntes, the, only division being in connection with the vote of £8000 for Te Aro goods shed, on -which | Mr. Harkness divided the House and* which was retained by 16 to 1. ' THE COUNCIL AT WOBK.

The Council yesterday refused to read the Shop'and Shop Assistants Bill by 25 toll, amendment by Sir GvWhitmore, that it be read a second time that day three months, being carried. They also struck clause 2 out of the Government Bailways Bill, and inserted in its place a provision for extending the term of the present Commissioners another year. The Minister thereupon reported progress to consult his colleagues, saying the bill was practically killed. The Gounoil also refused to reinserc the compulsory arbitration clauses into the Strikes and Conciliation Bill. !

Sir Patrick Buckley moves fchifl after* noon Cor a call of the Council on next Tuesday. Building societies are to be exempt from taxation under the Land and Income Tax Amendment Act for another year.