EVENING SITTING.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVII, Issue 222, 19 September 1903, Page 3

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.30. THE ESTIMATES. The whole vote for the Lunacy and Charitable Department passed uni altered, as also did the estimates of the Labour Department. At the vote for the Mines Depart ment Mr MoGOWAN announced that a Bill would be introduced under which a thoroughly competent Government geologist should be appointed, and the divided control of geological survey removed. The total vote was agreed to. At the vote for the Department of Agriculture a motion by Mr HARDING to reduce the item " Viticulturist £300," as an indication that the House docs not approve of the establishment of wine industry in New Zealand, was lost by 43 to 3. September 19. After the telegraph office closed, the Agricultural Department estimates passed unaltered. The Railway Department estimates wore entered upon shortly before 2 a.m. A lengthy discussion took place as to the amounts that should be charged to revenue and what to capital. Sir J. WARD contended, if the views put forward by those opposed to the present system were put into practice, it would crush the life blood out of the users of the railways. Sir Wm. RUSSELL said he had looked very carefully into the matter, and it was borne very heavily upon his mind that the whole system of railway accounts in the Australasian colonies was radically wrong. Sir J. WARD said he would never subscribe to the doctrine that the cost of a railway which was to last thirty years or so was to be taken out of the pockets of the people by putting murderous rates upon them. After a prolonged discussion the whole vote passed unaltered. Progress was reported, and the House rose at 7.40 a.m.