HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7415, 3 October 1902, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

(Per I'reis AfwoelriM««> Welusutox, Tliurfd.ny. T» committee 0.. the Midland Railv o re.ition* Settlement Bill,-at -l.au U- fisher moved an amendment to cß u-e 2>o provide that the sum ot £150.000 eh-uM bo paid over three inoii hs after ihu Ist of Dccoiuber, 100^. by which tune tho people of tho colony would h »vu bad an opportunity to con-nid«rt-ie '.ropo=alß i-i the measure. Sir Jos-ph Ward eaid hr, was prooared to accept the amendment, proItdi.L *►>»' ih-sumsho-U bo paid on discussion priro cded on the linos of tho previous nine hours. Amnn . wns P At 2.30 Mr F^her's amendmentwm |„ot on the voice,, and on b.rJoseph Ward's motion the ckose was altered to provide thU, the stock dfbentores or emuritiea rai-ed >o provide the £150,000 shall be raUt-d at par and bear interest at "Jo Pn rs"j.sot,h Wai d's motion a new clause was add- d providing tbat receipt for payment of the money shall be obtained from tho receiver and the attorney in New Zealand of tbe company acknowledging that such securities aro received in full satisfaction of all questions and grievances raised by toe petition of the parties receiving the samo. _ ... At 2.40 tho Bill wa3 reported with _uiondmont9,whiuh wero agreed to. On tbe motion for tbe third r.admg Mr Fisher entered a proie3t ngainst the whole" transaction, but ho was quite prepared to accept the verdict of Ins constituents on tho attitude ho had taken on tho Bill. . - , Mr Horrsby also entered a last protest against tho Bill, as the small requirements of tho back block settlers, bad b-cn ignored, but when it camo to a question of closing the mouths of the detractors of the colony *!00,000 was deemed nod too high n price, to pay. Mr Barclay contended ihtt but for the social ar.d titulir rant of the petitioners, their petition wculd not have had tho attention it received. Mr Ell urged that it was not bocauso of the social-rank of the petitioners that so much attention had beon paid to their representations, but bocauso of their power to injure tho financial credit of the colony. Mr O'Meari. explained his opposition to tho measure was tbat it should not have beon brought in during- tho djing hours of the session, andbeforo the constituencies had been consulted upon the subject. Mr G . W. Rußsell submitted that they wore doing a simplo act of justice to the dobenture holders of the railway, and their aotion would not in any way prejudice tho votes that had already been passed for roads and bridges this session, ft was absurd'for tho opponents of the Bill to advance such an argument. Mr Massoy denied tbo insinuation that the Opposition had entered into a compact with tho Government to support tho Bill. Tbo Opposition had sup. ported the Biil bocauso the honour ol tho colony was concerned, nit legally, but morally and in equity. Mr Hogg complaiocd that tho Bill had been sprung upon tbo House without any warning, and within a few hours of the closo of tho session. Mr E. M. Smith said the action ol the colony in regard to the Midland railway had so far beon very prejudicial to its financial interests. Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, eaid thi question of the Midland railway hac been before tho country for years, anc be denied there bad been any delay ir connection with bringing in the Bill, oi tbat tho construction of roads anc bridges would bo in any way prejndicet by tho vote proposed in the Bill. Hi did not think tbe Liberal party woulrj sanction tbo wholosaie robbery whicl tho failure to grant concessions to tbi debenturehoSdcra involved. The Govern ment had taken tho responsibility o terminating the contract and seizing thi railway without an appeal to tho con stituencios, and why should the Govern ment adopt such a course now in bring ing to a satisfactory and final oonclusior a difficult matter. Tbo considoratior tbat actuated tbo Government in bring ing down tbe Bill was a sense ol responsibility, and a conviction that wt aro discharging a moral obligation. Thej were acting in the be3t interests of tht colony. Tho third reading was carried by 5C to 9, and the Bill passed its final stages at 4.50. Tho Spoakor, Sir G. M. O'Rorke, complimented the Houso on the manner in wnioh tho protracted proceedings had been conducted. Tho following Bills wero reported from Committee and passed through iheir fihal sfages:—Methodist Church of Australia and New Zealand ; Phnrmacy Act Amendment; Tauranga Educational Endowment iteaorves Bill; Inebriates In3tiiution Act Amendment; Military Pen=ions; Municipal Corporations, and Public He.lth Amendment. The Railways authorisation Bill was passed through Committee. The House rose at 5.30. Tho House resumed at 7.50. Tho Native and Maari Land Laws Amendment Bill, Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act Amendment Bill, Legislative Counoil Act ■ Amendment Bill, Rai'.ways Authorisation Eil1, and Waihi Hospital District Bill passed their final stages. In committee on tho Factori.s Act Amendment Bill, the clause propoacd at tho previous sitting relating to the half-holiday for Bho. s and factories in small boroughs was withdrawn, and the Bill passed its final stages, A Bill to amend the law relating to tho width of main streets in townships passed all its stages. Wellington, Friday. The House passed the Supplementary. Estimates unaltered and at 6.25 adjourned till 2 30.