"POLITICAL HYPOCRISY."

North Otago Times, 9 December 1910, Page 4

"POLITICAL HYPOCRISY."

MINISTERIALISTS AN]) MINISTERS. SOME SHARP PASSAGES, (Star's Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Nov. 18, There were some instructive pas-sages-at-arras last night during the Railways Arborisation Bill between Ministerialists ana" the Government Mr Ross led off by calling atten-

tion to, the remarkable, clwgq of front of the .Minister respecting, the Ross-Awaroa line. Last year the local bodies agreed to provide £3OOO and the Taupiri Coal Company £2OOO for, a bridge. Now the Goassumed the whole financial responsibility, while th,» other Ministerialists bad been vainly urging the Government'to construct lines on which 4 percent was guaranteed, The, bridge, 'wag designed tg benefit the coal company, Mr Masssey ; It's in opposition to tliem, Mr Rosj remarked that it was suspicious to. find Mr Masaey in league With the Government. The Taupiri Coal Company was a l»'E.o mono-, poly, evidently possessing secret influence, • j

Mr Masaey : Goodness gracious, it's dead against them I Mp Greenslade: So it is. Mr Rosg doubted if tlie .-Minister knew where Awaroa was, Mr R. M'Kenzie: You're on a nshiug expedition.' Mr Hogg complained • that though he was a consistent Ministerial supporter his 'district was starved, while Oppositionists got . almost everything they wanted. Mr Pal-and complained of the failure to push, on thei'East Coast line frgm Wajhi. He called attention to the Ministerial somersault over the Taurangia-Tepuki line. Mr M'Kenzie iiaid tpld t'De .settlers tftafc the line would never be built; then,' he game back three months later, and authorised the starting of the line.

Mr Jennings complained that there was no. mention of the Raetihi or Kawhia lines. Surveys had been promised. He advocated starting the Stratfqrd-Ongarue railway from the Ongarue end. Mp M'Gowap, h.ad promised to start if when the Northern Trunk wag.fin}'s|ed. ,p& alspi fead an implied promise from Mr Hall-Janes that the lines would then be started. He intended to test the feeling of the House on the matter at the proper time. Sir J. G. Ward, replying to these strictures in the small hours, said that aIL these demands were political hypqerisy. No' Government could do what was asked. The sense of responsibility seemed to ' be leaving .many ■;■ members. ■'.-'.The Government would; riot try' to. dp,' what was 'required, because"'{t rf&nj; ruinatjoti. .Some of were.ludicrous, '. He reminded' Mr Jennings that tliere wety pnly two railways for' which over £IOO,OOO was 'allocated. Referring to the suggestion that th-jmembeF', for Waikato (Mr Greenslade), 'had threatened to resign if : the. local bodies were to 'he called upon.to pay for the Huntly bridge, Sir, Joseph said the threat was never made to the Ministry. If thjre was an idea among members of the Government side that they wouid resign unless a particular, thing was" done in the- way,, of expenditure .which the Government could not agree to, the Government's answer wouldVb'e: ."By a l}

-. Mr Greensiade '■':"( I did not spyiti' £jir;J, G; : Ward construction •oi the bridge, by 'the : ; Government was a.soM'd business transaction, The line»would tap : the coalfield,.and freights would yield auooa-'return on ■ the' expenditure .(£2^0,000).'. Air Massey: 11/ will comei out •■ all right. .. ;'■•'•'."..'■ Mr R. M'Kenzie: -The Kas.t, Coast •railway: is.-biing-prosecuted: .between' lTaiffauga'"arid;''b'potilti : .jit .would serve a-' I -greater- population;, than any extension to'.Waihi.:/lf tp;| meuj|b'er, for-' Taumarunui thought coaid get anything, by threats' he was mistaken. He had grave doubts whether-Mr Jennings was on: the right side-of the, House and. whether he would not better be placed, on tlio Opposition benches, Mr Jennings: It is very nice for you to say so. I shall not consult •yoii nor any other member of tho House as to what is iny, duty,