THE RIVAL ROUTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8930, 14 July 1892, Page 6

THE RIVAL ROUTES.

DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER.

DISCORD AMONGST THE AUCKLAND MEMBERS.

AN UNSEEMLY DISPUTE.

[BY telegraph.—special CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington', Wednesday. | A deputation, consisting of Messrs. Shera, T. Thompson, Cadman, R. Thompson, Jackson Palmer, W. Kelly, Houston, and McGuire, waited upon the Premier this evening, in reference to the proposal to appoint a Select Committee to obtain evidence in regard to the rival routes of the North Island Main Trunk Railway. Mr. La wry said they had asked the Premier to receive this deputation, because they wanted the question of the railway route to be made the subject of an inquiry. There would have been a larger attendance of Auckland members, but the time was not convenient for several who otherwise would have been present. Mr. Houston said that in talking this matter over with a number of members, it was thought that the best courso to pursue would be to appoint a Committee of the House to take evidence as to the desirability of selecting the Central or the Stratford route for the North Island Main Trunk Railway. He understood that the Government were in possession of considerable information with regard to the Central route, bub not as to the Stratford route. The particular names which had been suggested for the committee were as follows : — Messrs. C. H. Mills, Blake, Rhodes, Pinkerton, T. Mackenzie, and Cairncross. They were all Southern men, and had been selected as likely to be free from all bias on the matter of the routes. Mr. La wry pointed out that none of the members of the proposed committee were in the House when the route was last debated. Mr. T. Thompson remarked that the Auckland Railway League were in favour of a Royal Commission, but he had suggested to them that that might be objected to on the score of expense, and he had fallen in with the view expressed by the Premier that a committee should be appointed. Mr. Jackson Palmer reminded the Premier that when the Central route was selected there was no knowledge of the Stratford route, except that gained by a Minister who climbed up a tree and looked over the country. Yet on that slender evidence it was decided to spend thousands of pounds. What the deputation now really wanted was to prevent further public money being squandered before the best and final route was selected.

The Premier said that when a deputation waited upon him a few days ago, he thought that as the House was in session there would be no difficulty in getting a committee set up; and he suggested that the committee should be those of impartial men from the South Island. He had no objection to the names submitted : they appeared to be good names. He would like, however, to know on what principle they had been selected. Mr. Shera said he did nob know. They had been selected by the Auckland members, and before the Premier accepted them he thought it was desirable that the Auckland members should have an opportunity of discussing them together. The matter was a surprise to him. Mr. Kelly said he was not aware when he came to the meeting that the Premier was to have the names of a committee submitted to him, and he agreed with the previous speaker that it was desirable that the Auckland members should meet to discuss them.

The Premier said that without expressing any opinion with regard to the merits of the two route*, he saw no harm in a committee being appointed to obtain further information. It seemed to him that that was their object; and without saying what prospect there was of a change of route, it was desirable to get all the information they could, and if they could get a committee of impartial and unbiassed men, there could be no harm at all in this inquiry. Mr. Lawry said that he did not know that any gentlemen present had been spoken to as to the names to be submitted. He had thought it would be the best thing to selcct a few names for submission to the Premier; and in making the selection he had taken one from Nelson, two from Canterbury, and three from Otago. The Premier suggested that it would probably be as well for the deputation and the other Auckland members to discuss the names over amongst themselves, and see him again to-morrow, when he would submit the list approved of to the Cabinet, and no doubt they would agree to a committee being set up. In fact, committees had been appointed on very much less important questions than this. It was well, however, that they should all agree among themselves as to the committee. Perhaps it would be as well also that Mr. Lawry or someone else should move in the House for the appointment of the committee, the Government of course supporting it. Mr. Kelly thought it would be desirable for all the Auckland members to be present. The Premier reminded the deputation that the Wellington members were just as determined the other way, and suggested that they might make a proposal to them that they were prepared to hear any suggestions they had to make with regard to a | committee. Mr. Lawry said he had consulted Dr. Isewman, and had suggested to him such an arrangement; but on conferring with his party, he had absolutely declined to have anything to do with the proposal, as they had decided to oppose the motion in the House for setting up a committee. If no Auckland member had taken upon himself to select names for a committee there would have been nothing to submit to the Premier. It came with bad taste from Mr. Shera to object, because it seemed to him that that gentleman would have objected even if they had selected the whole House. The Premier : I myself make no objection to this committee. Mr. Shera said he regarded as a matter of great importance the constitution of a committee of this sort. On two occasions Auckland interests were entrusted to a commission or committee. The first was the question of the seat of Government. Auckland on that occasion went to the wall. Then there was a committee on the North Island Trunk line, and again Auckland went to the wall. He felt strongly in selecting a committee of this sort in the way it had been done, that certain gentlemen had forgotten altogether the respect and courtesy due to their colleagues. Mr. T. Thompson said that Mr. Shera was labouring under a mistake. The fact was, no one had been consulted about these names. It had been left to Mr. Lawry to bring something before the meeting. For himself, he was content with any names so long as they were South Island names. The matter had been left to Mr. Lawry, and there was no idea of springing a surprise upon anyone. Mr. Houston said this wrangling was simply bearing out what had always been a disgrace and reproach against Auckland members: that they could never agree upon anything for the public good, He thought they should sink their little differences and be unanimous. He was very sorry to see the stand taken by Mr. Shera. Mr. Palmer said he had not been con-

suited, but had felt it his business to ascertain for himself beforehand what names were to be submitted. Mr. R. Thompson felt some surprise at the turn the meeting had taken. Hitherto he had nob interfered in this movement. He considered it was a matter for the city members, and had left it to them. He thought a mistake had been made, probably with the best intentions, but the party should have been called together and all details settled before coming to the Premier and an effort should have been made to get the Auckland and Wellington members to meet together. - . Mr. Jackson Palmer : They refused. Mr Thompson' : Yes, an offer from one member. He (Mr. Thompson) did not think one member had a right to speak for the whole party. He suggested that some practical men should be appointed to go over the routes, and thoroughly inspect the land. Mr. Carman agreed with Mr. Thompson Mr. Lawkv said that perhaps after all it I would be better to have a lloyal Commission appointed. He knew that that would be more satisfactory to the Auckland I people.

The Premier said the position of a Royal Commission, and that of a committee were quite distinct. A committee was to obtain information, and Parliament then acted upon it. A Commission obtained information, bub what then ? Mr. Kelly: Parliament acta upon the Premier : Not necessarily. After some further discussion, in the course of which Mr. Palmer said he would have nothing more to do with the Auckland members, the deputation withdrew in something like confusion. o I understand that arrangements are on foot for a meeting of the Auckland, Taranaki, and Wellington members with the view of coming to some understanding in regard to the appointment of a Royal Commission or committee.