PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10900, 3 November 1898, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

[BY TELEGBAPH.-PBESS ABSO.CIATIOK.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday. The Council met at half-past two p.m.

BILLS PASSED. The following measures passed through the final stages:—Rabbit-Proof Wire Netting Fences, Land Drainage Amendment, Native Townships Act Amendment, Stock Act Amendment, Mining Companiei Act Amendment. * READ SECOND TDIE.

The Mining Act Amendment and the Canterbury College Powers Bills and the Admiralty House (Auckland) Bill were read a second time without debate.

CLUTHA RIVER BOARD BILL.

The Council agreed to the amendments made by the Lower House in the Clutha River Board Empowering Bill. MASTER AND APPRENTICES BILL.

The report of tbe Labour Bills Committee was brought up by -Mr. Oliver recommending that tiie Master and Apprentices Bill be not proceeded with. The Council rose at half-past four,

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES.

Wednesday.

The House met at half-past twc p.m.

REFUSAL FOB LEAVE TO BRING IX A BILL.

By 33 to 30, Mr. Seddon was refused leave to introduce the Imprisonment for Debt Limitation Bill. PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATES.

The Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones moved tbat the louse go_ into Committee of Supply on the 'üblic Works Estimates. Mr. G. Hutcliison pointed out that the Cetimates were brought uown some five reeks ago, when ihe Premier had promised rhe'i reasonable time would be given for heir discussion, but no one would have the iiirdihood to say that now, when members rere exhausted by late sittings, and berildered by hurried legislation, they were ii a fit condition, or had reasonable time o discuss the Public Works policy of the lovernment. He advocated greater projress being made in tlie constniction of the wth Island Main Trunk railway, and fcrew attention to the fact that money for hie purpose ought to be available from naivo lands purchased out of money borowed for the construction of the line, out >f wliioh the Lands and Survey Department Ins year had received £30,000 for work lone in connection with surveys in connecion with the line, and winch had gone to well the surplus. The Government was naking use of the alleged agitation for the Stratford route to delay the work. He beieved there was no desire to prevent the antral route being constructed. In the nterests of the colony a survey of a line from Stratford to the point of divergence should Iβ made. No indication had been given by he Government of their intention to borrow for the purpose of completing uninished railways. Some doubt was exmessed whether, under the regime of the resent Government, a loan could be floated in the London market. Mr. J. W. Thomson considered that the spenditure on goldfieids should be decreased iid votes for railway construction increased. ?ho money for the erection and construction )f bridges and roads ought to be in the lands of local bodies, -is it was impossible foi member of the House to know anything ibout 1501 roads and bridges, on which it F.is proposed to expend money this year. Mr. I'irani, as an amendment, moved, That it is not desirable that the present ession should be terminated until the imlortant questions relegated to several select emmittees are dealt with in an exhaustive Banner." He pointed out that owing to the iilatory manner in which several of these ommittees had conducted their business the Jouse would probably have no opportunity .o discuss the granting of the New Zealand >oss to Mr. Harry Wrigg. The eo3ts in the rlorowhenua case, several matters affecting ■he public accounts, and the allegations ol Jie member for Patea against the Premier, Party Government was responsible foi tbi state of affairs, and nothing would hasten thi dentil of party Government more than tin ray in which the present Government use< the trust reposed in them. At least, one o the present Ministry would have been sacri Seed to tlie just condemnation of members iad it not been for the astuteness of the Pre nier, who had got a report circulated tha ,he Minister in question would resign durin/ ,he recess. With respect to the votes fo ■oads and bridges, he considered it would b nore satisfactory if a portion of the expens rere provided by local residents. Mr. Fisher said the people of the coloni lave a poor opinion of the Ministry, if thei ;auged them by the remarks of Mr. Pirani rhose attitude towards the Government, In aid, was due to the fact that when a vacancoccurred in the Ministry he (Mr. Pirani) wa not offered office.

to Wellington, and a road to connect Taranaki and Auckland provinces. Mr. Wi Fere advocated a £20,000,000 loan foi> the purpose of opening up the East Coast district, North Island. Mr. Taylor said there was great danger ahead with respect to the demand for railwayextension. The most direct benefits of railway construction accrued to the holders of land, and before any railway policy was undertaken, and such a policy was inevitable, there should be some method devised to bring back into the public revenues some portion of the sudden increase in value of land which would follow on railway construction. Most of the works provided for in the Public Works Estimates should be in the hands of local authorities, who were in a better position to judge of their necessity. Mr. Lethbridge urged on the Government more rapid construction of the North Island Main Trunk line, as danger existed to the lorests, which might be destroyed before the line reached them.

Mr. Field objected to the Government's attitude in connection with the Manawatu railway. The Hon, Hall-Jones, in reply, said he considered that fair progress had been made with the North Island Main Trunk line, and if greater progress was to be made the question as to where the money was to corr.e from would have to be answered, as the construction of other lines, equal in importance, could not be stopped. The present policy in connection with the construction of railways was tc get uncompleted lines off their hands ,as soon as possible, and more vigorous prosecution of the work would require a considerably larger expenditure than that proposed. The motion to go into Committee of Supply was agreed to. In Committee of Supply, and on the first •ote, immigration, £150," a general discussion ensued on the Public Works Estimates. Referring to the criticisms on the proposed expenditure on roads, the Hon. J. McKenzie said the amount applied for by local bodies and members amounted to £1,250,000, and if he had his way, a million pounds would be spent on ro ' in the North Island.

After further discussion the vote passed. Midland railway, £30,000. The Hon. Hall-Jones, in reply to Mr. Montgomery, said the Belgrove section could not be continued beyond Motupeka Valley without Parliamentary sanction. The Touchers for £12,000, representing transfer of stores from the Working Railways Department, had been withdrawn, and would not come back to the Midland railway vote. He had reports prepared which he hoped to have printed in time to lay on the table, in which several engineers expressed a decided preference for the switchback, or zig-zag, construction, in place of the Abt system on the SpringfieldJackson's section. After discussion class 1 passed. Class 2, Public Works Department, £9500, passed unaltered after discussion. Class 3, railways construction and land, £176,600; Marton-Te Awamutu, £40,000. In reply to Mr. Letlibridgo the Hon. HallJones said it was intended to proceed with work at the southern end with expedition. Mr. Holland asked what amount of the vote was to be spent on the northern end. The vote was agreed to after further discussion.

A short discussion ensued on the remaining lines, which passed unaltered. ° Additions to open lines. £200,000. In reply to Mr. Montgomery, the Hon. W. Hall-Jones said the Minister for Railways had informed him that he was taxing his staff to the utmost in order to provide "sufficient rolling-stock to cone with the traffic for next harvest.

The class was passed. Classes 4 to 7 were postponed. On class 8, public buildings, £126,420 and general, £30.000. a discussion ensued on the proposed expenditure on the Parliamentary Buildings. J Mr. Hall-Jones said that a two-storey building would provide sufficient space in which to ludge the General Assembly library. In answer to further questions he said that the cost of altering the addition ji V tW010 atthre - storo y building, would

As an indication that a three-storey building should be erected, Mr. Steward moved that the item, new buildings, £25 000 be re duced by £1. ' ' This was negatived by 34 to 17. The class was under discussion when the telegraph office closed.