PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11163, 8 September 1899, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

{by TELEGRAPH.—PRESS Association.]

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Thursday. The Council met at half-past two p.m. On the motion of Mr. ShrimsM, it was resolved that a return should be supplied showing the total area of the Rugged Ridges run in the Waitaki, with the rent paid prior to subdivision, and the total annual rental now payable. The Summary Convictions for Indictable Offences Bill was read a third time, and passed. The Council rose at half-past four p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday. THE LOAN BILL,

After the telegraph office closed at two o'clock this morning, the North Island Main Trunk, Rimutaka deviation, and WaiparaCheviot iines were agreed to on the voices, the Midland-Springfield was carried by 33 to 11, the Midland-Otira carried by 30 to 12, the Belgrove-Tadmor carried by 25 to 12 the Otago Central carried by 32 to 7, tie Heriot extension canned by 29 to 11, the Catlin's extension carried by 23 to 13. The remaining items on the schedule were passed without amendment, and the Bill reported, and the third reading set down for this afternoon. The House adjourned at twenty minutes past three a.m. The House met at half-past two to-day, MINING LEGISLATION. Mr. Cadman gave notice to introduce a Mining Act Amendment Bill. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS, Replying to questions, Ministers said— That they were not prepared to amend the law to enable perpetual leaseholders to convert their leaseholds into freeholds at any period instead of before the expiry of 12 years from the date of the lease. That the appointment of a captain, lieutenant, and seven non-commissioned officers of the Imperial service to act as drill instructors in the colony was done on the recommendation of the Commander of the Forces. The term of service was three years, and the rate of pay for the commissioned officers £270 per annum, with a Louse allowance of £50 per annum and actual travelling expenses while on duty; noncommissioned officers 7s per day and house allowance. With regard to the painting of the late Dr. Featherston and the chief Wi Tako, now in Wellington Museum, the Government were in favour of removing it to the Parliamentary library, and expressed a desire that private persons in possession of paintings of historic value would make a grant of the same for the purpose of safe custody and exhibition in the Parliamentary Libiary. That it was the intention of the Government to bring down an Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Bill this session. That the question of acquiring the Ohutu block from the natives in Wanganui was being considered, and it was hoped that legislation would be introduced to that end this session, but the Government was averse to taking land from natives, believing that it would be wiser to place the land in the hands of trustees, who could lease the same in the interests of the natives. That provision would be made in the regulations governing the appointment of nautical assessors in the direction of bringing them more into conformity with the Board of Trade regulations. That the Government would go carefully into the question of relieving tenants of paying their rents six months in advance, provided the necessary improvements had been put on their respective holdings. That if the Loan Bill passed the Government had no hesitation in saying that the North Island Main Trunk railway would be finished within two years to its intersection with the East Road at Kawakawa. That the Government had received no encouragement to make provision for having the products of the colony properly represented at the Paris Exhibition, and believed that the cost of doing so would be better laid out in pushing the sale of the produce of the colony in Great Britain. The House adjourned at half-past five p.m. The House, resumed at half-past seven p.m. AID TO PUBLIC WORKS. The Premier moved the third reading of the Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Bill. He explained that with the million loan proposed to bo raised there would be available £1,800,000 on the basis of last year's expenditure The amount named would have to be carried over the period ending March, 1901. With regard to some of the lines named in the schedule he admitted that it was necessary that greater energy should be shown in their prosecution, notably the North Island Main Trunk lino and the East Coast Middle Island line in ihe direction of Kaikoura. Then, with regard to roads to open up the back blocks, the Government intended to take a new departure in that it was intended to carry out these works in the summer. With regard to the objection that had been raised that some of the lines of railways had not been authorised, he pointed out that in passing the schedule it merely gained the force of a resolution of the House. A Railway Authorisation and Appropriation Bill would later on have to be passed to enable the works to be undertaken. Mr. McGuire had no doubt the Bill would pass, but he condemned the scandalous way in which the Government had squandered money, while they had criminally neglected roads to the back blocks. He believed that the Government was not sincere in the proposal to construct some of the railways mentioned in the schedule, and thought that it would have been far better to have confined the expenditure of the £300,000 set down in the schedule for railways, to one or two of the most necessary lines. Mr. Morrison thought that the Premier in introducing a million loan for public works was simply playing with railway construction. The Premier should have risen to the occasion and asked for a five million loan for the purpose of completing the main lines and other very necessary, new, and partly constructed railways. He particularly advocated a more vigorous prosecution of the Otago Central line, and complained that of the £40.000 voted last year, only £1700 had been actually expended. Mr. Duthie explained his attitude towards the Bill. He was not disposed to vote against it. but he condemned the improper way in which it had been brought forward. Many of the lines were not required, and instead of proceeding with them some of those already under construction should have been completed. The fact was the whole schedule was designed not in the interests of the country, but as an electioneering dodge. Mr. Millar said that knowing the Treasurer had £800.000 apart from the loan for public works, he voted against the second reading of the Bill because he did not approve of the tinkering policy contained therein. Instead of introducing a number of new and trivial lines, those partly constructed should first be finished. Mr. Mills objected to the Bill being characterised as an electioneering dodge. Personally, he did not think that railway construction was going on fast enough, and urged a more vigorous policy in that direction. The Bill had been brought before the House in a fair and reasonable way, and he hoped the House would agree to the third reading, and proceed to other important business. Mr. Rolleston characterised the Bill as a most, glaring perversion of Parliamentary practice, and a gross wrong to the country. He opposed the Bill on the ground that the Public Works Statement and the Estimates should have preceded it, The reason why the Public Works Statement was not yet before the House was that the Premier had been too busy going about the country electioneering. Mr. Pirani charged the Government with scandalous neglect in connection with the back blocks. He urged that care should be taken that the moneys voted for particular vorks should be spent upon that work. Mr. Taylor said he would oppose the third reading of the Bill on the ground that the Treasurer had £800,000 at his disposal without resorting to further*aorrowing. He made that statement ntwithstanding the fact that the schedule contained two lines in which Canterbury was specially interested. He condemned the manner in which it was proposed to expiend the proposed loan. Mr. Hall-Jones denied the statements made by Mr. Taylor about co-operative works, and deprecated statements being made that could not be proved. If Mr. Taylor had made inquiries previous to making the charges he would never have made the sttffemeatg that he did. Referring to

the contention that the Public Works Estimates should have been brought down before the Loan Bill was passed, he submitted that no business man would go to the trouble of drawing up estimates of expenditure until assured that he would have the money to carry out the works. He agreed to the necessity of roading the back blocks, and gave an assurance that they would be fairly attended to. Mr. Meredith defended the construction of the Waitara-Cheviot railway as opening up a very large extent of country which was rapidly being developed. Mr. Flatman said there were two items in the schedule of the Bill that alone warranted its passing, viz., the Rimutaka Deviation and the North Island Main Trunk line. He objected to the suggestion that a large loan should be raised as detrimental to the interests of the country, and condemned any proposal to purchase the Manawatu line. Mr. Massey said lie did not think the people of Auckland would be satisfied with the slow progress of the North Island Main Trunk line, as indicated by the promise that only 10 miles would be completed during the next two years. Referring to the system of borrowing, lie asserted that if it were continued the colony would ultimately become mortgaged to the foreign money-lender. If it were intended to continue borrowing more caro should be exercised than was displayed in floating the last loan. Mr. Brown adversely criticised the proposed system of railway expenditure. Mr. Wilson regretted that the loan proposal had been regarded in such a strong party spirit as there could be no doubt but money was urgently required to keep pace with the progress of the country, He characterised the statement that the system of borrowing would result in the colony being handed over to the English moneylender as mere claptrap, and contrasted the state of the colony at the present time, with its condition years ago in support of that contention. Major Steward did not think it was a sound economical policy to delay the construction of main lines of railway to an apparently indefinite period. Mr. Lang urged more vigorous prosecution of the North Island Main Trunk line. Mr. Monk saw no prospect of the Government carrying out the railways set forth in the schedule. Left sitting at two a.m.