DISTRICT RAILWAYS BILL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1264, 21 May 1896, Page 35

DISTRICT RAILWAYS BILL.

As Mr Georgo Fisher was a member of the House of Representatives at tho timo of the passing of tho District Railways Purchasing Act in 1885, and took a prominent part in opposing that measure, a New Zealand Mail reporter last week waited upon him to see if ho could throw any light on the subject. “ Have you,” our representative asked, “ read tho interview with Sir Robert Stout on 1 ho same subject r” “ Yes,” said Mr Fisher, “ I have, and it looks a fair-weather parable—altogether for the benefit of Sir Robert Stout.”

“ As you were in Parliament at that timo, will you give mo your verson of the circumstances in regard to the passing of tho Bill ?”

“ I will a plain,unvarnished tale deliver,” replied Mr Fisher, regardless of whom it pleases or displeases. 1 led the opposition to the Bill. That session began on June 11. It was read for tho first time on August 11th, 1885, but it lay dormant until September 15th, when the second reading was moved within six days of the prorogation of Parliament. T then moved that the Bill be read a second time that day six months, but my amendment was defeated by 57 votes to 2fi, and tho motion for tho second reading was carried by 57 votes to 27.” “ What is to-day and what was at that timo your impression of the character of the Bill ?” “ I regarded it at the time, and I still regard it, as ono of tho foulest blots on tho Statute Book of Now Zealand.” “ But Sir Robert Stout says that to say so is to bo possessed of a diseased imagination r” “ The disease, if one may use such an expression, was in tho PUTRIDITY OF THE PROPOSAL itself. Of the five lines purchased under tho Bill, it will bo sufficient to indicate to you tho character of two of them. Tho Duntroon and Hakatoramea Railway had hecomo such a hopeless failure that it was at tho timo of purchase by tho Government in liquidation, and in consequence the purchase had to bo made through tho Supreme Court. But the woist purchaso of all was tho Waimato Gorge line.”

“ What was tho primary object of tho Government in purchasing these lines.” “ Under the District Railways Act, 1877, in addition to a percentage on outlay received from tho Government, tho companies constructed under that Act wero empowered to levy rates on tho farmers and settlers of the district, so that large laud-owners and others who wished to ci.nstruet lines for their own benefit constructed them and obtained power under the provisions of the Act to rate tho whole of the settlers in the immediate district. Thus, the large land monopolist having got his railway and tlm power to squeeze tiie settieis, pressure wa,> brought to bear on the Government to relieve the sett ler I nan the rating imposed upon him, and tho monopolist having made his railway and benefited himself in that way, wished to turn over the railway to tho Government. So you see the Government killed two birds with one stone.”

“Is that a fact that the land monopolist, having placed the railway, wished then to get rid of it “Certainly, ho had his railway, and if ho could get his money hack from the Government he had the railway and his money too. And if ono wished to see the effect of the influence of tho land monopolist, it would have been interesting to have witnessed the proceedings of the Hon Robert Campbell, in tho lobby and in Parliament, during Lire passing of the District Railways Purchasing Bill. In season and out of season the lion R. Campbell, who was interested in the Duntroon and Hakatoramea Railway, badgered members in

THE LOBBY AND IN THE HOUSE morning, noon and night, and during tho passing of the Bill through tho Lower House it was very annoying to be a witness of tho impertinent pertinacity of

“ Well, what about the Waimato Gorge Railway ?” “ That was the crowning spectacle of all. I and Mr B.irron, the member for Caversham, who led the assault upon tho Bill, remained in tho House on September 16 until 5.30 in the morning. We succeeded in striking tho Waimato Railway out of the schedule. But tho Government were not to be beaten. When the House adjourned, it was, to the surprise of everyone, adjourned until 11 o’clock the same morning, when it was supposed (and, as it turned out, correctly supposed) that those .vho wero physically worn out by the extreme tension of that night would bo unable to appear in the House in the morning at so early an hour. This proved to bo a correct forecast, for when the House met the Government were able to reinstate the Waimate Railway by 29 votes to 21.”

“ Naturally tho scene on that occasion would be one of great excitement r” “ Tho scene in the lobby was something to bo remembered forever. So extraordinary woret he circumstances that I felt confident then t hat t he spectre of the Waimato Railway would some day rise in judgment against those who wont responsible for the passing of the Bill. Before the division took place Mr AV. J. Steward, tho member for Waimate, was rushing up and down the lobby like one distracted, beating up votes, of so great consequence was the carrying of that division to him. And it was sad and pitiable to see Sir Julius Vogel sitting in his bath chair at the entrance to the Chamber, beseeching members of the House to vote for tho reinstatement of that railway.” “ As you have said, tho railway was rein stated ?”

“ Yes, and amongst others who wero greatly enraged with what laid taken place Air Seddon appeared upon tho scene and moved that the Bill lie read a third time that day month. THAT AMENDMENT WAS DEFEATED by 35 votes to 28, and the Bill was then read a third time. It was upon this occasion that Sir George Grey spoke those words of solemn rebuke of Sir Robert Stout for the language he had used to Mr Soddon and Mr Fisher, and it was on that occasion wo made to tho Premier a short and dignified reply, which you published in your columns a few days ago. As I said in Parliament then, I regarded that Bill as one of tiio most disgraceful jobs ever passed through the Parliament of New Zealand, and tho proof of that is found in this: —Sir Robert Stout in his interview makes reference to Appendix to tho Journals of tho House, D 15, 1888, but it is to be noted he makes no reference whatever to Appendix D 5, 1885, and I 7, 1886, where the whole of a complete and perfect history of this nefarious transaction is to be found.”

‘ What happened after that

“The Waimato Railway affair led to some further and serious and unpleasant proceedings in Parliament. This railway, which was eight miles and a half in length, passed through the land of two private individuals, who only ran two trains a week, for their own benefit. The whole of the circumstances connected with this purchase were of such a glaring nature that in the succeeding session of Parliament, tho session of 1880, a select committee was appointed by order of tho House ‘ to enquire into and report whether any members ot tho Legislature negotiated for or claimed or received any commission or other remuneration for promoting tho passing of the District Railways Purchasing Act of 1885, or over negotiated tho sale or purchaso of tho debentures issued or to bo issued thereunder by tho Government.’ This investigation may ho historically called tho IStato Trial of Air W. J. Steward.” “ What was the result ? ”

“ The committee reported as follows : (1) That while tho evidence adduced does not warrant your committee in reporting that Mr Steward was directly influenced by any pecuniary consideration in his efforts to secure the passing of the District Railways Purchasing Bill through tho House, thoy are nevertheless unablo to conclude other than that ho considered that in all probability ho would ho able to bring about tho sale to tho Government or Insurance Association of the Waimato, and, possibly, the Duntroon and Ilakateramea Railway debentures, and thus secure tho receipt by him of a large commission on the transact ions ; (2) that Mr Steward, in conducting the negotiations, presumably attached IMPORTANCE TO II IK INFLUENCE as a member of Parliament, as in bis letter to tho JI ■ >n R. Campbell of date 2Stb September, 1885, M'liciting that gentleman’s ■assistance in obtaining authority to sell the Duntroon and Ilakateramea Railway debentures, he says : ‘ i have influence in two different quarters which will enable me, I think, to get a better price than anyone oLc could.’ Clause -l of the report says: —‘ That your committee are of opinion that while Mr Steward has avoided any technical breach of tho Disqualification Act, they unanimously regard tho transactions referred to as calculated seriously to reflect upon and impugn tho integrity of any member of Parliament engaged therein, and to give rise, as has been tho case in this instance, to public scandal.’ That

report in itself, I think, stamps the ( character of tho whole of these trans- j actions, although it is impossible to show in cold print the active interest and tho j methods and the devious ways resorted to j by thoso engaged iu the passing of this ( iniquitous Bill.” i “ I believe you expressed your disap- I proval very strongly of tl.-ose who wore j responsible for the passing of this IBU “ I handled them very severely in tin? House with considerable point, and ! the terms I used, in my opinion, correctly described the methods of those who put forth every insidious force to secure the passing of tho measure. That iu biief is tho history of tho celebrated District Railways Purchasing Bill of 1885. 1 had no desire to revive these unpleasant j recollections, but 1 am asked to speak tho truth, and tho truth I speak, impugn it who so list.” “ What about tho cost of these rail-

ways ? ” “ Well, so far as I know, and I can only speak from tho Appendix D 15 referred to by Sir Robert Stout, the cost was ,£132,187. Sir Robert Stout, therefore, is correct as to tho cost.” “ You wero an elected member of tho Government Insurance Board. What have you to gay to Sir Robert Stout’s remarks in regard to that matter ?” sir Robert’s jaunty manner. “ Sir Robert Stout appears to dismiss that matter in his usual jaunty fashion. All 1 know is that the [purchases of sites and buildings made by the Insurance Board were of a cosily, extravagant and wholly unnecessary character. When the proposal to purchase Shera’s property in Auckland was made—.£22,ooo was tho price asked—l combated the proposal strenuously, and reluctantly, at the wish of Sir Julius Vogel, I went to Auckland and inspected tho property. Tho most I could succeed in doing was to get tho price reduced from £22,000 to .219,000. The property at the timo, in my opinion, and iu the opinion of persons competent to judge, Was worth £7OOO. Tho building on tho property was old and valueless, and had to bo pulled down and re-built. Tho Wellington property was a valuable property. It Was worth all the money tho Government Life Association paid for it, and more, but tho Christchurch property, T. J. Maling’s, was bought for £11,500, and was worth about £fiooo. When purchased, it was immediately leased back to tho former owner, Mr Maling. It was never occupied by the Government Insurance Department, and never will ho. Wise’s corner in Dunedin was bought for £35,000, on the recommendation of Sir Robert Stout, who was Premier, and the purchaso money was paid over to the firm of Siovewright and Stout. That is all tho comment I wish to make on tho purchases made by tho Government Insurance Board while I was a member of it. I strenuously opposed all of these purchases, except tho Wellington one, but 1 was beaten at the hands of Sir Julius Vogel and the official members of tho Board.”

This concluded tho interview, and our representative thanked Air Fisher for his courtesy, and withdrew.

In the event of Pahiatna being made a separate constituency, Mr Alexander Walker, of Alasterton (our correspondent writes), is mentioned as a probable candidate for that electorate.

Tho Marlborough Express, which is a dooidodly warm opponent of the prosent Government, shares the same fault with Captain Russell and other membors of the Opposition --that is to say, it applauds the Government measures and would keep the Government out! —Napier Nows. Mr W. Crowthor, M.11.R. for Auckland, addressed tho electors last week in tho City Hall and received a voto of thanks and of appreciation of his services.

The Minister for Railways returned to Wellington by the Manawatu train on Friday. During his absence ho inspected tho shell rock deposit at Nnkumaru, and enquired into its usefulness as ballast.

Tho Colonial Treasurer roturned to Wellington by Saturday night’s train, and tho Minister cf Lands by tho Penguin on Sunday. Tho glass house in which Bir Robert Stout had sheltered himself was severely, shattered on Wednesday evening. There is an old aphorism, “ The shell goes, and the study offers.” Step by step this was practically demonstrated by tho Colonial Treasurer. Tho arguments which bad been held to bo unanswerable melted into thin air, and the speaker destroyed Sir Robert’s position in every detail. There was an honest ring in the tone of tin; Minister’s address.—-Hawora Post.

Mr W. AV. Tanner addressed a meeting of his constituents at Limvood last week, and received a vote of thanks and confidence, a vole of confidence in the Government also being carried. The Colonial Treasurer appears to have made a favourable impression during his Taranaki trip. The Hawora an 1 Nurmanby Star—an Opposition journal, bo it noted — says:-“Mr Ward on Wednesday . evening was so courteous and genial that it was a pleasure to listen to him, and in a very short time the listeners’ pleasure must have developed into appreciation of the Treasurer s exceptional brilliancy and ability.” It is rumoured, says the Marton Alereury, that Mr Bruce has withdrawn from the contest for tho Rangitikei seat at tho forthcoming general election, and that Mr F. Y. Lethbridgo will bo the candidate in tho Opposition interest.

Air James Green is not going to make way at AVailcouaiti for Air Scobio Alackenzio. At a meeting of bis constituents at AVaitation Tuesday night he announced that he would seek ro-election.

Mr A. Saunders, member for Selwyn, addressed his constituents at West Melton on Friday, and received a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence.