N. Z. PARLIAMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 1764, 12 September 1885, Page 15

N. Z. PARLIAMENT.

PARLIAMENT IN SESSION. Wednesday, September 9. public works estisiates. Mr BUCHANAN resumed the debate on Captain Russell's motion, " That in the opinion of this House the Government should reduce the Estimates of Public Work 6 expenditure by a sum of no less than £500,000," and Mr Moss' amendment, " That the Estimates having been passed without a diminution ia the burdens imposed upon the people, this House does not consider it advisable to suddenly stop public works already in progress, but requests the Government to take such measures as may be necessary during the recess, and bring them ' down at an early period next session." He pointed out the critical condition of the Colony, und contended that the Treasurer' had failed to relieve it from such a position. He hoped the amendment of the member for Hawke's Bay would be carried by a large majority. Mr DARGAVILLE feared the member for Hawke's Bay had allowed himself to be led into a false position by his present motion. He recognised it was not a party fight, and that being so the motion was deprived of any practical utility. He contended, even if the resolution were carried, it would not affect the votes on the Estimates in the slightest degree. He did not consider the Public Works Estimates were at all excessive. They were certainly not excessive as compared with former years. He hoped the Government would not this session , ask the House to authorise further borrowing. If they did he should vote against them. He thought the Canterbury members had some reason for the stand they had taken up over the East and West Coast railway, because a district like Auckland district had not received its fair share of the public expenditure.. If the motion ■ of the member for Hawke's Bay were carried, which he hoped it would not, it would, in his opinion, lead to the stoppage of several public works in the Colony, and would throw a large number of men out of employment. Colonel TRIMBLE thought the speech just delivered was one of the most localised speeches, in the narrowest sense of thp word, he had ever heard delivered in the House. He altogether differed from the statement that if the amendment were carried it would result in throwing - .many men out of employment. He thought there were many items in the Estimates that might well be struck off — such, for instance, as the vote for the Highland crofters of £10,000, £3000 for a gaol at Wanganui, and many other works. Mr LANCH denied that the Canterbury members had gone into opposition. The explanation of their position was that they had suddenly been converted to economy. The Canterbury and West Coast members felt they had been treated with scant courtesy by the House over the East and West Coast railway. They also felt that as they had been denied the justice to which they were entitled, they would do their utmost io prevent, any expenditure of public money in other districts, at all events that was his position. They were always told the condition of the Colony was such that such works as those could not be proceeded with at present, but " hope deferred maketh tho heart sick," and Canterbury members now felt very sick indeed. They asked the House to assist them in opening one of the richest districts in the polony. He quoted from a speech made hi Ohristohurch by Sir George Grey when in office that he would use his utmost endeavours to promote the construction of the East and West jCpas.t railway, and maintained that full inquiry should have been instituted into the railway as -was promised by the Government. He poiuted ]6iit ! that in the early days of the Colony it was recognised that the North Island should afford justice to the South, but he regretted such a state of 'things did not exist at present. He again wished to state that the Canterbury members were not in opposition, but we recon- . verted to extreme economy. He would ask the House whether it was wise to send those members back to an excited people who were living in hopes of this great work being constructed. He hoped the House would reflect • before doing so. Mi? MONTGOMERY said the reason of the sudden conversion of the Canterbury members to extreme economy was because of the rejection of the East and West Coast railway. He considered the remarks of the last speaker as to the determination of the Canterbury members to prevent other votes passing, was not a very creditable position to take up. He instanced the case of the North Island members when the Trunk railway was under construction, and pointed out that those members had carefully submitted to the delay which was asked for, in order to see whether the construction of that line was feasible or not. The samo thing had happened with respect to the Otago Central. At the same time he would be prepared to advocate the construction of the East and West Coast railway, and he thought he would do this better by^ pointing out that Canterbury was justly entitled to that railway than by telling "the House that they must construct it. He referred at some length to the public works policy, and said he would not be a party to the Btoppage of votes for useful works in other districts because Canterbury had not received justice in the matter of the East and West Coast railway. He pointed out that Canterbury had contributed largely to taxation, and that her railways had yielded good returns. He would ask hon. members to think of those things, and they would see she was justly entitled to this railway. Was it because of her population that she was refused it? He might say Canterbury had a large population. If they were not to have the railway let them go back to their position in 1873, and get the land they then possessed, when they would be able to construct their railway themselves. He was determined the question of the railway should not Blumber. As far as the present motion was concerned he felt convinced it was inspired by the member for Egmont, but he could not understand this motion being brought forward in a friendly manner. He contended it was the duty of the Government to make reductions, and not the duty of the Committee of Supply. The Government was behaving in a most extraordinary manner, and was not leading the House m any way. If they said now that they would treat the motion as a hostile one he would support them, but if they refused to make it a party question he should vote for Captain Russell's motion. Mr COWAN supported the motion of the member, for Hawkes Bay. He thought the time was inopportune for the Government to undertake any new works which it was possible to postpone. He had an assurance that if this reduction were given effect to by the Government it would not result in throwing men out of employment during the next winter. If the Government mode the motion a Ministerial question he should feel it his duty to support them, -bat he would,- be better. pleased, if they £Gcspted the resolution in a friendly spirit.

Mr HOBBS denied that votes for other public works would be thrown out if members supported tho present motion. He refused to believe that the House would sanction such a piece of intimidation as that. He was quite of opinion that the time would come when they must stay their hand in the matter of lavish expenditure. He hoped the House would vote for this motion in no party spirit. He heartily supported the motion of the member for Hawkes Bay.

Mr W. F. BUCKLAND said the House must know there had been a good deal of intriguing on the East and West Coast railway question. He said that a similar resolution to the present one was recently proposed by the member for Egmont, but the members who intended to support the present motion voted against the former because it was a vote of want of confidence in the Government. He contended the reason for the chaos in the House, to which reference was made so frequently, was because eight or 10 members in the House were always wavering from side to side, and were unable to make up their minds as to how they should vote. Mr FERGUS thought they were placed at the present time in a most unfortunate position owing to the nature of the amendment brought down by the member for Hawke's Bay. He had considerable doubt in his mind as to how he should vote on the question. He should certainly have liked to vote for a reduction of the expenditure, but he should not like to record any vote which would tend to strengthen those gentlemen who had been dragging the Colony at their chariot wheels. He contended that the Minister for Public Works was not adopting the same vicious practice that he advocated when he was j>reviously in power, of holding out votes before the eyes of members to secure support. He held that the time would come when they must recognise the East, and West Coast railway as a great Colonial work ; but he thought the present attempt that was being made to construct this railway was even worse than the celebrated Meiggs' scheme. He spoke at considerable length, and .said he should like to have voted for the amendment ; but as he recognised that it would be playing into the hands of the Canterbury members, he should not record his vote with the member for Hawke's Bay. He would, in consequence of this, walk out of the House on a division.

Captain Russell's motion was then put and carried on the voices.

Mr O'CALLAGHAN moved an addition to the motion providing that such reduction shall not affect any public work in the nature of. roads and bridges. He justified the Canterbury members in the action they had taken against the Government, and said they could not have taken any other course, and for himself he had great faith in the Government, and he. was far from going into opposition.