VOTING MILLIONS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 228, 30 October 1914, Page 7

VOTING MILLIONS.

PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATES. ALL VOTES PASSED. [From our own Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, October 30. 'The House passed the Public Works Estimates early this morning, with very little discussion. On the vote £060,000 for railway construction, Mr Poland entered a protest against the slow progress of the Walhi-Tauranga section of the 'East Coast railway. The Minister had pro--mised rapid construction, but the' pro- ; , ■ gx>ess being made was farcical. Mr McCallum entered an emphatic protest against the treatment meted out to- the South Island Main Trunk. He urged that -the Government shotild tackle some of the tunnels between the Clarence-River and Kaikoura, which would be -work of a permanent stand- - ing, instead of a piecemeal laying of - .rails- in*parts whes* the railway would -not be- open -for 1 years. Mr Forbes also protested against the email -vote for this "railway. He asked the iiinister to state what he intended to do about it. ' He should tell the settlers frankly what they were to Bxpeet. " "Mr Atmore said that the North - Island had received nearly all the attention as far as railway construction was concerned. The Minister apparently did not understand the first thing' about the fairness of allocation. The Nelson people objected to waiting years and years for their connection through to the coast, while the Prime Minister's Waiuku railwaj*, which would never pay, was being pushed ou. Mr Witty entered a protest against the Minister iiot spending the < money voted him last year on important lines. Mr Mac Donald said that the main lines, such as. the East Coast railway, had been sacrificed for the sake of branch lines. The most urgent railway works in the country were the main arterial' lines. (Hear, hear.) Beyond discussion on minor local matters, the Estimates were put through without comment. The : House rose at 1.55' a.m.