PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XVII, Issue 5945, 16 December 1887, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[by telegraph—association,)

House of Representatives,

Wellington, last night. The House met at 2.30. N.S.W. AND N.Z. PRODUCTS.Replying to questions it was stated that the Government had no knowledge of the proposal of the New South Wales Legislature to increase the import duties on New Zealand products.

CIVIL SERVANTS ELIGIBLE AS MEMBERS OF EDUCATION BOARDS. That there''were no regulations at present prohibiting Civil Servants from being members of Education Boards. COMMON JURORS' PAY. That the question of increasing the rate of pay allowed to common -jurors, would be taken into consideration during the recess. IMPORTATION OF STOCK. The consideration of. the report of the Importation of Stock Committee was, on Mr Russell's motion, ordered to be considered next day. PETITION FOR REHEARING.

A lengthy discussion took place over the report of a petition for the rehearing of Porangahau (Hawke's Bay) Block. AMENDMENT LOST. Mr Hutchison's amendment for referring the report back to the committee for further consideration- was loot, and the report was referred to the Government for consideration. DUTY ON COAL. Mr R. Reeveß obtained leave to withdraw his motion to impose an impost duly of 2s 6d per ton on all imported coal. THE LOAN BILL. sir J. vogellbitiokes THE . PUBLIC WORKS PROPOSALS. Sir Julius Vogel, at half-past four, hoped the debatfl on the Loan Bill would be postponed till the evening sitting. Major Atkinson objected to the adornment, and said the debate had been postponed to that afternoon expressly to suit Sir J. Vogel's convenience. Mr Hutchison moved that the debate be adjourned till half-past seven, which was lost on the voices. i Sir Julius Vogel then resumed the de- ' bate on the Loan Bill. He criticised the '. Public Works proposals at some length, • The proposals he said, did not fit iu with those' of the Financial Statmont. He • thought the North Island Trunk Railway " proposals were made owing to the fear of ; offending both the Auckland and Welling- | ton members. He had gone thoroughly into the whole matter, and he found that for £600,000 communication could be made between the coast of New Plymouth fa and a point on the main line south of Te 5 Awamutu. He strongly supported the line ■ going right through New Plymouth, and fc he did not think more than £400,000 vould > be required in excess of the loan already , Prised for the completion of the line ' auiu.. - i.« P , en Palroerston and Wood' The linebei... -hould be pushed or [ ville, in his opinion,. ■>.... ' - , as quickly as possible, but liu.. . ; the proposed delay in the completion iu i the Greymouth and Hokitika line, as it , would be a very paying one. The pro- ' posals for the Otago Central Railway were exceedingly unsatisfactory, as he k was convinced that the line would be ■ useless till it was completed to Middlemarch. He thought the proposals re roads • and bridges were fallacious, and the pro- : visions re goldfield roads were wholly ini adequate. The sum set down for the uni employed, £30,000, was less than had been • spent in any oue year for the last 25 1 years, by either general or provincial go [ vemments. The amount was altogether , insufficient. He thought the Sumner RailI way, to cost £14,000, might be undertaken, ■ and further information should be given i re immigration. •. The House rose at 5 30.