EVENING SITTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4749, 20 July 1883, Page 4

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.50 p in. Mr J. Buchanan resumed the debate on the Annexation motion.

Mr Hubst agreed in the proposal for postponement, fie moved the adjournment of the debate accordingly. Sir G. Gbby Baid that for the first time these Colonies had awakened to a sense of national life ; for the first time they had roused themselves to joint action. That was q most important epoch in their history, therefore he could not feel he was doing right to oast any damper upon a movement of co great import. He believed that the commerce would be of immense advantage to this and the other Colonies. Again,' these islands were most fertile, but at the same time they were most unhealthy. In- that case Europeans could only live there as directors of labour, and the probabilities wera that they would hare to leavo the iilands during certain seasons of the year. A largo proportion of Australia would have to be populated with coloured people. On the whole, he thought thoy should hold out the hand of fellowship to the Uolonieß who had entered upon thii project, without pledging themselves to any pecuniary expenditure until at leaßt they knew exaotly what the contribution would amount to. Ihe motion for adjournment was put and carried. THE OBNTBiL TEUNK LINE. Major Atkinson moved that they go into Committee of Supply. Mr Lbtbstah moved, as an amendment— "Ihat the Central route of tbo Main Trunk line, by the Tophouse, be proceeded with at once." The Hon W. Johnston eaid, in the abeenoe of the money, it iron an exceedingly difficult thing to undertake a work of this kind. Before a route could be decided upon, Government would have to know what money was placed at its dispoi&l, and whether speoial taxation was to be imposed. Last session, Parliament decided that a loan of £3.030,000, and no moro was to be borrowed during the currency of the present Parliament, and this expended at the rate of £1,000,000 perannum. In these circumstances the motion was simply impracticable, and could not be entertained. Mr Holmbs spoke against the motion, adding that after what had been stated to them by Government it would be unnecessary to discuss the question further. Mr Fish complained that Government was keeping these various routes dangling before members for the purpose of scouring thtir support. Havieg reoeived the Bailway Commissioners' report, Government should have no difficulty in deciding what route they would determine upon. It appeared to him that taking tho line to the Bed Post waß simply a compromise, acd would neither serve the East lino nor that to the West Coast ; in fact, it was simply a blind as between the advoofrtes of these two routes. It was humiliating for Government to act in this way as between the parties interested. Mr Bvbsthovbb blamed the Canterbury members for the part, they took in the late compact. Mr IttbnbttliL did not think that these routes were at all likely to be carried out. It was this fierce contention for railways whioh had placed the finances of the country in the critical stale ia which they had found themselves placed. Within the last ten years thej had added £20,000,0C0 to the Colonial debt. Again, they had added largely to the private indebtedness. Land was purohased at too high a rate, and tho consequence was a olasa of money lenders had sprung up amongst them. That was a olass very much to be deprecated. Things had now come to that point when it was necessary to consider whether it would not be better to refer the Estimates back again for re-con-sideration of Government. The annual charges were £1,666,000, which was a most alarming state of affairs. He estimated the Colonial mortgages represented £25,000,000, which, together with the public debt, made ft total of £55,000,000. 3'he Corporation indebtedness, &c , would raifo the amount to about £70,000,000, on which the annual interest could not be less than £4.0C0,000, and they had to import £8,000,000 worth of goods, wbila the exports amounted to about £6,000,000. That was, to his mind, a disastrous etato of things, and in private life it would simply mean bankruptcy. Qhey could lock for no assistance from the land, as for come years it must be a burden on the Colony. The gold money was Bhort this year. The railway report was a most melanoholy one. During the current year 70 mile* of (line WJuld have to be re-laid. He was afraid that nexb ye»t they would have, to

listen to a doleful state of affairs fromthat source. He could see nothing but com meroial depression looming in the future. Tho only way they oould escapo from their difficulties was by bringing down their expenditure, and placing it within their inoome. It was on these grounds that he asked the Treasurer to take biok the Estimates with the view of having them recast. The amendment was negatived on the voices, and the motion for going in Committee of Supply was put and carried. THB ESTIMATES. Class X., Minister of Mines— vote £13.083, mines, passed; vote £5800, miscollauoouß, passed. Crown Lands Department — £21,441, passed. Miscellaneous — £13,407, passed. Coalfields, £200, item clerk £50 — Mr Fbtbib moved that this be disallowed. Lost on voices, and the vote passed as printed. Survey Department— £lll,729, paised. Minister of Mines — £10,600 — After a lengthened discussion, Captain Maokbnzih moved to report progrets. The Committee divided : — Ayes, 5 : Noes, 27. The vote as printed passed, and the House adjourned at 1.20 a.m.