PARLIAMENTARY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5655, 28 August 1896, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

THE LOAN BILL. SECOND READING CARRTED BY ,32 TO 19. [Per Press Association. ! WELLINGTON, August 28. After the Telegraph. Office closed this morning, the debate on the second reading of the Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Bill was continued. Mr Cbowtheb stated thas after the speeches of Ministers, who said it mattered very little to the Government whether this Bill was passed or not, ho would vote against the Bill, so that the constituencies could be consulted on the question. Mr Masset, whilst admitting that several important public worts required to be carried out in the colony, thought that the publin debt was now so large that it was necessary to abstain from borrowing for some time to come. Mr M'Nab said he must vote against the Bill, in fulfilment of his election pledges. The country should have been consulted before this serious change in policy was entered upon. Mr Pinkebton supported the Bill. He disapproved of borrowing money to construct fresh lines of railway, but agreed that it was necessary to complete several of the unfinished lines. ~v Mr Flatman regretted that it was necessary to bring in this Bill on the eve of a general election, but if it was not passed now, it meant the suspension of all public works, which would be very severely felt by the working classes of the colony. Mr Heke op posed the Biß. The Hon R. J. Seddon rose to reply at 3.30 a.m. He said that the debate had been one of the hollowest shams he had ever known. It,was simply another device of the Opposition to address the constituencies. There was no reason for a protracted debate, and the speeches were simply repetitions of those given in the Financial Statement and no-confidence debates. It was a question now whether they were to have a progressive policy or a period of stagnation. The Government could not go on for another year without assistance to carry on public works. He did not want the weak-kneed supporters who had shown their true colours in this debate, and he wished they would declare themselves in opposition and leave the Liberal party. The attitude they had taken up was not just or fair to the Government, who were doing their duty for the. country; nor was it fair to the Opposition Party. He' pointed out that several of the members who were strongly opposing this Bill had voted for similar measures in past sessions, among the number being the Lands for Settlement Bill, the Consols Bill, the Advances to Settlers Bill, and the Lands Improvement Bill. This showed grave inconsistency on the part of those members, and raised the question whether they had always been so anxious to conserve their election pledges. The Government had great cause for complaint on account of the action of these members. He contended that the Government could not stop the public works that were now going on, for it meant throwing a large number of men out of enrploynient in a bad season, and he was sure that the country would not countenance this. No doubt such a proceeding would suit the Opposition members, for the unemployed would then be available to do their bushfalling and other works at a cheap rate of wages. The position of the colony warranted the Government in asking for this money, for the assets were very largely in excess of the liabilities. Mr George Hutchison had asked why the Liberal Party and the Premier had been allowed to reign so long in New Zealand, but in reply he would ask why the Creator allowed snakes, toads and centipedes to encumber the earth ? He defended the late Mr Ballance from the aspersions cast on his policy and administration, and in conclusion said that the people would recognise the services of the Liberal Government and return them to power at the general election. On a division the second reading was carried by 32 to 19, and the committal of the Bill set down for the next sitting. The following is the division list : — Ayes, 32— Buddo, Buick, Cadman, Carnell, Collins, Carroll, Flatnian, Graham, Guinness, Hall, Hall-Jones, Harris, Hogg, Joyce, Lawry, M'Gowan. J. M'Kenzie, R. M'Kenzie, M'Lachlan, Millar, Mills, Morrison, O'Regan, Pere, Pinkerton, G. W. Russell, Seddon, E. M. Smith, Steward, T. Thompson, Ward and Willis. Noes, 19— Allen, Bell, Button, Crowther, Earnshaw, Fraser, Green, Heke, Lang, Maslin, Massey, M'Guire, M'Nab, Mitchelson, Montgomery, W. R. Russell, G. J. Smith, Tanner and Wilson. Pairs— Ayes: Messrs Parata, Houston, Mackintosh, Duncan, Larnach, E. Thomp-

son, Stevens, Camcross, W. Hutchison and W. Kelly.

Noes : Messsrs Te Ao, Meredith, Lewis, Buchanan, Saunders, Pirani, J. W. Kelly, Duthie, George Hutchison and Sir Eobert Stout.

On the motion of the Premier, all committees wore exctisod from sitting today.

The House rose at 4.5 a.m.