PARLIAMENTARY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5656, 29 August 1896, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY.

$, . — THE LOAN BILL IN COMMITTEE. [Pee Press Association.] WELLINGTON, August 29. After the Telegraph office closed at two o'clock this morning, the Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Bill was still under discussion in committee. Mr Bell's amendment in Clause 2 to make it possible to redeem the debentures at the end of fifteen years, was lost by 31 to 18. On the Premier intimating that he intended to get the Bill through committee before the House rose, Mr Pikani moved to report progress, which was lost by 29 to 18. Clause 2 ns amended was passed. The machinery clauses following were passed without opposition until Clause 16 was reached. This clause, which provides that the Act shall be read with the Lands Improvement and Native Lands Acquisition Act, 1894, was challenged by Mr Heke, but was retained by 23 to 11. Dr Newman moved the following new clause: — "The Governor shall appoint a Royal Commission of experts to consider the advisability of extending as light railways all or any of the railways mentioned in the schedule, and report to Parliament next session." He spoke of the advisability of constructing light railways in preference to incurring heavy expenditure for the construction of ordinary railThe Hon R. J. Seddon contended that this new clause was out of order, as it was foreign to the Bill. The Acting-Chairman upheld the Premier's contention, and ruled the clause out of order. Mr Bell moved a new clause constituting a special sinking fund under the Act. Mr Seddon contended that this provision was not required for short-dated loans. Clause rejected by 25 to 13. Mr Montgomery moved a new clause providing that the Minister shall, within ten days of the opening of each session, lay before Parliament the estimates of the cost of works constructed out of tho loan money. Mr Seddon said that all the money to be expended would be contained in tho Public Works estimates. Clause rejected by 25 to 14. Mr Montgomery moved another new clause to provide that the proceeds of sales of native land should be paid to the credit of the Native lands purchase account, and not to the Consolidated Fund. Mr Seddon said that this proposal would lead to complications, and it would be almost impossible to carry it into effect. The interest had to be paid out of the Consolidated Fund, and it was not fair to say. that the revenue should not- go there also. After a lengthy discussion, the clause was negatived by 23 to 17. The schedules were then considered. Mr Collins moved to reduce the vote of .£200,000 for the development of goldfields by .£IOO,OOO. He thought that this sum would be sufficient in view of the large amount of foreign capital that was flowing into the colony. , Mr Seddon hoped that the House would not agree to' any reduction in this vote, and said that for water conservation in Otago alone, .£IOO,OOO would be required. Mr G. W. Russell wished to move that tho following votes be added to the schedule — For irrigation works in Canterbury, .£50,000 ; fov forest planting in Canterbury, .£20,000. Mr Joyce' said that he could not accept the motion, his ruling being that additions could not be made to the schedule. Mr G. J. Smith movod that progress be reported, in order to give the Government an opportunity to bring down new schedules to the BilJ. In the face of the ruling just given, the position, he said, was a most unsatisfactory one. Lost by 24 to 28. Several Canterbury members complained that the province was not going to receive anything out of this million. Mr Seddon, in reply, stated that a large sum was to be expended on the Whiteoinbo Pass Road, with the view of developing fresh goldfields. The whole question was discussed for several hours. At 4.35 a.m. Mr G. W. Russell moved to report progress. Lost by the casting vote of the Chairman, and the discussion proceeded, several members showing very strong opposition to the schedule.in its present form. Mr Sbddon said that alterations could be made when the Public Works Estimates came down. It was absolutely necessary to laise th& money propose&to be raised^

by the Bill, and he could not Bee why members could not lea re the question of allocation until the Public Works estimates came down. At 6 a.m. a division was taken on Mr Collins amendment, which was negatived by 25 to 17. The following is the division list :— For the amendment 17 — Allen, Buddo, Collins, Earnshaw, Hete, 3. W. Kelly, Lewis, Maslin, Massey, M'Nab, Montgomery, Newman, Pirani, <3K W. Russell* G. J. Smith, Tanner, S. Thompson. Against the amendment, 25 — Buick, Cadman, Carncross, Carnell, Carroll, Crowther, Flatman, Fraser, Hall-Jones, Harris, Joyce, Lawry, • M'Gowan, J. M'Kenzie, E. M'Kenzie, M'Lachlan, Mills, Morrison, O'R«gan, Pere, Pinkerton, Seddon, E. M. Smith, Stevens, T. Thompson. Pairs, for the amendment— W. E. Eussell, Duthie, Te Ao, M'Guire, Button, Green, Hutchison, Stout, Wilson, Laing, Bell, Pirani. Against the amendment — Ward, Steward, Parata, Houston, Larnach, Graham, Willis, W. Kelly, Hall, Hogg, Millar, Buick. Mr E.. Thompson then moved to strike out the vote of .£50,000 for the development of the Thermal Springs and natural scenery of tho colony, with the object of substituting .£25,000, which he thought would be quite sufficient. The Premier said the vote was one of tha most necessary and profitable in the whole of the schedule. Amendment negatived by 23 to 19. On the vote of .£250,000 for railways, considerable discussion took place on various allocations, but no amendments were taken to a division, and the whole vote was eventually agreed to on the voices. The Bill was reported with amendments, which were set down for consideration on Tuesday. The House rose at 7.15 a.m.