HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11743, 20 September 1902, Page 7

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30. PROGRESS OF BILLS.

The Courthouse Sites Exchange Bill (Hon. McGowam) was introduced and1 read a first time.

The Statutes Revision Commititee recommended that the Coroners Bill be not proceeded with this session. QUESTIONS.

In reply to questions, Ministers stated —■ That the Government saw no reason, foir setting up a commission to inquire fully into the whole working of the co-opera-tive system of labour as conducted on our public works and roads. That the delay in granting discharges and paying money due to the men of the Seventh Contingent was not the fault of the New Zealand Defence Department. The difficulty was that the accounts had not yet" been received from Sototih Africa, although the Defence Department had cabled twice and written twice. The Government was now considering wheihe," something could not be done even ;n the? absence of the accounts.

That the Government had been adv^vl tihat the laying of the remaining portion of tihe Pacific cable by the steamer Colonia Avas expected to be comjpleted at 11. c end of October, in AVhicih case though communication by that route wouid bo available early in November. That the Government proposed to takn over the complete control of both the Rotorua and Te Arotha hot springs districts. That it was intended to establish a sanatorium for the treatment of consumption in the Soutfh Island as soon asposj'iile. That tenders! would be invited' in the colony for the building of a stea. >ur to run on Lake Wakatipu. That full consideration would be given to the requests for reduo'ion in, raihnty freights on the carriage of road tnet.;i! and fertilisers. That the Government did not intend at present to introduce legislation in regard to the Press Association. That as the result of the efforts now on foot it was hoped the colony would get the kind of service to South Africa < that was desired. That if the House recognised the necessity for passing legislation this session to amend the law relating to licensing committees, it could be passed if members refrained from introducing debate able matter on the whole licensing question. The House rose at 5.30. The House resumed at 7.30. The Legislative Council transmitted reasons for disagreeing with the amendments .made by the House in tihe New Zealand University Act Amendment Hill . The House struck out the provision admitting ad eundem graduates toi member ship of the Courts of Convocation, and tihe Council declined to accept this amendments. - After some discussion the House decided to insast on its amendments, and a conference was set up. Conferences were also arranged on the amendments in dispute between the two Houses in the Second-hand Dealers Bill «nd the Mining Act Amendment Bill. PUBLIC WORKS DEBATE. Mr, James Allen opened the debate on the Public Works Statement. He said the Acting-Premier wasj going on very different lines to what would have been done had the Premier been in the colony. Last year the Premier had enunciated a "go slow" policy, but from this year's Statement it appeared tihat the country was being handed over to a wild plunger. There had been no attempt at prudence, care, or consideration for. the ultimate welfare of the colony. The balance of the Public Works Fund at the end of each year was gradually decreasing, and the amount transferred from the Consolidated Fund to the Public Works; Fund would soon be nil. The inevitable result musb

be an increase in taxation, which; however, could be avoided if the Government would exercise care, and prudence. That could be done without stojpping the necessary works. The colony should cease luxurious expenditure on public buildings, and all .available tunds should be spent in opening up the interior of the country. He pointed out the very large increase that had taken place in the Public Works expenditure since the present Government came into office. The expenditure when they took office was £335,000. Last year it was £2,143,000, and the estimates for the current year showed a still further increase. He referred ialsoi to the increase in expenditure on additions to open, lines during the last seven years, and, complained that many items were now charged to capitall accounts tthat were in past day a charged to revenue. He found that £407,- --- of public works money had been, sent out of the colony during the last year for the purchase of locomotives and' waggons which ought to have been made in the colony. s The expenditure on non-pro-ductive works had increased during the last ten years from £22,000 to £240,0000, and he deprecated such heavy expenditure under this heading. Mr. Allen went on to say that the cost of repairs, painting, and maintenance of public works was now charged to the capital account, and he asked whether any sound business firm ous financial policy could goon. The ruinous financial iptolictr could not go on.. It depended on borrowed money, rand he asked how, if members really loved their country, they could allow it to continue. In conclusion, he condemned wasteful expenditure on co-operative works. Sir Joseph Ward described the last speaker as a gay deceiver, who preached one thing and practised another. He had complained about extravagant expenditure on public buildings, but he had only that morning formed one of a deputationthat had waited on the Government and urged the extension of a railway in Otago that would cost £300,000. Mr. Allen also deplored the large expenditure on public buildings,, and so on. The new Supreme Court in Dunedta was finished—(Mr. Allen: "I never asked for it") —and the new railway station;' at Dunedin was finisihed. (Mr. Allen:"I never asked for it.") Mr. Allen had also asked for another railway in his own district which would cost about £70,000. The fact was that when they were in a country which was moving along they had to adapt themselves to the requirements of the pro* grass- of the country, and ajs to the growth of expenditure on railways during the past few years, he would point out the enormous increase in the number of passengers and the quantity of freight carried', and the fact that the revenue had increased by over £700,000, in spite of concessions "having been, given amounting to £500,000. Some of the locomotives paid for last year were ordered five years ago, and it was absolutely necessary to furnish the additional rolling stock to cape with the tremendous increase in traffic. The number of men employed in railway workshops had been increased, and the programme laid down some years ago of spending £10,000 a year far fully equipping the workshops had Jjeen, and still was, being carried out. Our railways had almost been rebuilt and! laid with heavier rails during the past few years, and he.urged that the growth of trade was solely responsible for that work and the accompanying heavy expenditure. Sir Joseph Ward went) on to contend that repairs and maintenance of public buildings could fairly be charged against the capital account of the Public Works Fund, seeing that that fund consisted partly of money from tihe Consolidated Fund, which was derived from revenue. In conclusion, Sir Joseph pointed to the proserous condition ofi the colony, as shown by the increase in revenue and trade, and urged that in view of those facts there was not the slightest possibility of any increased, taxation being necessary, and that the public Avorks. expenditure was fully justified by the prosperous condition of affairs which had prevailed and still prevails. There had been a good deal of political hypocrisy preached, for not one member dared to move for a reduction of proposed votes in his own particular district. Messrs. Masisey, Napier, Herries, Fowlds, and Sir William Russell continued the debate, which was in progress when the wires closed for the night.