PARLIAMENT.

West Coast Times, Issue 14178, 31 July 1907, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

(Per Press Association)

Wellington, .Tulv 30. THE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 Leave of absence for four oa,s was granted to Hon Mrßeeban.

The Attorney -General moved the second reading of the Pure Food Bill received from the Lower House. He explained the object of the Bill (which was to make better provision for the Bile of food and drugs iv a pure state) in terms similar to tbe Minister in introdnoing it in the oth? r oboraber. . lion Pr Findlsy WPft on to fhow glaring instances of fraud in connection with tbe manufacture of foodstuff* and declared that conditions sich as he bad referred. to should be remedied. The second reading was agreed to. The Public Trust Office Amendment Bit* was read a second time. The Council rose at 4 40, THE HOUSE.

The House met at 2,30 Tbe Wbaogamomona County Bill and Hu. t Park Bill were read the first time.

la moving the second reading of the Million Loan Bill, tbe Premier stated tbat the Government would have a tost) of £2,116,030 available for public works expenditure, as igaiost £2,040,319 lsst year. It was important tlut tb* House should authorise the raising of the pre* sent loan. Latt year's ban realised a pufit oj £4,116. Referring to the present Iran be had received an offer of (ha whole amount at a pteaium of 2 per ceo', but had refused it Ad he hid rraaon to know be oonld obtain half a million outside the colony at one-half per cent by paying brokerage of oue»balf per runt, wbieh bo thought very satisfactory. Mr James Allen said information as to how the loan was • raited list year bad only just been made known. He desired to know if it was DOi time to ceaeo burrowing money at 4 per cent. He contended it eouli be borrowed at leas out** ride line colony, aud fiey should be able to fftiee tbe loan at 3} par cent. He coUjridrr.'d tbe money borrowed from the Pokb Office Department should be used for land for settlement. The colony was progr swing, aod be hoped ntxt year to heat tbe colony bad raised its loan at 3} per , cenr. He maintained tbat the £2(>0.000 on tbe Loan Bill for additional rotting stock should be charged to revenue an* said it was rumoured tbat £400,000 vote for the North Island Main Trunk line tbia year was* no. He agreed rbe railway anould he pn«be,d on., It wapalso rumoured that £600,000 was to be spent on the Arthur's Paaa tunnel and be de* sirwd to know if this amount was included in the preaeni Loan Bill. He urged tb c a sinking fund should be established for this loan. He also referred to the amount allooated for goldfields development.

Hon Mr M'Gowan quoted figures showing that during hin period of office thfl government bad spent more in prospeeking in tebools of mines and goldfieldo development than during tbe previous nine yearn, fie declared the cjlony had fcerer hid a Minister of Mines who had ftiof* knowledge aud kept in view so •jrohgly the interests of the goldfields.

Mr Berries hoped the Premier wonld give a detailpd aceoont of latt year's ioatyk Bofrrring to nuKavH, he hoped the Premier wonld devote a little more money to the Gisboroe-Botoroa Hoe, whieb, if extended four or five miles, Would pay handsomely. He objeoted to lbs Government investing tbe funds of •he Port Office in Govbrnment debentures.

Mr Lanrenson supported Mr Hcrriea in advootting the extension of the Giaborne Botofna line. The; House adjourned at 5.30.

The House resumed at 7.30. Hon Mr Mills urged that tbe Pieton* Beddon line should be continued no as to give a through route from Pioton to Invewsarjrill. Thf, debate listed tbe wbo'e evening.