Parliamentary.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 18, 12 July 1900, Page 2

Parliamentary.

Mr G. W. Russell gave notice to ask the Government if, in view of the scarcity and high price of coal, they will farour the opening up and working of the mines by the State, and the sale and distribution of coal. In reply to Captain Eussell, who asked when the Financial Statement uiant would be brought down, the Minister said the Government intended to pass some necessary legislation before introducing the Financial Statement. Replying to questions, Ministers said they did not approve of establish- , ing a sanatorium for the treatment of consumption, as it would at least attract consumptives to the colony. There were a, number of places in the colony, the climate of which was very suitable for such patients, and access : to whioh should be improved. Mr Seddon said the Government did not intend to make a grant of i; 100 for the kit to each of the New Zealandere ; receiving a commission in the Imperial army, and also £50 per annum subsidy until the holder of a commission receives a captaincy. He was well aware that the pay given officers of the Imperial army was not sufficient, and in that respect reform was needed. The ofter of the British Government of a number of commissions in the army could not be taken advantage of on account of the salary requiring to be supplemented from private means. A groat demand for the Lee-Metford rifle had delayed the receipt of these rifles for some time, but the Government hoped shortly to have sufficient to arm the volunteers in the colony. The question of increasing the capitation allowance to vulunteer camps of instruction was under consideration. In connection with that matter th© Government intended to set up a defence committee of members qualified to report upon the subject of de'ence generally, enabling the Government to carry out certain reforms in the Volunteer sjstem without burdening the fin&ncos too much. That the ownera of the Manawafcu Railway Company had approached the Government, intimating that they wished to sell the line. The proper thing for the company to do would be to place the line undor offer to the Government, stating the price, etc. That had not been done, therefore it was not the duty of the Government to take the initiative in the matter. That the Government did not intend to give free pa«es for life on the ml way s to members of the con tin gents serving in South Africa, but it intended to give each member a medal. Mr Wilford moved — (l)That it is desireable that greater progress should be made in the settlement of the lands I of the colony by more rapid construction of railway lines now under con ! Btruotion in the oolony, with such additions and alterations as after enquiry may be deemed necessary : (2) that Standing Order No. 211 be suspended and a select committee of fifteen members of the House — viz. Horn Mr Ward, Messtt McNab, Morrison, W. Fraser, Stevens, Monk, McGuire. J. Allen, Col'ms, Guinness, Mills, Meredith, Hon. Major Steward and the mover, be set up with power to call for peraons and papers, and report within one month, especially upon tho following points: — (a) Cost of completing the Otago Central Railway line and the earliest possible date at whioh it can be opened for traffic ; (b) cost of completing the Midland Railway and tho earliest date on which it can be opened for traffic ; (c) cost of completing the main central railway lino, Wellington to Auckland, and the earliest date on whioh it can bo oponed for traffio ; and the cost of completing the Waipara- Cheviot Railway ; (d) oost of acquiring Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company's line ; (c) cost of straightening the Wellington-Hutt Railway, Mr Guinness took the opportunity of advocating some departure from the snail-like progress in the construction of some lines of railway. These great lines had been under progress for many I years. The North Island Trunk line was authorised in 1884, and at the present rate of progress it would take 36 years to complete. The estimated

cos* was i£2,880,000, of which 9 £592 had been «pent. The J^iJl Railway would take 46 years to q 9 plote at the present rate of prot^fl One million had been expended |9 ana id would take £1,250,000 uoj9 complete it. The Otago C|j9 Railway had cost already £80()9 and it would take one million &9 half more to oomplete, and if^9 present rate of work was maint|j9 it would take an additional 19 millions. It was time that th» Hq9 affirmed that the time had Wij9 when Government laid down a p,9 of more rapid railway construc|9 He did not ask for a borrowing|9 squandering policy, or to artifl,9 create boom, but the time had anj9 for more expedition in completing t}9 lines. He contended that po!ti9 should bear a portion of the cost ofj9 railways. The time had gqne p*9 raise the questions as to whethi9 not some of the lines named shouljl constructed. The colony, comniijH to their construction, must go ou *9 them. At least one millioa a *^m should be expended on them. 9 Messrs Mills, Stevens, Sti*9 Lawry, Bennett, Massoy, and F U 9 spoke in favour of the motion. ~^| Mr Ward denied that the moiil was merely a kite sent up for finj9 out how members viewed a borroi9 policy. A private member was q^| within his right in bringing fonruj9 resolution. There was no collusioj9 far as the Government was concugj^l He strongly opposed the propos*] t\9 railway bridges should be conatnic9 in America, and felt sure that nuci9 policy would not meet with support 9 the colony. Tho time had not arri9 when the Government should go 9 for a wholesale borrowing policy j9 railway construction, but ho nt]i9 agreed that completion of lines sh<)9 bo pushed on more vigorously. e9 objected to the proposal that in u 9 suing railway construction one ii 9 should be eelectsd and pushed od9 completion instead of spreading |9 expenditure over a number of lis9 Such a sysjem would never be tolen9 by the country. It would be n?9 unfair thing to expect railways to e9 sufficient money to enable linos to 9 proceeded with. Better let the peo9 hay« the benefit of cheap farts 9 freight. He regretted that the qo9 tion of north versus south had be 9 laised. The motion whs merely l 9 tended to obtain information onl9 the subject. Tho Premier dafandod the action 9 the Government for the way in wliisH they had treated the North lili9 railways. He would do his best 9 provide a reasonable amount to pro<9 cute the line. It would take to complete the railways, and it wonifl bo suicidal to go to the London mon9 market at present to rais* i^M amount. 9 The House then adjourned. 9