Houses of Representatives.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXI, Issue 12318, 12 November 1907, Page 2

Houses of Representatives.

The IIous" mot at 7.30. INTRODUCTION OF RILLS. Th" Premier gave notice to introduce the Chinese Immigration Amendment Bill and the Divorce Act Amendment Bill. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Three days' leave of absence was granted to Mr E. G. Allen, owing to urgent public business, and seven days' leave was granted to Mr Flatman owing to sickness in his family. THE RAILWAYS BILL. The Railways Improvement Authorisation Act Amendment Bill- was introduced by Governor's message. In reply to Mr Massey, the Premier said the Bill provided for i' 150,000 for the duplication of works at Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin. The Bill wa» read a first time. FIRST READINGS. The Fisheries Conservation Act Amendment Bill (McGowan), Mining Act Amendment Bill (McGowan), and Barmaids Abolition Bill (Ell) were read a first time. NOTICE OF INTRODUCTION. The Hon. McNab gave notice to introduce the Co-operative Dairy Companies Bill. THE PUBIC WORKS STATEMENT. On a motion to go into Committee of Supply. Mr Massey protested against the delay in bringing down the Statement. He noted that the Estimates for roads and bridges had been reduced from what it was in previous years, yet this public work was the most important for the country. _ He knew of no such conditions such as existed in the North Island. At the close of the wet season the roads only existed in name, and he had yet to see a vehicle which could travel over these roads, or horses that could draw the vehicle. The Government had, he said, rduring recent years, been in the habifc 6f voting .£SO for 10 miles of country roads, and expected the people and members to be satisfied with smch doles. He had afffted, he added, that money was voted to Jborougbs for street purposes, whilst the'^country was crying for roads for settlement. He deprecated the large vote for Tourist Department roads, and urjjed that it should be reduced and more money devoted to ordinary country roads. Referring to the Manawatu line, he saw no objection to this being taken over, as he recognised it was a portion of the Main Trunk Railway, and he hoped the right thing would be done towards the people of the country and the shareholders in that railway. He advocated the speedy connection ofr-Taranaki with the Main Trunk Line, when it was completed, and urged that a vigorous policy should be adopted in regard to the Gis-borne-Auckland line. He added that more work should be carried on by contract labour, particularly in regard to the construction of viaducts,, and in regard to co-operative workers, he contended they should be allowed a free hand so long as they did their work to the satisfaction of the engineer in charge. Referring to the Telephone system, he contended that the expenses were too heavy in regard to the settlers, and a little generosity should be' extended in this direction. Referring to future Estimates, he urjed that a schedule should be prepared showing the details of expenditure, and who had asked for the same. The Premier said he did not recollect any speech being made when going into Supply. He agreed with Mr Massey that if the system could admit of it, the Public Works Estimates should come down earlier but if that were to be done it would mean that Parliament would have to meet in February and the financial year terminate at the end of December. He pointed out that they must have the Financial Statement and policy measures out of the way before the Estimates could be brought down. He combatted the statement that money for roads and bridges was being reduced, and stated that .£554,551 was being devoted to this purpose, which, with the exception of two years, was the highest for 21 years. He added that if any Government exceeded that amount it would be doing a very unwise thing for the country as a whole. Proceeding, he said £27,000 of the vote for the Tourist Department was for roads, and these roads were not for the tourists alone. The revenue from the Tourist Department last year increased over the preceding year by £2600. He defended the expenditure in this direction, a 9 the tourists passing through the country benefited it to a large extent, and the Tourist Department had been doing good work for the country. Some 9684 tourists passed through the Dominion last year, and, assessing their expenditure in the country at per head, this meant an expenditure in the country of £484,000. Proceeding to the Manawatu Railway undertaking, he said he had refused to* negotiate for this railway on a share basis. • The Government would do the right and proper thing for the country and fpr^lhe railway; Under the agreement there" was no sentiment about the matter, and the Government did not intend to take advantage of any technicalities. Referring to the railway policy, he was pleased Mr Massey bad taken up the attitude he had, as the development of railways was a most important matter for the country, and next year he would pay attention to the Leader of the Opposition's remarks in regard to railways. He defended the apportionment of money that had been made in regard to railway expenditure, and added that if the Government were to accede to all demands made in regard to railways it would have to increase borrowing to an extent undesirable. Referring to the development of qtago, he said he intended to ask Parliament to grant authority for the expenditure of .£IOO,OOO for the" irrigation of Central Otago. Referring to Mr Maßsey's suggestion as to building viaducts by contract, he agreed witk him to a large extent, but there weset vases where no roads existed, and the Public Works Department had had to carry on the work, otherwise

they would have got no tender, or it would have been so high a-> to be impossible to accept it. Referring to the telephone system, he said if the Department were to dispense with guarantees, it would have demands for wires where they would not pay for the next 40 years. Referring to the Estimates, he contended they were clearly set out and easily understandable, and he was at a loss to understand why the Leader of the Opposition sliduM say he could not understand 5 per cent, oi the roade and bridges vote. Mr James Allen contended Lbat tro Tourist and Health Department w i p> tting out of hand altogether. Ti.» \..te had been over expended, whilst roads and bridges, development of water power, and goldfields had been considerably under spent. Then the Immigration and Public works Departments had also been over expended. He deprecated the increase in expenditure on public buildings, which had increased in a few years from .£70,000 to £227,000. Referring to expenditure in various electorates, he pointed out that only 46 per cent, of the vote had been expended in Otago and Marlborough, and in Wanganui the expenditure was actually 108 per cent. Referring to railways, he said the Otago people had been too generous, and the Government had taken advantage of that generosity, with the result that the vote for railways in Otago had been reduced from ;£ 140,000 to £90,000, and now to .£70,000. The Hon. Mills urged that prompt attention should be paid to Picton wharf, which was, he said, in a dilapidated state, and he would not be surprised if a serious accident occurred, owing to* the heavy train traffic that, passed over the wharf. Mr W. Fraser asked the Government to say something definite as to when the Central Otago Railway was to be pushed on. Sir W. J. Steward advocated the continuance of the Picton-Seddon line to Christchurch. Mr Jennings advocated a more vigorous road policy in Taranaki and other districts in the North Island. Mr T. Mackenzie, in supporting the prosecution of irrigation in Otago, quoted statistics showing how veritable wilderness land had been reclaimed in America and Egypt, and amply repaid the cost of irrigation. Mr Lang urged that roads in the back portions ot' the Manakau electorate should receive more attention, as many of the roads were impassable since the last floods. Mr Stallworthy expressed dissatisfaction that the vote for the North Auckland Railway had been reduced from £50,000 to £40,000. He added that settlers in the district had long been looking forward to a vote of £100,000. Mr Remington expressed satisfaction at the vote expended in the Wanganui district, which he considered was justified, as the district was prosperous and increasing in population and exports, whereas Otago was a declining province, with a decreasing population and decreasing exports*. Mr Poole advocated better lighting of the northern coast line. The debate was proceeding when the telegraph office closed at midnight. WELLINGTON, November 12. After the telegraph office closed Mr McGowan, replying, said he had to compliment Mr Massey on what was a sensible speech. Referring to tourist roads, he reminded Mr Massey that he had advocated the making of a tourist road to an ostrich farm. Referring to water power, he stated that it was intended to use it for .mining and agricultural purposes, and added that it was the aim of the Government to do the best possible for all districts. At 1.40 the motion was carried and the House went into committee of supply. The first item, Public Works Department £21,000, passed unaltered. Progress was reported, and the House adjourned at 2.10 a.m.