DEPUTATION TO MR J. B. WHITE M.H.R.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1247, 26 June 1880, Page 2

DEPUTATION TO MR J. B. WHITE M.H.R.

In accordance with resolution, a reputation from the Waikato County Council, consisting of the Chan man (Captain Steele), and Crs. Primrose au<l Cumtning, waited on the member for Waikato ye>terday afternoon, at Pearce's hotel, with reference to the Thames - Waikato and Cambridge railways and other matters affecting' the interest of the districts. Captain Steele said the deputation wished to uri^e upon the members for the district the desirability of keeping the Thames and Cambridge railways before the (Jovunraent and to foice their consideration up >u Ministers in every possible way. It was the unanimous opinion of the County Council that in the mutter of public workb Waikato bad not got its share. .Mr Whyte said he presumed they meant that tenders for freah contracts on the Thames- Waikato railway should be called ; but he said this could not be done until a further sum of money had been placed on the Estimates. All the money last voted had been spent;. Cr. dimming said a large sum ot money had been voted for the Puniu railway which had not been expended. There was no possibility of this line being- made for some years to come. Mr -Whyto said ho had mentioned the matter tj Mr Oliver, and Mr Sheehau h'ld spoken strongly on the same subject to the Commissioners, and coming from such a, source ho thought the argument would have great force, for the reason that Mr Sheehan was formerly strongly in favor of carrying the ti unk line from Kihikihi, a proj-ct which he now -.aid could not be carried out .it present. People were apt to thiuk th.it money voted for a sepcific purpo.se on remained available always ; but tin's was not the case, if the money was not spf nt during the year the vote lapsed, and consequently the money voted lor the extension of the Railway to Puniu -was not now available. Capt. Steele said he hoped Mi* Whyte would do his utmost to urge on the works. Mr Whyte said he would, though they must see that the success or otherwise of his endeavors rested solely on the state of the colony's financ°. In the matter of roadß he might tell them that he would do his utmost, should the proposals of the Government be adopted to Jgst the road from Mercer to Botorua via Hokonui proclamed a main road, and also that from Hamilton to the Thames. If the local bodies could get the^e off their hand, so j to speak, they would obtain all they wanted. Cr. Primrose said if this were done they would have no occasion to regret the stoppage of the subsidies. Captain Steele said these was another matter upon which he wished to speak, and that was— protection to local industries. He would like to see all American goods shut out of the market. The Americans put prohibitive duties upon all New Zealand produce, and never spent a sixpence in the colony, but took all they could out of it. He would like to see the money remain in the colony, or at any rate go to England. At the same time, he would like to see the subsidies to American steamers stopped, and applied to subsidies for a direct line to England. Mr Whyte said the present contract would not expire for four years. After some further remarks on this subject — The deputation asked Mr Whyte to use his best efforts to get the Government to offer a bonus for the first carpet manufactured in the colony, according to the plan prepared by Mr Potter. Mr Whyte having promised to give the matter his best attention — The deputation thanked the hon. gentleman aud withdrew.