HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
THURBDAT — DECEMBER 1. The House met at 2 30 p.m. HONORARIOM, j Mr Bruce gave notice .o move In Committee on the Parliamentary Honorarium Bill, that the Aot should be In force till the dissolution of the present Parliament and no longer, QUESTIONS. Replying to q-r.st.onß, it was stated that country telegraph offioes would be dosed between 7 and 8 p m. lf requested by the residents of the neighbourhood ; that it was not intended to extend tbe North Island Trunk Railway as far as Port Albert at present ; that the question of relieving oountry settlers of exeessalve ousts m the Resident Magistrates Court would be considered during the recess ; that the experiment of providing carriages for ladies only on railway trains had been tried, bub was not successful. NAVAL D-FKNOE. The Australian Naval Defence Bill, In connection with the Colonial Conference scheme of defence, was Introduced by the Premier. RAILWAYS BILL. Mr Mltchelßo m _ v ed the seoon d reading ot tho Government Railways Bill. He had hitherto been opposed to the appointment of a non-political board, but after oareful consideration he had come to the oonc-tj-lon that the only possible remedy for the existing dissatisfaction wite the system was the appointment of such a board. At present the Minister had to depend largely on the department, audjthls would be so as long as tho present system of management continued. He wished to tfaat no reflection on the officers of the deportment. Mr Moxwell, the general manager, was a very able man, but he had the misfortune to offend many of the public. He pointed out that a Bill of this kind worked very successfully m Viotoria, and the present Bill was principally based on that Act; After referring to the dutleß to be performed by the three commissioners to be appointed and debating the general principles of the Bill, he Baid he hopsd the House would assist ln passing It, Mr Richardson congratulated the Minister on his Bill. He supported its prlnolple, and had prepared three Bills embodying lt. As to the dissatisfaction I that existed, he Baid that mnoh more diai satisfaction existed, not only m the colonies but m Eugland, with railway management. He should give every asßl. tance to make it a workable measure Mr Cowan supported the Bill, and said that the oountry looked to Parliament to give -ffect to it. He was glad to find that the late Minister of Publio Works wbb prepared to make the Bill workable Mr Buchanan and Mr Whyte cordially supported the Bill. Mr Samuel intended to voto against the Bill if it went to a division, aud he felt _U'e there would ba a greater revulsion against the board than there was at the present management. The debate waß Interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m, Mr Peacock counselled the greatest oare ln considering the provisions of this Bill, as the Board was really an experiment. He urged especially that the Commieslonero should live for a time m eaoh Island, and that the Bouse should Instruct them whether to work the railways so as to make them pay commercially or with the objeot of settling the oountry. He should support tho seoond reading, but would wait to see what modifications were made m Committee before pledging himself entirely to the Bill. Mr Fish said tbat the board would be subjected to as muoh political pressure bb the Minister. He thought a good deal of the discontent was doe to Mr Maxwell himself, despite the pratae bestowed on tbat officer by Mr Mttohelson and Mr Richardson. He did not believe m trying to make our lines yield a profit, nor that one board would be sufficient for both islands. Mr Thompson (Auckland North) advocated that the ..oard Bhould be instructed to give the y«ile system a trial on an inßolated seotion suoh as the Auckland railways. Mr Russell intended to vote for the Bill, but tboughj. it was a sad reflection ou Parliamentary capability tbat suoh a measure should have to be brought m. Sir Julius Yogel thought that the disßatiafaotion existing was not suoh ss a board would remove. It was evident there was a great difference of opinion an to the ac >po of the board, and he advised that th_e bill should be postponed till next aea.ion, He believed m using the railways as colonising agencies, and not for the purpose of making money. Sir John Hall also paid a tribute to the efficiency of the railway authorises, and iepi^ecated po'.itic.linfluenca boing brought : to btear on tho conduct of railways From personal kuowle.igo he kn-w that V6ry P°P ular iQ Victoria, ; md that the jKßvenue was largely increased, j Ho approved oi. tho proposal of Govern- ! Dent to extend ;the term of the commia- ( Honors to seven iaatead of five years, ac t would be difficult to get a proper man io engage himself Sf or i e6B . j t w^ uld be ' mwise, however, tb give the board power <j o construct railways as proposed by the 3ill. This waa a diatinot thiug a together. Dr Hodgkinaon had no faith m tb© Bill "V Cho only satiafaotory solution of tho whole * lifliculty wsb to Bell tha, railwaya. B Mr Blake was opposed to the board. Mr Mackenzie (Mount Ida) alao opposed he Bill. • \ O Mr Meuteath waß strongly, m favor of „ he Bill. Iho board wouldSbo removed ci ram thp local pressure, now} brought to tear with euch fatal effect, .k. Mr Bruce -intended to sup^s?fc^U.e. 0 i itttyiire, Vut ho thought railway manage- \ ;
ment was a problem which oould only bt solved approximately. Mr Fergus quoted from the Victorian railway returns to show that the railway! m that colony had yielded an improved revenue since the formation of the board* He oontended that they had had ample proof of the popularity of the ohange. Mr Levestam laid that Mr Vaite'i Boheme was fatile, and would entail great loss on the oolony. He would support the seoond reading. Mr Kerr thought this experiment wai ■ leap m tho dark, but as the House seemed inclined to try It, he would vote fer the Bill. Mr Taylor supported the measure. Mr Dunoan thought the railways woald pay If there was more population, and they could get on better wlthont the BUI, Mr Marohant supported the measure. Mr Hobbs wonld do the same, but | with great misgivings, aa the prinoipal idea seemed to be to make the lines pay without regard to settling the people on ths land, Mr Reeves (Inangahua) hoped tbe BUI j woald be allowed to stand over till next ! session to give more time for thinking over the working of the proponed .novation. Sir George Grey thought the past management had been good. Be woald like to know where the Commissioner* were to oome from, for it woald bt A mistake to pass over exoellent men ln the oolony to obtain others from outside; He did not agree with the proposal to treat tho railway purely as an engine of profit f which would d i great Injury to the peoplt of New Zealand. On the whole he mast V^e against tbe BUI. Mr Mitohelson having briefly replied, the House divided. —Ayes, 61 ; noei, 6, The Bdl was read a second timeSir George Grey said he intended lo oppose the Bill m Committee. MINING SILL. Mr G F. Rlohardsoa moved the feooad reading of tbe Mining Aot Amendment Bill. Mr Seddon snported lt, ai tome of tht provisions were badly wanted to protect the miners, bat he bad some amendment! to propose. After a short discussion the motion wm agreed to. The Home rosw at 12 40 a.m.
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Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1725, 2 December 1887, Page 2
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1,293HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1725, 2 December 1887, Page 2
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