INQUIRY TO BE HELD.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1533, 31 August 1912, Page 6

INQUIRY TO BE HELD.

INTERESTING DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT.

ESTIMATES CRITICISED.

COUNCIL REFORM BILL: IMPORTANT NOTICE OF MOTION.

Th'o'Hojise of "Representatives'went into Committee on the Estimates almost immediately after meeting yesterday, and the usual discussion on all manner of subjects followed on the motion to pass item. 'Sir Joseph Ward: opened with a defence of, his own Government's actions in regard to the prosecution of land surveys— this in reply to recent frequent criticisms alleging that the Lands. Department had paid too little attention to this necessary work,- antecedent to settlement. Mr. Buchanan, who followed, declared that Toads were laid out without proper regard--to topography, and -that the grades were in consequence very often impracticable.: Ho cited a'road.of the sort in his own district, which had. a' grade jf one in, three. The Hon. R.: M'Kenzie, late Minister for Public WorkV questioned ;'tli'e' accuracy' of Mr. Buchanan's facts, )>ut the latter insisted, that they were correct, arid quoted more cases, -t Mr. G. W. Russell attacked the' Government on general principles,'declaring that they, had,stolen tho •'Mackenzie 'Government's .policy, and! their Estimates. He said, also that the new Accounts; Committee had been unable to find an'yfiiult with' the Estimates, and tho Government, bound to a policy of>economy, conid.not reduce them at all. . This brought Mr. J; 8.-Hine, chairman of the Accounts Committee, to his feet. He said the committeo had found what they considered extravagant items, and had made mention of them to Ministers, but:the committee had not felt justified in reducing them. Then he went on to devote all his attention to Mr. Russell, and a certain land .transaction in which he had figured" as-Vendor^,and' the Lands Department "as":,.purchaser.',', Mr. Russell replied that he had done no wrong whatever,"and'that/lie courted .inquiry. The Prime Minister, cut, short, the. discussion by suggesting that 'thematter should bo ; Teferred to the Lands . Committee: - It was obvious that the matter could not Test at its then .stage, and Mr. Russell had himself offered to submit himself to any inquiry." The. rest of the debate was peacefiJ and tha first . item, passed, at :1i,.p.m.; a'ffe'jvluch .tho Hoitserrose. '* v An interesting notice of motion regarding the Reform -Bill was given in tho Legislative Council yesterday afternoon 3y tie- Hon; J, D. Ormond.