PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 3520, 4 June 1874, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Wednesday, June 3. The debate on the Financial Statement was open by Mr Gillies, who, after pointing out an existing liability of L85,U5, reduced •he actual credit balance to L 19.510, and he was disappointed that the Treasurer had not dearly brought out the fact of the prop ,sed expenditure being so far in exfiess of the estimated revenue. The estimated revenue was L 450,832, and the expenditure L 552.384. To the latter must be added L 164.760 pro- ' posed to be expended upon railways, either out of revenue or loan. If we obtained the loan this expenditure would not be charged against revenue; but iu view of the possibility of this loaa not being granted, the amount should be charged against revenue. The government only expected some L 60.000 to be chargeable against revenue during the present financial year fojr. these works; but they were committed to an. expenditure against revenue of L 164.000, which would have to be provided for this year and the following year. There was thus a total of L 717,144; on the other side au estimated revenue of L 450.832, an excess of appropriation of L 266.311. In some shape or form L 165.645 would have to be met; and the only source would be the sale of land. In the Estimates there was provision for the sale of land up to LIBO,OOO, and ceupliug these two sums together, it would be necessary to sell land to 1.342,645. It had been stated that only L 60,000 would be expended during the present financial year, but a good many hop. members thought there was little chance of the loan being got; and then the railway expenditure most be taken out of revenue. The Treasurer should have explained more fully how he reconciled the proposed expenditure in excess of revenue which was the only unsatisfactory part of the statement. The Provincial Treasurer replied that there would be ample time next session to decide how the funds were to be raised, if it were decided to proceed with the railways. Last year, not much over half the vote for railways had been spent, and he said without hesitation that if the authorised works were carried out, there would be a considerable amount in the Treasury at the close of the financial year. Kinross hoped the Government would continue the 'll# to Li subsidy to road boards, in anticipation of which they had entered into engagements, Mr Fish referred to the railway policy of the iJovernment as very unsatisfactory, and said the Government had misled the Council. If, as he believed, the proposed loan couhl not be obtained, the only alternative would be to sell large blocks. It would have been better if the Government had come down and asked for such au alternative power, in olace of trying to throw dust in the eyes of honorable members. In connection with this question of railways there was a fact to which he wished to call attention.—The hon member ms here called to order. After considerable debate, progress was reported, and leave obtained to sit again. The deba e on the railway resolutions (Nos. 3 and 4) and on Mr Fish’s amendment to ■'* o. 3, as follows“ That, seeing the ten-’ ders for the construction of the lines of railway referred to in resolution fto. 3, and iccepted by the Government, far exceed in amount the sum appropriated by this Council for that purpose, itr is pf opinion that it is desirable that such contracts, except the Council; and that if the proposed loan is obtained from the Assembly, then fresh tenders be called for the same,” was resumed oy Mr Gillies, who protested against the course proposed to be taken. The contracts referred to in reso ution No. 3 were entered by the Executive a few days before the Council met; and although the contracts covered nine miles less than "what was authorised, the Government had exceeded the amount appropriated by LI 1,582. When these contracts were let there was no appropriation by the Council. If this course of conduct was to be sanctioned, the (sooner. they gave up responsible Government alto- i gether the better. It would be said that to ! refuse to proceed with the construction of those railways would be tantamount to repudiation, but no such argument could be used. 1 his was a dear case in which the Superintendent and Executive had gone beyond their powers unnecessarily, there being no urgency whatever in this particular case. The Provincial -'Ecbetary replied "that he was nob there to defferid 'what had been 1 done respecting those contracts. The questi >n was, those contracts had been accpted, and although', as a matter of fact, rather too late to render them so legal and binding on the Government as they would otherwise be, still they were accepted with the full concurrency pf th§ Council at its last 'session. The responsibility rested' on the Qoyerujpeut to have those contracts entered into last year; the pressure of work on the department was so great that the contracts could not be got out iu time, and in order to prevent further /inln AL A . , a. II » . a. a

delay the Government' thought it best to adopt the course they had. Those contracts were let. and would the Provincial Council now recall the authority which it gave last session for the construction of those 'railways 2 And-if it was decided to do so. was the" Council prepared to do it in the face of the probability of claims for compensation on the part of the contrastors ? It might be said th .t the contractors would have no legal standing in the Supreme Court; but that was doubtful, and would probably be tested. But was there really any such objection to the manner in which those contracts were entered into as would justify the Provincial Council in allowing this matter to be taken to the Supreme Conrt to be discussed and decided there? He thought no such ease Had been made out. If those engagements were thrown over by the Council it would seriously affect the carrying out of such works in the future. It would be highly improper for the Council to take steps for overturning these contracts. Mr Bastings was not going to throw on the Government any blame that rested on his shoulders. With reference to the extra cost

°f the railways, he might say that the cost ot all works during the last year had been xa exoeSa tif the estimate from'the rise*in the price of labor. If it had been possible to lot the works six months before, it would have been done; but from the smallness of the staff it was impossible to get the necessary surveys made In doing what had heed done, the late Government thought thev were meeting the wishes of the Council. Mr De Latour said he thought if th« Council were of his opinion, that whatever was done with the amendment, which ho himself had no great love for, the resolution would not be passed in the absence of the Select Committee’s report, unless the ProZT l u Tre f. sUl , er con desceaded to explain the lull particulars relative to the alleged illegal letung of these tenders. When the iate Government refused to meet the House at the commencement of the session, they that their actions would be open to full criticism, as they w°tdd on all occasions be in th&r places to give an account of their actions. So far as he Was aware, the late head of the Government had not opened his mouth in this matter. Whatever master was irregular, whether it was irregularity of th©'treasurer’s department, or ip

this Ca«e, as m the Public Works, the late Provincial Secretary could not escape the mda responsibility. It mast strike the Council now wise the invisible coachman had been in attaching two leaders to the Government coach, who, by their frolic and free action, would hide the gall marks sores of the two steady old polera. He thought this was not a bad simile, but it would be manifestly inoorriplete without the addition of the member tor Invercargill, as the old guard, playing an occasional solo upon the ram’s-horn. Putting, perhaps false metaphor aside, he hoped the Council would insist on an explanation being given relative to these contracts by the late head of the Government and the member for Oamaru Country. They had been examined before the Select Committee, it was understood, and the Government were, of course, aware that it was almost a necessity for the late Government to he indemnified by the passing of this resolution before the report came down to the Council.—Mr Stout : Question.—The honorable gentleman who calls question is merely carrying out what he holds his seat upon the benches to do—by his great abilities, and by his powers of oratory to defend acts that cannot defend themselves.—(Hear, hear.) —The amendment was negatived by 7 against 27. On Mr Gillies’s further amendment—“ That the construction of the lines already authorised, and for whyjh contracts hqive been accepted, be prosecuted •luring the current year, payment tq be made out ef loan,” there votgd—4yes. 9 • nofß, 24 Mr Da Latodr moved spi amend-’ raent. which was ruled out of order, and Hr Brown the addition of the following words to the motion—‘‘Orthe sales of special sections oMand of 300- acres each, contiguous to the lines of railway,”, which was negatived. The resolution was then agreed to. On Mr M'Kenzie’s motion it was resolved to address the Superintendent requesting him to urge upon the Colonial Government the necessity of erecting and establishing a branch depot for immigrants at Palmerston. Thursday, June 4, The following message was reads—“ Referring to Message No. 22, referring to Volunteer land grants, as to the expediency of continuing which there seems to be much difference of opinion, the Superintendent ventures to suggest that the question might be met by a money appropriation sufficient m amount to cover a cash payment of say LlO to each claimant., Should the Provincial Council concur in this suggestion, the Superintendent will be prepared to place the necessary amount on the Supplementary Estimates.” . A petition from certain Yolunteers, prjayf°. r an inquiry into the reasons foB jmg omission of their names from the ‘list of volunteer* to land grants was pre* sented by the Provincial Solicitor. [Left sitting.]