SECOND READING OF THE RAIL. WAY BILL CARRIED.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 70, 20 September 1893, Page 2

SECOND READING OF THE RAIL. WAY BILL CARRIED.

The House met at 2.30. Mr Rolleston took the opportunity >f saying that, in moving his awendnent to the Government Bill, he had 10 desire to embarrass the Governnent, or their supporters, in any way, md as the Premier declared the tmendment to be a hostile one, he should not call for a division on itj but et it go on the voices. He suggested i short Bill should be passed to maintain the statu quo with respect to xhe Llaihvay Commissioners for another year, so that the matter could be decided by the new Parliament. Mr Seddon replied that he had nqt accepted the amendment as one of n^>because he had asked the House to deal with the Bill as a nonparty question. He hoped the debate would proceed so that the matter would be disposed of without delay. He could not agree with Mr Kolleston's suggestion re the statu quo. Mr Seddon brought up the reasons for disagreeing with the amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Alcoholic Liquor Bill and the House assented to them. Mr Seddon announced, amidst applause from both sides of the House, that the Governor had that morning given his assent to the Electoral Bill. He hoped every facility would be given to enable women to be placed on the rolls as speedily as possible, and said electoral forms could now be obtained in all parts of the colony at Post Offices, and from the Registrars of electors. Sir John Hall said he desired to express the gratification which he was sure they all felt on hearing the Premier's statement. The debate on the Government Railways Act Amendment Bill was resumed by Mr Duncan, who had adversely criticised the managei^ent of the Commissioners, but <\'ia not care very much for the present Bill. Mr McGovern supported the Biil. Mr Meredith, as a small farmer, said the management of the Commissioners, though not perfect, was giving pretty general satisfaction. Mr Allen said that if the management of the Commissioners had been so bad as asserted by Mr Seddon, he should either have dismissed them or set up a Commission of Enquiry. Mr C. H. Mills was in favor of the Minister of Public "Works having a seat on the railway board with a deliberative and casting vote. He saw nothing unfair or unreasonable in the Bill. Mr Fergus had not heard a single argument from either side of the House why the Commissioners should not be continued in their present position. He felt sure, if this Bill passed, there would shortly be a universal cry for its repeal. Mr Rolleston's amendment was then put and lost on the voices. On the motion for the second reading, Mr Blake said he was opposed to this Bill, but he held they must have some measure, as the Commissioners would shortly lapse. Mr Scobie Mclvenzie deprecated the incessant hostility the Premier had exhibited towards the Commissioners. The Hon. Mr Reeves contended there was not general satisfaction with the Commissioners, and that until the remarkable occurrence in 1890, when a revulsion of feeling took place in favour of the Commissioners, there had been strong dissatisfaction with their management. Messrs Ha) l- Jones, Tanner, and J. W. Kelly spoke in support of the Bill, and Messrs Wilson, J. Mills, Russell, and Bhodes against it. The Premier having replied, the second reading was carried by 20 to 12. The following is the division list:— Ayes — Buick, Cad man, Carroll, Earnshaw, Guinness, Hall-Jones, Hogg, Joyce, J. Kelly, W. Kelly, Lawry, Macintosh, McGoiran, C. H. Mills, Palmer, Parata, Sandford, Seddon, Shera, £. M. Smith. Noes — Buchanan, Buckland, Carncross, Fish, Harkness, Lake, Meredith, Moore, Rolleston, Saunders, Swan, Wright. Pairs — Ayes: T. Thompson, Ward, O'Connor, Stout, Fraser, Taylor, Hous. toa, Willis, W. Hutchison. W. C. Smith, G. Hutchison, R. Thompson, Kapa, Duncan, J. McKenzie, Pinkerton, McLean, Tanner, Reeves. Noes—Mitchelson, Bruce, Wilson, Fisher, Richardeon, Rhodes, Hamlin, Taipua, McGuire, Russell, J. Mills. Hall, Newman, Duthie, M. J. S. McKenzie, Valentine, Allen, Fergus, T. McKenzie. Mr Seddon said he did not intend to take any other business till the Bill was out of the way, and its committal was made a first order for to-day. The House rose at 2.40 a.m.