HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 93, 13 October 1894, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Dealing with Sir Robert Stout's amendment in favour of the Vancouver route, Mr Ward pointed out that New Zealand contributed only a fourth of the cost of the 'Frisco service, therefore they could not do anything in the direction indicated by Sir Robert Stout without the consent of Great Britain, America, Now South Wales, and the other colonies interested in the service. He might say this colony had already offered LIO.OOO for the service via Vancouver, but they were not going to obtain that by knocking the 'Frisco service on the head. The object of the colony should be to secure a fortnightly service, alterating between New Zealand and 'Frisco, and New Zealand and Vancouver. Sir R. Stout's amendment was lost by 47 to 16. Captain Russell moved a further amendment, that the contract be for one year instead of three years. Mr Ward said the colony could not enter into an agreement for one year. Captain Russell's amendment was loßt by 42 to 17. Mr G. W. Russell brought up the report of the Railways Committee, exonerating the Department of negligence in regard to the repair of southern bridges. After a few remarks from Mr Tanner against the report and Messrs Crowther and Morrison in favor of it, the report was adopted. Mr Guinness moved that the Workmen's Wages Act Amendment Bill be read a second time that day six months. — The debate was adjourned. On the motion that the House go into Committee of Supply, Mr Mitchelson, opened the debate on the Pubh'c Works Statement. He protested against the scatter-cash policy of the present Gove rnment, and thought it would before long land the colony in very serious trouble. The appropriations for the year were far in excess of what the Colony could afford, and it meant that Government would eventually have to float a loan to carry on public works. Sir Robert Stout said the House was asked to vote this year one million of borrowed money for public works, which was altogether more than the colony could afford. Captain Russell condemned the making of a railway through uaproductive country, and said the inevitable result would be that the poor would suffer and taxation increase. The Hon Reeves said that to carry on settlement Government must have money and that money they meant to get. Messrs Newman, Hogg and Geo. Hutchison also spoke.