HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 96, 17 October 1894, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

THE MIDLAND RAILWAY BILL THROWN OUT. Hon. Mr Seddon moved the second reading of the Midland Railway Bill. He was in a position to say that the Company could not carry out the original contract, and go on with the Motueka Reefton connection. This was a painful and humiliating position, as the people of Nelson and Reefton had been for years past waiting for this work to be proceeded with, and there had been no settlement or expendU ture of any kind in consequence of the work not progressing A fter detailing the provisions of the Bill, he went on to point out the advantages that would accrue to the Colony from the construction of this Railway. It would find employment for hundreds of men, would facilitate the carriage ot coal and other minerals, and they would shortly find the Otira Gorge would be a second Coolgardie. Another matter of paramount importance was that if they passed this Bill they would set free fire million acres of Crown Lnnds for settle inent purposes He thought the extension of time aeked by the Compauy should be conceded. If they did not treat the Company fairly it would be a bad thing for the credit of the Colony, and if it was at all possible litigation should be avoided as a Government generally came off second best in the disputes of this kind. He was convinced the present proposals would settle at once and for all this difficult question. Sir Robert Stout, after referring to the misleading nature of the speech just delivered by the Premier, went on to detail the circumstances attending tho initfntion of this railway. He said the honor of the colony was at stake, in that the contract should not be violated. The people at the Nelson end had a right to expect the contract should be carried out. The proposals of the Bill in regard to debentures meant a new loan of £2,600,000. Hon Seddon spoke of litigation, but if he had done his duty as Minister for Public Works he would have seen that no litigation was likely to ensue. Captain Rnssell said the Premier had scarcely referred at all to the interests of tho taxpayers of the colony, aiul his speech was more like that of an advocate for this company than of the Premier of the colony. He was opposed to Nelson being thrown overboard, as proposed in the Bill. Mr Reeves said the circumstances seemed to show that unless variation of contract were agreed to the line would have to be abandoned, and the alternative, therefore, was that unless they agreed to the present proposals the railway would be stopped. If this Bill were not agreed to the lino would be hung up for some time to come, and there would be an enormous amount of litigation in consequence. Messrs Buchanan, T. McKenzic, and Allen spoke against the Bill, and Mr Bell in support of it. The debato was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. This Day. Iv the House last night the Midland Railway Contract Bill was thrown out on the second reading by 32 to 26. The debato lasted for upwards of eight hours. The following is the division lisb : — Ayes, 26 - Buddo, Carroll, Collins, Guinness, G. Hutchison, Joyce, W. Kelly, Larnach, Mackintosh, McGowan, J. McKenzie, McLachlan, Meredith, Mitchelson, Montgomery, O'Regan, Parata, Reeves, G. W. Russell, Saunders, G. J. Smith, Seddon, Stevens, Steward, Ward, Tanner. Noes, 82.— Allen, Buchanan, Buick, Button, Carncross, Carnell, Crowther, Earnshaw, Fraser, Graham, Hall-Jones, Harris, Heke, W. Hutchison, J. W. Kelly, Lang, T. McKouzie, Masse}", McGuire, McNab, Millar, Mills, Morrison, Newman, Pinkertou, Pirani, W. R. Russell, E. M. Smith, Stout, Te Ao, Thompsou, Wilson.