Parliamentry Notes.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 301, 26 June 1896, Page 3

Parliamentry Notes.

UFBEST SUPPLY BILL. An Imprest Supply Bill for smfity waa introduced and put through all its stages. Si* R. Stout asked if tbe Public Wt»ks Fufld was exhausted, s^ti&ihat it waa proposed to take £50,000 1 from Consolidated Revenue for tbe Public Works Fund. He also wanted to know what had become of the £76,000 worth of debenture." 1 Oiiily £400,000 worth were shown to be in existence out of the £476,000 of Imporial guarantee debentures. Dr Newman, Mr Bell, and Mr Duthie also enquired as to tbe above amounts. The Premier said that tbe Works Funds were exhausted, and the North Island Trunk Baiiway was being constructed but : of tbe Consolidated Fond. Tbe Canterbury and Otago Railway Fundß were also overdrawn, *: And/, this necessitated the? vote being made out of the Consolidated Fund a little earlier than usual. Regarding the £76,000 worth, of debentures, there was: nothing unusual about that. Tbe debenlores bad been-issued in accordance with j thelaw. Sir R. Stout— But what bas become of them ? Why is the system changed? The Premier— There is no ebarigri made except in accordance with ttie Act. Sir Robert Stout said it was unusual to take money from the Consolidation Fund at this, early stage for public Works. Regarding the debentures, he Minted ont tbat Treasury bills bad been usued' against £476,000 worth of Imperial guarantee debentures, and only £400,000 were accounted for. The £76,000 worth were probably pledged against something in London. Iteo, why did not tbe Premier at once say so ? The Premier repeated that it was necessary to obtain the £60,000 from Consolidated Revenue, and M to the £76,000 of debentures, he was told they were still intact. Sir Robert StouiPWhere are they ? The Premier • .(after a pause)— ln London. Sir Robert Stout (sbtto voce) -Yon don't know anything about it. After some discussion Sir . Robert Stout again asked why the £76,000 had been re-pledged. The Premier said i» had been done in accordance with the low, and to strengthen the position of the Post Offw^. Sir Robwt Stout— Then wby didn't yon say so at first ?