PARLIAMENTARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 479, 19 July 1902, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, last night. Tho House met at 2.30. Select Committees wore set up to consider tho Government Railways Superannuation Bill and State Fire Insurance Bill. Tho afternoon was occupied by Ministers in answering questions. Tho Houso resumed at 7.30 p.m. Sir Joseph Ward moved the second reading of tho Aid to Public Works and Lands Settlement Bill, to authorise the raising of money in aid of certain public works and purposes. Mr Massey thought that the colony could not afford to borrow more than one million annually, and objected to the cooperative labor system on the public works us being wasteful and extravagent iri tho extreme. Mr Hogg, whilo contending that retrenchment could he e ffected in some of the public departmei ti, thought that the colony was w.uriutod in pu.s i ig a v gorous public works policy. Mr Hall-Jonos said it must bn borne in mind that the Government had to carry on after tho 31st March until further final.cial provision was mado by Parliament for public works, so that the one an- 1 three-quarter millions asked for in this Bill would not bo wholly expended during the current year. Midnight.—Several other members also spoke, general approval being expressed of borrowing money to a limited extent for public works and the opening up of the country. The debate was still proceeding when tho telegrupb office closed.