PETITIONS FOR PUBLIC WORKS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2171, 29 August 1907, Page 4

PETITIONS FOR PUBLIC WORKS.

"GETTING RID OF THEM.” - Special to Timos. WELLINGTON, August 27 There was another discussion this afternoon upon tlio question of petitions for public works. Reports upon various petitions for grants for public works were brought up by tho At to Z Petitions Committee, tlio recommendations being that the several petitions be referred to tlio Government “for consideration.” ■ . ■Mr. Massey said that ho took it that the Committee’s desire was that tlio petitions should be considered by tlio Government prior to tho Public Works Estimates being prepared, lie ivislieil to know whether this would bo done. ' , ~ , The Minister for Lands said that the report of the Committee meant that the petitions could not bo dea.lt with bv the Committee or by tlio House.' The method adopted was a wrong procedure, and this was the simplest way of getting rid of it. Air. Herries said that that was certainly not the opinion of the House nor of the members who presented the x’etitions. What the Minister of Lands said, in effect, was that tlio petitions would be consigned the waste paper .basket. (Air. AlcNah: No.) If tlio House was going to stand that it would stand anything. If petitions were referred to tlio Government they should he considered. Mr. J. Allen moved as an amendment to add to the Committee’s report “prior to the Public Works Estimates being finally dealt with this session.”

Tlie Premier said that Air. Allen was only delaying the matter unnecessarily. The question had already hen exhaustively discussed twice this session.

Mr. Allen : I would not have moved the amendment if tlie Alinister had not made the statement that this was tho best way of getting rid of the petitions. Tlie Premier said that tlie Government had considered and would consider all questions that came before it. Replying to a remark from Air. Alills, Mr.. AlcNah denied that bis first statement had reference to the manner in which the petitions would bo dealt with by the Government. His reference to “getting rid” of the petitions related only to the Committee of the House. The Government would give most careful consideration to the petitions. (Laughter.) After further discussion tli e amendment was negatived by 52 to 10, and tlie report was referred to tlio Government for consideration.