HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Manawatu Herald, 4 July 1895, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday, June 28. The House met at 2.80. The Hamilton Gasworks Bill Wai read a second time. The Licensing Acts 'Amtndmenk Bill and the Debts Recovery LimitraBill were introduced and read ft firsttime. A BUI to encourage in this Colony the production of sugar from b«et ; the Rating on Unimproved Valuw Bill, and the Local Bodies Loan Conversion Bill were introduced by message from Hie Excellency tb» Governor, and read a first time. Standing Order 211 wae suspended in order to enable the House to discuss the following message from His Excellency the Governor : — That possession having been taken in terms of the Railway Construction and Land Act, 1881, of the New Zealand Midland Railway, the Go* yernment be authorised, pending appropriation being made on the Estimates, to exptnd a sum not exceeding five thousand pounds (£5000) in extending, clearing and forming the section of the said rail* way between Jackson's and th« Otira, and in completing the formation of and laying the rails on the partially completed portion of the said railway between Belgrove and Motupiko, such- expenditure to be deemed to be part of the moneys appropriated out of the Public Works Fund under any Imprest Supply Act already passed, or that may hereafter be passed during the present session of Parliament. The Premier said the matter now before the House was not one of only local interest, but one of interest to the whole of the Colony of New Zea'and. Caftain Russell objected, . as if authority was given the Government to take this vote he believed they were binding the Colony to carry on a work which would cost something like £2,000,000. He would therefore move, to enable the House to further consider the matter, " That the consideration of the question of the Midland Railway should be deferred until after the Public Works Statement." ; Sir Robert 3 tout feared the same thing. • ; Dr Newmafl opposed the hurried manner in which the House was asked to deal with the matter. Messrs Q-uiness, Allen, Russell, Earnehaw, the Minister of Labour, Messrs Button, Montgomery, Bell, Graham, Fraser, R. McKenzie and Crowther also spoke, and the debate was then adjourned' till next day.