PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 17 August 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

(by telegraph.) Wellington, August 16. In the House of Representatives today, Mr. Pyke gave notice, that on going into Committee of Supply, he would move that the ten per cent, reduction do not apply to salaries of L2OO and under. Mr. Oliver gave notice that he would move to-morrow for leave to bring in the Public Works Bill. Mr. Whitaker moved for leave to introduce the Hamilton-Ohaupo Railway Bill. The motion was negatived on a division by 40 to 22. The Wellington Foreshore and Railway Wharf Grant Bill passed through all its stages. Mr. Hall gave notice that he would move that in future Thursdays, after 7.30, be given to Government business.

Mr. Shejipard resumed the debate on the motion re the Railway Commissioners' report. He spoke against the report of the Railway Commissioners, criticised its recommendations, and said that if carrying the resolution would prevent the appointment of any more Royal Commissions to assume the duties of Government without the responsibility, the House should certainly pass the motion of the member for Dunscan.

Captain Russell defended the appointment of Commissions of this kind. Its tendency was to put a stop to that system of log-rolling which had been only too prevalent in that House, and which was mainly responsible for the non-reproduc-tive works they had constructed. What they required at preSent was a little more self-reliance. In times past they had relied too much upon English gold. Mr. Thomson said the appointment of this and other commissions was a mistake. The suggestion by the Commissioners that there should not be a uniform tariff was one he expected the Government to say something about. Then, again, he expected that the suggestion about a Board of Management would be referred to in the Public Works Statement. He referred at some length to the injustice done the Clutha District of Otago, in not completing the line from Balclutha to Catlin's River. He went on to show that a sum of L 33,000 had been spent on railways in Taranaki over and above what was authorised. Then again a sum of L 30,000 had been spent within the last tweiye months in the same provincial district. Had the late Government done a thing of that kind, there would have been no end of the outcry. It was a Tapanui job on a large scale. Then, again, there wag a barber work going on, which was so muoh money thrown into the sea. Then there was an armed constabulary kept up for the benefit of Taranaki, at a cost of LSOO per day. With a state of things like that in their midst, it was quite impossible that the Colony could be prosperous. Then, again, it was proposed to spend during the current year on rptvds in that Province L2G,OO(> It was not at all wonderful that there was nothing left for the South Island when so much was swallowed up by Taranaki. If the Government had not money to spend it would be a different thing, but, having money, he had good reason to complain. Mr. George said his chief objection was that in the future, when they had more money at their disposal for railway works, it would be brought up, and in that way would prejudice very necessary works. Mr. Hirst regretted that Government had not provided for the prosecution of the Orepuki railway, which the Commission had recommended.

Mr. White spoke in support of the report. Mr. Jones denied a statement by Mr. Pyke that tlie Livingstone line had been made at the instigation of one of the Railway Commissioners, Mr. Reid. It had been made at the instigation of a joint agitation, at the instance of the inhabitants of Oamaru and Naseby. The line would not benefit the Messrs. Reid. It had been argued that Livingstone was not a populous district, but he had to remind the House that one of the principles on which the railway policy proceeded was that it should open up Grown lands, and by that means promote the settlement of the country. The member for Dunstan was a noted story-teller. He had written a story entitled " Wild Will Enderby" that was rich in imagination, but his speech the other night re the Livingstone railway completely eclipsed that narrative in rich romance. Referring to the Public Works Statement, he alluded to the reference to Mr. Firth's efforts to clear the Thames of snags. ThG fact was that Mr. Firth cleared the river for his own purpose, and in so doing he could not help benefiting the district. Mr. Firth was not entitled to the very honorable mention made of him by the statement. Mr. Hutchison thought that of the House documents—the Railway Commission, the Public Works Statement, and the Civil Service report—the latter was the most important. Mr. Pitt generally supported the recommendations of the Commission, contending that the manner in which the Commia? sioners had conducted their inquiries \vas with strict impartiality. Instead of con-: veying censure, as the motion was .in-

tended to do, the Commission had earned and were d.eserving of the best thanks of the Colony. The question was put for going into Committee of Supply, the result being— Ayes, 30 ; noes, 15. In Committee of Supply on the Public Works Estimates, the following votes passed:— 2, L 14,870; class 3, Kawa-Kawa, L 47,000 ; Whangarei-Kamo, L 39,000; Kaipara-Waikato, L 131,000; Waikato-Thames, L 99,000.

On the item, Wellington-Napier, L 37,000, Mr Seddon moved that it be reduced by L 20,000. Ayes, 11 ; noes, 33. Item passed as printed. The following votes were passed : Wellington-Woodville, with branch to Greytown, L 120,000 ; Wellington to Foxton, L 36,000 ; Foxton to New Plymouth, L 117,000 ; Carlyle to Waitara, L 199,000; Nelson to Greymouth, L 13,500; Greymouth to Nelson, L 70,500; Greymouth to Hokitika, L7OOO ; Picton to Hurunui, L 10,000; Hurunui to Waitaki, L 178,000 ; Canterbury interior main line, L 15,600. The vote L 21,000 for Greymouth Harbor Works was struck out on a division by 22 to 21.

Progress was then reported, and the House rose at 3.50 a.m.