PARLIAMENTARY

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2314, 17 August 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

[uy telegraph.] HOUSE OF PEPIIESENTATIVES. Moxday, August 16. Mr Pyke gave notice that on going into Committee of Supply he would move that the 10 per cent reduction do not apply to salaries of £6OO and under. Mr Whitaker moved for leave to introduce the Hamilton-Thaupo Railwav Bill.

The motion was negatived on a division uf 40 to 2'2.

The Wellington Foreshore and railway "Wharf Grant Bill passed through all its stages.

RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS’ UEI’ORT

Mr Shephard resumed the debate on the motion re the Commissioners’ report, lie spoke against the report of the Railway Commissioners, and criticised its recommendations, 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 Duustan.

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. Mr Thompson said the appointment of this and other commissions was a mistake. He complained of the injustice done to Otago, and the favor shown to Taranaki where £33,000 had been spent on railwaj-s over the amount authorised, and an armed constabulary was maintained at a cost of £SOO per da} r . With a state of things like that in their midst it was quite impossible that the oolouy could be prosperous. Then again it was proposed to spend during the current year on roads in that province £26,800. It was not at all wonderful that there was nothing left for the South Island, when so much was swallowed up by Taranaki. Mr Hirst regretted that Government had not provided for the prosecution of the Opuuakc railway. Air White spoke in support of the report, Air Jones denied a .statement made by Mr Pyke that the Livingstone line had been made at the instigation of one of the Railway Commissioners. Mr Reid. The member for Duustan was a noted story toller. He hud writen 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.

Mr Hutchinson described the statement us a thing of patches and shreds. The Government had no policy. All they were doing was to damage the credit of the polony, They were throwing over a few underpaid clerks who were compelled to do work iu excess of what they were paid. Those men were dismissed, while not a single ollico holder of any importance was cut down or dispensed with, Mr Pitt generally supported the re-

commendations of the Commission, contending - that the Commissioners had conducted their enquiries with strict impartiality, and instead of conveying censure, as the motion was intended to do, the Commissioners had earned, ana were deserving of, the best thanks of the colony. The question was put for going into Committee of Supply: Ayes 30; Noes 15. PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATES. In Committee of Supply on the public works estimates the following votes were passed:— Class 2—£14,870; class 3, Kawakawa, £17,003 ; Whaugarei-Hamo £9000; Kaipara-Waikato, £131,000 ; Waikato-Thamcs, £99,000. Wcllington-Napior, £37,000. Mr Seddou moved it be reduced to £20,000 ; ayes, II; noes, 33. The item was passed as printed. Wellington-Woodvillo, with branch to Creytown, £120,000, was passed. Wellington to Foxton, £30,000; Foxto New Plymouth, £117,000 ; Carlyle to Waitara, £199,000; Nelson to Greymoutb, £13,500 ; Grcymonth - Nelson, £70,500; Grey mouth to Hokitika, £7OOO ; Picton to llurunui, £IO,OOO ; Huniimi to Waitaki, £178,000 ; Canterbury interior main line, £150,000. Progress was reported and the House rose at 3.50.