PARLIAMENTARY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2628, 23 August 1881, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, Aug. 28. Mr Pyke’s motion of privilege was withdrawn. The Council’s amendments in the Gaming and Lotteries Bill were agreed to. RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION AND LAND BILL. Mr Kali moved the second reading of the Railway Construction and Land Dill. He said that a total of 1287 miles oE railway had been completed in the colony. The time had now- arrived when the area oE available agricultural land would hare to be extended, and that could only be done on advantageous terms by extending the means oE communication. There were three ways in which that could be done. The first was by doing as they had hitherto done—Government to borrow the money and make the lines. He did not mean to say that they were not to borrow more money, hut that course would not meet 'all the requirements of the case at present. Another method was by guaranteeing interest to companies undertaking the work. That was objectionable, as it tended to extravagance, both in making and management, and for that reason they did not think this system desirable. Then again as against both of these methods was the fact that they were debarred from going to the money market for a given time. The third mode was the one proposed in the Bill. It had been largelv resorted to in America, and some large lines had been completed and were still being undertaken on this principle. In Canada; recently, twenty-live million lamfhad been devoted for this purpose. In New Zealand land was more plentiful than money, and when they gave - land they knew exactly the extent of their liability. In referring to the provisions of the Bill, he pointed out that it proposed to leave the final adoption of the contract to the House. The lands tb be'dealt with were to be as much as possible situated along the line of railway, the - limits being within fifteen miles each side of the line. He commented at length on clause 90, pointing out that 30 per cent of the cost of the line in land meant at the valuation made before the line was constructed. The land would bo greatly enhanced in value, and Government thought such enhanced value would be quite a sufficient inducement for undertaking the work. Sir George Grey contended that it was their duty to raise by borrowing such money as was necessary to complete their public works and a great portion of this could be raised in the colony. According to the Premier’s own showing they had only about a fourthof the work to do in order to complete their through trunk line. He objected to the proposals made, because no analogy existed between this place and the United States. There they had large tracts of country which did not exist here. All great writers on the subject objected to this mode of constructing public works, and said it was the

greatest cuive which hud befallen America, and although Canada ha I lately gone into the method that was norea-son they should fall into a similar course. Then again he said all these railways would be political railways. For all he knew there might be many persons in this House even now who were to get valuable appointments from companies about to take up these railways, and outside Parliament there might bo many such influences at work, especially in regard to the elections. The proposed system would, he believed, be initiating the grossest system of corruption that had ever been attempted in Hew Zealand.

Mr Richardson said that at the Thames Sir George Grey had told his constituents that a proposal of this kind would be made, and he blamed him if he was not satisfied with it for not having brought up his alternative proposal and joined it in issue with (he proposal of Government. In estimating the percentage paid by the railways he. reminded them that in many instances they had, so to speak, preceded settlement, and in others they had good roads to compete with. Sucli being the case they could not only look upon the returns as being good, but also as giving good promise of what would yet be the case. Ho could see no reason why they should not put these companies on the same footing for the construction of these works as the Government was in.

Mr Bastings urged the necessity of completing the main trunk lines, even if some of the railway's already made wore to be sold to raise the money re quired. He believed a syndicate could be formed to buy them. As for the present .Bill lie was certain there would never be a mile of railway made under it. The Bill was a blunder and never could be made to work. It ought to have been framed by a Committee of men who had had experience in the deficits of the District Railways Act, not by theorists and lawyers. Mr Gisborne would support the Bili expressing lus strong belief in its principle. Mr Macandrcw would never be a party to borrowing another penny outside the colony for public works. They could not bear the drain of interest that now amounted to £4OOO a day. To com plete the present railways would cost £0,000,000, and it was proposed to give away £2,000,000 worth of land, which was really equal to money. That was paying too dear for their whistle. The country wanted railways, and they offered it that Bill—a Bill that would never construct railway's. Mr Levin said the life of the colony depended upon the completion of these works, consequently they must either go into the money market and raise fresh loans, or else resort to some such scheme as this. He admitted the Bill had defects, but he believed it could bo turned out of Committee a good workable measure.

Hr Oliver supported the Bill, and affirmed the principle of settlin'? the waste lands by means of companies at Home, having a direct personal interest in the welfare and progress of the colony. Mr Moss thought the Bill was of no use so far as the .North Island was concerned. Under these circumstances the prospects and progress would, bo confined to the South Island.

Mr Collins supported the Bill. He believed it was the only chance there was for railways being provided for some parts of the colony otherwise neglected. Mr Levftstam would vote against the second reading. Under the Public Works Policy, as originally propounded a main trunk line was to be made through the North and South Islands. If that was done he would support the Bill hut until it was done ho could not do

Mr Seddon objected to the Bill, arguing that the proposal was altogether at variance with the policy enunciated by Government last .session. The proposal was one which would suit some districts, but others —for instance the West Coast —it would not suit at all. MrJ.-T. Fisher contended that the question had been already before the country and that they were in a position to decide upon it. Had a policy of this kind been inaugurated ten years ago it would have been much bettor for the colony. Mr Shephard objected to the principle of the Bill as antagonistic to the spirit of the public works policy. Mr Hall replied. He could not agree with all the objections stated to the Bill. It was not to be expected that a proposal to deal with railway works on a new principle would suit all parts of the colony. He would be prepared in Cornmitte to accept amicable amendments, and before proposing to commit the Bill be would carefully consider the proposal to refer it to a Select Committee. The House divided —Ayes, 31; Noes,