PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATES. Reduction of Public Works Votes.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 120, 19 September 1885, Page 4

PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATES. Reduction of Public Works Votes.

After the division, the Premier promptly moved the House into Committee of Supply. No sooner had the first item of Railway Estimates been moved, than it became apparent that the Opposition had made a mistake in not also passing a resolution compelling the Government to instruct the Committee as to where reductions might be made. Fully an hour-and a-half was lost in discussing which reductions were to bo made, bufc eventually Mr Richardson gave way and carried out the spiiit of his promise, given immediately after the proposing of Captain Russell's motion. Mr Hislop, who in the meantime had threatened further complications by moving the reporting of progress to enable the Government to consider the situation, came in for some slanging froiu those who wish to keep the Government in and their policy out. After a good deal of talk, he withdrew his motion, fvnd the Committee proceeded to reduce the votes, as suggested by Ministers, with the greatest impartiality. The following reductions were made in railway votes :— Huntly branch, £12,000, reduced by £11,500; Helensville northwards, £20,000, struck out ; Hamilton - Grahamstown, £11,000 off £40,000 ; Napier, j Woodville, and Palmarsfcon North, £65,000 i off £114,000; Main Trunk Line, Marton Te Awamutu, £48,000 off £178,000 ; East and West Coast Railway, £149,000 j Picton, £8,000 out of £25,000 ; Livingstone branch, £8,000 out of £17,400 ; Otago Central £25,000 out of £131,600; WaimeaSwitzers, £10,000 ; votes additions on open railways, £20,000. In the House in Committee of Supplyitem East and 1 West Coast railway, £150,000— Mr Rees moved to reduce the vote by £50,000.-— Captain Sutter moved a further amendment to reduce it by £{49,000. ■—Mr Holmes considered the member for Stan more had acted for the sake of popularity, and the hon. gentlemen had been prompted by the „ member for Auckland City Bast— Sir George Grey repudiated, the statement, and said he had not prompted Mr Rees in any way in the matter. — Mr Fisher defended Mr Rees from. misre\ presentation, and said if he was not too busy with his own election he should J pay a' visit to Christchurch in orcler to help the Member for Stan more in justifying himself before his constituency,-r:Mr Rees feared nothing from his Stanmore constituency , for the action he had taken, 'and he' "considered the Canterbury inemfyeVß 'had not taken up a proper positipn'tq^at'pla'th^Gqve^iimeni^they „' M j^^^^^rP^t^

amendment to reduce it "by" £149,000 was then put and, carried by' 70 to; 12, and 'a #c; rof f £l,<Mil,was4 ttiusVj carried. bre™outh~ and 'Hokititfa, '$#,000—Mr ,Mq Arthur moved, to, reduce the item by £10,000r Lost byH2to'32.-Mr J. B. Whyte moved to reduce it by £8,000. Re* duotion carried on the casting vote of tbe Chairman.-, Ay^s,, 3s ; noes, 35.— -Pieton, Southwards, £25,600.— Captain gutter moved that the item be reduced by £8,000 ; reduction carried. Hurunui Northwards, £7,200; carried. Hurunm-Waiparay £9,200; carried. Upper Ashburton branch, £7,900 ; carried. Lincoln-Little River, £15,900; carried. Albury branch extension 1 , £300; carried. Oxford, Sheffield, and. White Cliffs extension, dE4,100; carried. ; Liringstoae Branch, £17,400.— Captain Sutter moved the reduction by £8,000; carried 49 to 21. Palmerßton, Waihemo, £8,800; carried. Catlins Eiver Branch, £11,800 ; carried. Waipati, Heriot Burn, £1,200; carried. Bdendale, Toitoi, £s,ooo; .carried. Otago Central, £161,600.— Captain Sutter moved reduction by £25,000 ; reduction carried by 42 to 26. Lumaden, Mararoa, £5,100; oar« ried. Waimea, £10,000; itemstruck out. Seaward Branch, £7,100 ; carried. RivertonOrepuki, £5,200; carried. Additions to open lines, £172,100.;' ; Ministers suggested that this item be reduced by £15,000; agreed to. Permanent -way rolling stock, £268,000; carried. Progress was reported, and the House rose at 4 50 a.m.