HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 255, 30 October 1901, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Monday, 28th October. Sir Joseph Wtinl, in continuing his remarks on the second r ading of tfa Aid t> Public Wo.-ka and Land for Settlement Bill, dwelt on the enormous expansion of the railway traffic which necessarily entailed increased expenditure. He replied to Oap f ain Russe'l's argument as to depreciation, and contended that to establish such a fucd as Captain Ru%ell proposed, would be ruinous to the country. He denied that repairs and maintenance were charged to capital.

Mr J. Allen said that we were drifting into a system of fioance which was extremely dangerous, and he did not. think the colony would bsar the burden of a m'llion and a quarter loin annually far public works Mr Mook urged the claims of the railway north of Auck'and.

The Premier said there were railway amounts charged properly against e»pi'al account, which should not b» charged against working expenses, and had never been so chargeable in th<past. He quoted figures to show the expenditure tbat had been incurred for new !oc->mol;iv<»B and waggons and for Westinghonse brakes. Members asked for quicker trains, but this could not done without an additional expenditure, There were onstant requests for further expenditure upon rolling stock, and it was disheartening in the extreme, when Ministers were doing thf-ir beat to m»et these demands for railways and roads to have their efforts criticised in this way. He believed the Pubic Works Statement'was one of the most satisfactory which had been submitted. h'<

Mr Witheford urged the more speedy development of the North Island.

Mr Herriee pointed out that settle merit wns increasing at a g'eater pace than roads, and the vote for roads wa* inadequata. The debits was continued until 2.40 a.m., when the second reading of the Bill was agreed to on the voices.

The Bill was committed and amendments made in accordance with a Governor's message, increasing the 'amount authorised to be raised from £1,000,000 to .£1,250,000.

The Bill then pissed it* final stages, and the Hou-e ro<-e at 3.10 a.m.

Tuesday, 29th October.

The Houhi met at 2.30 p.m. Mr Wi'heford presented \Wf petitions, bearing 4060, signatures, praying for a moye speedy construction of the North Island Trunk Railway north of Auckland.

Mr Seddon moved to introduce tbe Food Trusts Bill.

After rome discussion as to introducing meiamras m late in the session, Mr Seddon said that the Bill hud already appeared on thi Order Paper under another name. It was s'mply a Bill to prevent the formation of truss in food stuffs, and hp thought he would have been able tn get it through the Hou c a this session, but if he found t,her6 was any great objection to it he would not press it. It was however a most important matter and deserved every consideration. As to local Bills he would be quite preparrd to give anether opportunity for tbe House to pa-s those loca: Bilfe that were not oppose 1 The Bill was introduced fey 30 to 18 and re>d a first tiijg^ la introducing tbe Workers Com pension for Accidents B ; ll Mr. Seldnn said if; wis designd to main thr point clear as to the app'icUion of the Act to laborer. Ho did not propose to go, hack ori exist'tig legislation hut simply to lVert a , proviso fro n tbe English Act r.lievin<? 'farmers from liahiity in r.sp ct to threshing mach'nes. It was necessary to clear away the fnVioa and doubt that existed on the point

Mr. G. W. Russell sp.-ke. After further dfccusstga Mr. Seddon I said a cause of gvait dissatisfaction tho imp'ession

that an accident happened on a thre-h'ng machino which a farmer nngiged to come on bis far®, aßd thresh his crops the fwwwas liable uodtr the Act. Act made it clear tfyit the owner of the machire ant not the farmer was liable, and it was to make the point clear in th* New I Zealand -Aot that thin amenjimr Bill i was brought down. He had nr> Intra-1 t.on of amending the principal Aot «o as to give the morfceagpe the first < him m case of accident. It thn Bill Wl .s made to inolude agricultural labirers , it would never pa (8 the Legislative Council. He did not intend to deal ! with casual labour. The Bill was introduced aiid ro\d a ' first time, * n ,, producing the Reparation of Births Extension Bill Mr. Seddon said it was dwignsd to rae.t the cues of m? a • nop,ect6d to register the births of then- children within the statutory period. The Bill was read a first time. fl'h# Imprest SuppW 811 £or£s7o,ooQ WW mtroduo»dlg,,Q^^Qf! >^MJ w g

On the motion to go into committee on the Bill Mr. Pirani moved u aii amendment that a day b# set apart for consideration of local Bills.

The disoucsion interrupted bjr the 5.30 adjournment.