PARLIAMENTARY SCANDALS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1853, 14 February 1889, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY SCANDALS.

The Daily Telegraph has the following on the employment of the unemployed in New South Wales in making roads on private lands. This is one of the scandals which has brought about Sir Henry Parkes's resignation. A considerable quantity of work has been done by the unemployed on Crown land, but the two private estates mentioned have also been benefited materially. Upon Messrs Burn, "Withers, and Smith's estate at Hornsby, it is said that about four miles of road have not only been cleared, grubbed, and formed, but also metalled, culverted, and drained at the public expense. The lowest estimate of the cost of the work is £2300. As to the other estate, Mr Copeland put the case to the House in these startling words:■—" There are forty-three miles of road traversing the HoltSutherland Estate, and almost the whole of them have been as well and perfectly made as any road in the Botanic Gardens. They are perfect ft.ii*riftcra drivflK. and moat of them are

two chains or a chain and a half wide. They are beautifully formed and gravelled, and culverts and bridges have been put in where required. Over 100 men, I believe, are employed upon this work at the present time. In one case a cutting as high as the strangers' gallery in this house —and perhaps higher—has been made through a hill of solid rock. I suppose the work must have cost £SOO. Where does this road lead to ? To a little fishing hut with two rooms owned by Mr Frederick Want."