The Railway Construction Bill Debate.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3666, 25 September 1880, Page 2

The Railway Construction Bill Debate.

A Few Extracts fbom thb Hansahd Eepoet. We give the following extracts from Hansard, as the telegraphed report of the now celebrated " stonewalling " was very meagre :— . In moving the second reading of the Bill Mr Oliver said—lt is by no means intended to abandon the scheme to connect Grahamstown with Hamilton; bat it most be placed in the same category as other lines the continued construction of which has been stopped for the time being. Mr Whjte in the coarse of bis remarks said—The honorable member for Brace says it is very unfair to bring on measures so late in the-session. I quite agree with him, because most of my friends are away, and I wish they had stayed until this Bailway Construction Bill had come on, when it would have had a much better chance. The honorable gentleman, in the course of his remarks, adduoed a rery good argument indeed in favor of the j construction of this line. He said that if the Government had not interfered it would probably have been undertaken by private enterprise. I think no stronger argument could possibly be brought forward in favor of the railway People look upon this' line and the Thames line as rival schemes. I maintain tha^they are not rival schemes at all. It ; appears to be admitted that itis desirable ito connect the Waikato and Thames Districts, and surely no connection of that kind would be complete which left out the most rising aod flourishing part of one of the districts. If they were rival schemes, the Cambridge Aailway_would not have touched the Thames-Waikato .Railway at all. It would have joined the main line farther up. As I understand it, the object of this Bill is simply to give the Government power to spend money in accordance with the report of the Bailway Commissioners The Commissioners were up there ; they took evidence on all sides, and saw the country for themselves. lam very sorry i that the honorable member for Coleridge 1 has gone away, as he could go into particulars* and, being an impartial man from , a distance, he would perhaps be better listened to than myself. I do not wish 1 to express an opinion as to the relative value of the Thames.Waikato Bailway, and the Cambridge Bailway ; but I would merely point out that, if funds are available during the year, the Government can complete the whole line to Cambridge whereas they can only run the other eleven miles farther, which will only bring the railway to point near Morrinsville. Mr Macandrew said—lf the ThamesWaikato line is a desirable one to make, we ought to continue it gradually. If we cannot spend more than £10,000 upon it this year, let us spend wuat we can get, and next year perhaps we shall be able to spend twice £10,000. Mr Whitaker said—While I intend to vote for the second reading of this Bill, I am not prepared to say that the alternative line would not suit me a great deal better. I believe it would; and a great many of my constituents would rather see that line constructed. lam quite certain that I am doing my duty in voting for the second reading of the Bill now under consideration.

Mr Hursthouse said I would ask this: What will be the good of the ThamesWaikato Hue when it is finished P What is the Thames P A worked out diggings —a part of the country where thousands of men have been ruined, snd thousands of men will yet be ruined, perhaps. I was ruined there; so I know enough— perhaps too much —about the Thames. It appears to me that the facts are simple. I feel satisfied in my mind that we shall not be able for many years to complete our railway scheme, and that the line from Hamilton to the Thames is one those lines which will not be completed for many years to come. . . . It is tree there is a natigable rirer be* tween Cambridge and Hamilton; but there is also a na?igable rirer between Mercer and Hamilton. It is a great pity that any line was erer made between. Mercer and Hamilton; bat, as that line has been made, I think .this line should be made, because it would help to make the Mercer line reproductire. For that reason I shall rote for the Sill.

Mr MoDonald, member for East Coast, ■aid—l should like to know if it is intended to take the remaining portion of the Tote for the Thames Railway for this purpose; because, if such is the oase, 1 shall certainlj vote against the Bill. I do not beliere in robbing Peter to pay Paul. I know the oountry from Hamilton to the Thames, and from Hamilton

to Cambridge, and I believe both liuei would pay quite as well as many other lines that have been constructed; but, if the Government are going to take the vote from the Thames, I shall certainly rote against the Bill. Mr Speight in the course of a long speech said—l sum up the Bill to be this : A Bill to misappropriate the sum of £15,783 10a 6d from the work which this Parliament originally authorised to a work which this Parliament has never yet decided upon. Before going a step fur-' ther, allow me to say that the proposed I line between Hamilton and Cambridge, so far as I am N aware—and I shall be very glad indeed if I am in error—has ne»er yet been surreyed, nor a plan or any description concerning it laid on the table of this House , . I hold in my hand a draft Bill of the Thames • Waikato Bailway Company* which was drafted in the year 1878, after full consultation with a large majority of the, localities interested, and which provided for taxing the lands through which the railway passed. During the last few days I have received a communication stating that, if the Government carries the Hamilton-Te Aroha Railway as far as the money voted will permit, a private company will be prepared to construct the railway right through to Te Aroha Mountain I shall not detain the House further, as I am led to believe that my remarks will not be called for at the present time. Under these oircum* stances it affords me very much pleasure to be able to think that that which appeared to me in the beginning a very difficult task to undertake is one of com* parative ease; in consequence of the good sense of the Minisstry and of the good sense of this House, who will not persist in doing that which is manifestly unfair to a certain district. I can only say that I hope the Bill will not be pressed at present, and that we will be able to eon* gratulate the Thames people upon the fact that the money voted for the Hamil-ton-Te Aroha line is to be spent, and that they will then have sufficient inducement to start among themselves a company (o finish the railway to the head of the navigation.