PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3947, 23 August 1881, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(Pee Peess Association.)

Wellington, Yesterday

A message from the Legislative Council re an amendment in the Gaming and Lotteries Bill, was read.

Mr Dick said the Couiisil agreed to clause 15 being struck out, but also insisted that the new clause 9, which was intended to put down bookmakers, should also be struck out, as it would have a wider application than was intended. He thought the concessions made should be accepted, and moved that the Council's amendments be agreed to.

Mr Brown and Sir W. Fox objected to clause 9 being so disposed of.

Messrs Whitaker, Bowen and Seymour supported Mr Dick's proposal, which was agreed to on the voices.

RAILWAYS CONSTRUCTION

Mr Hall moved the second reading of ' the Railways Construction and Land Bill. After reviewing what had already been accomplished in railway construction in this colony, and the necessity tor extending the accommodation in this respect, be reviewed the means by which this could be done. It was worthy of consideration, whether this could not be done without directly borrowing money for the purpose. Whether more money should be borrowed depended on the iuvestigation to be made during the recess; but if in case of further borrowing, it was scarcely likely to meet all requirements. Another method would be to give a guarantee to persons . constructing railways; but this would, according to practical experience, lead to extravagance both in construction and management. Either of the two methods named would also involve a breach of faith in the pledge given at the time of the last loan. The third system open was ■ to give grants of land along lines to those who would make railways. They had ! worked well in America and Canada. He believed this system might be adopted with advantage in such an arrangement. The colony knew the extent of its liabilities, and. in giving the land the colony became not poorer, but really richer, both from the land given becoming private property, and from the increased value given to the remainder of laud left in the hands of the colony. The system would not only bring foreign capital into the colony, but enlist the interests of the moni^d fl'.itss >'i ita progress. Money would also only „he in Tested on the in iviosic merits of «3ob. proposed Una. The prewenr time was <i ?wy favourable tim<> for » scheme of this kind, and Government had therefore brought in tho present bill. He then, at considerable length, reviewed the provisions that would be made in the contract for the settlement of the land. Some imperfections in detail, no doubt existed in the bill, and it could be amended in committee; but its principles had been very carefully considered. He would have no objection to the introduction of a clause allowing land owners along the line to rate themselves if they thought'proper, in order to guarantee a a certain rate of interest on the cost of the line. He believed the bill would greatly promote the material prosperity of the colony. Sir George Grey thought the bill, if passed, would change the whole future of the colony, by establishing a system of tenants occupying land, and paying rent to foreign landlords. He quoted from bis speech to the Cape of Good Hope Legislature in 1856,. in favor of incurring a national debt for the prosecution of public works. He thought a mistake had been made in this colony by the restriction | placed on local bodies borrowing for local works only. If the colony was to wisely and carefully raise money to complete public works, and judiciously administer it when raised, he believed a considerable amount of money for the purpose could be raised in the colony, and the interest therefore kept at home, even if the interest was guaranteed to a small extent. He j believed that so far from extravagance being encouraged, both construction and management would be more economically conducted than by the Government. The scheme of railway construction proposed by himself when in office was iufiuitely preferable to any of the Premier's pro-' posals He denied that any aualogy existed between this colony and America, and said that even in America the system of land grants now proposed was admitted to be one of the greatest curses that had ever befallen a country. To give away the land as proposed was to make the population beggars. The land would either be sold at enormous prices, which people could not afford to pay, or it would pass into the hands of absentee proprietors. Instead ot being benefited by the interest which a scheme such as the Premier's would excite at Home, it would suffer the interest of the people who, living at Home, would make as much as possible out of the colony, without any regard to the interest of its people. The power which would be creeted in Kngland would be dangerous to the people of the colony, and lead to constant interferance with liberty of action. Every one of the railways under such a system would be political railways. There might be many persons sitting even in that House looking for employment by companies undertaking such railways, and great influence might be brought to bear on elections. The system would be one 'of the greatest for purposes of corruption which had ever been proposed in New Zealand. There were ample means of making our railways in other ways. Mr Richardson said Sir George always imputed the worst possible motive to all who opposed him. The views he had expressed on this bill were simply a reiteration of his well known views on .'he subject of alienation of land. It would have been better had Sir George Grey raised 'Ms question on a broad distinct issue, apart, from this bill. He thought the resolutions proposed in the bill too great, but this could bo remedied in committee. He indicated a number of amendments which he would like to see made.

Mr Bastings thought they should carry out their public works, even if they sold some of the present railways to find the money to do it, he believed a syndicate to purchase could be formed. He was coufident no railway would ever be constructed under the present bill. No company could raise the money under the proposals of the bill.

LATER,

Wellington, This day

Gisborne supported the bill, and Macandrew declared it useless and moved the adoption of the plan proposed in 1878. He was altogether opposed to further foreign borrowing. Levin warmly supported the bill, but urged the necessity for making its provisions more liberaL

Olliver approved of the bill, and thought that in committee it could easily be made effective. The plan proposed was only one by which many highly necessary lines could be constructed. Moss opposed the bill as it would not be much use in the North Island where there were scarcely any Crown Lands. Collins supported the bill. It would give Nelson and other places which had not been well treated heretofore a chance of getting railways, and at any rate exempt them from being taxed to make lines elsewhere. DeLamtour did not think companies could borrow money so advantageously as the colony and that indirectly we should pay too much for our Railways under these proposals Read supported the bill, but regretted it had little chance of passing through owing to the late period at which it was brought down. Levestam opposed auy proposal to make other lines until the

V, * ;.-U. lines originally promised were comp eiid. Nelson had only mineral lands and would derive no benefit from the bill and then when other districts did benefit by it, it would be used as argument to deprive Nelson of representation. Pitt supported the principle of the Bill, but pointed out a number of alterations required in its details ; he also pointed out that although this Bill did not deal with the question, Government were proposing the deviation of the south island trunk line as originally promised. He attached no importance to Grey's objections. Seddou strongly opposed the Bill as a departure from the Public Works policy ns accepted by the country. Railway's constructed by companies as proposed would compete with the lines of the Colony. The land was as much a colonial asset as our railways, and it would be as reasonable to sell the lines we had made as to give away land to make new lines. The Government could borrow cheaper than any company, and should do so, to make profitable lines like the Wellington-Foxton one, which was too good a thing to give to any company. Gibbs supported the Bill, and Weston, while warmly approving of its principle, supported the reference to { Select Committee to improve the details. J. T. Fisher supported the Bill, and regretted it had not been passed jLO years ago. Shepherd altogether opposed the Bill ; it would be reckless extravagance to allow companies the terms proposed to construct railways ; the land proposed to be given them would in most cases be worth more than tha whole cost of the nor!;. The .Biil ■*'*$ in principle and detail essentially vicious. Rail replied, promising to consider the suggestion about referring the Bill to •-> seleot comnuttse; and expressing a readiness to accept any reasonable amendments. The Bill was read a second time on a division of 31 to 5. The House rose at 1.20.