HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5155, 25 July 1885, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Yesterday.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to questions, it was stated that Government had no personal knowledge of the firm of Meligg's and Sons referred to in the tenders for the East and West Coast Railway Statement, but from inquiries made in Wellington it was found that the statements made with reference to Harvey Meliggs' antecedents were with out foundation.

Mr Stout moved that Government business take precedence on Wednesday for the remainder of the session, and that the House for its rising do adjourn till Monflay at p.m. Mr iiUmt moved-the appointment of a Select Committee re ':h<* petition from ssttle^s and colonists of Fiji.—Agreed to. Tlfce House went info Committee of Supply on Imprest Subtly. A bill for £300.000 was passed through all its stages. SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICF

Sir Julius Vogel moved that the Hove go into Committee to consider the following resolution:—" That the GoTernment be authorised to negotiate for a fresh, mail service between Auckland and San Francisco for fife years at a cost not exceeding £30,000 per annum." He said some opposition had been raised to the proposal by the Chairman of Commerce of Wellington and Napier, but he could not understand the opposition to a service that had been such a remarkab'e success in many ways. He considered in proportion to its usefulness the cost of the service was a mere bagatelle, and although it was of great benefit to Auckland and Taranaki, he thought it largely benefilted tho whole colony. He pointed out that the average passage of the 'Frisco steamer was 36 days 20 hours, while the average passage of the direct steamer from the colony to Plymouth was 39 days 6 hours. He did not desire to disparage the direct service, as he thought it was of immense value, but be contended that the San Francisco service was really what they required. He contended that by the arrangement made with New South Wales, by which New Zealand was to receive the postage that formerly went to that colony; that the service instead of being a loss would be a profit. He had also no faith in the idea that a subsidy could be obtained from the United States. He hoped the House would pass the resolution.—Mr J. H. Sutter moved, as an amendment, to strike out the figures £30,000, and to insert that the Postmaster-General will pay to the contracting party for letters, 12s per lb ; packets, Is per lb; newspapers, 6d per )b.—Mr Holmes opposed the motion.— Mr Macandrew consider! d £30,000 would ba too much for the service. He thought they ihould cultivate a direct service, and the mere fact of it being a day or two later was of minor importance. He did not desire to see the serrice abandoned, but it was the cost he objected to.—Mr Levestam moved to report progress.— Major Atkinson strongly supported the resolution, and hoped the Hou3e would not report progress. He contended that the proposals of the Postmaster-General would result not in a loss to the country but a profit, and the £30,000 would be more than recovered to the colony by the postage that would be received.—Mr Downie Stewart objected to the proposal, on the score of tne largo amount asked for. He would not oppose it if a mere modest snm were asked for.—Messrs Hurst aDd Moss strongly supported the resolution, and deprecated the reports that were circulated that tho A uckland members had entered into c^y compact with the Government.—Mr Hursthouse objected to the proposal. The House then me-ia the usual adjournment, and on resetting, the Minister of Mines delivered his statement, after which the debate on tlv motion re the, San Francisco Service, was resumed:

Mr Pyke thought it would be better in encourage the Direct Mail Service, though he admitted the San Francisco Service was not costly, and had been of great benefit to the colony. He .moved an amendment to add to the resolution " pro vided that the Onited States Government contributed one third of the cost of ser« vice, viz., £10,000.—Sir George Grey asked the members to reraembor that the serrice last year cost only £300, and if it was renewed next year it would only be £1000. It would decrease every year. He concluded that in a short time the postage would make the 'service a profit. It was well known that many places had lately sprung into wealth by the number of tourists who had visited them. He contended that the visits of tourists were a great benefit to the colony, and he was glad to see that members approached the subject from a colonial point of view. It seemed incredible for so small a saving the House would reject the proposals.—Mr Peacock advocated the bill on general grounds, and in the in'crests of the whole colony. It was not economising to do away with the service, as our letters would hare to come by some other route. While no doubt the direct steamers were of great advantage to the colony, they could not be kept running at the present high rate of speed, while tbe San Francisco service could be improved by faster steamers, and also by the carriageof the mails by rail. He believed that a thirty days' service could be obtained on the 'Frisco route. If the subsidy asked forwasreduced.it would be the means of doing away with the service and crippling the Government in any other arrangements they might wish to make. He objected to the question being referred to a committee, as there were no; new points to be brought out, and it would practically shelve the whole thing. —Mr Holmes was glad Sir G. Grey and Sir J. Vogel were in accord on tha question. The Subsidy would lead to bringing a few globe trotters to New Zealand. This class of people were not desirable — Mr Turnbull also favored the Bill going into Committee, and he was sorry the. measure was not being discussed on its merits but evidently from a Provincial standpoint. He would support the motion when it was before the Home, but in the meantime be would support the amendment tp refer it to Commitfcee.-~Sir J.

Vogel said if Mr Suiter's amendment was carried, the colony iasfc year would have made £34,000, but if the letters increased they would lose. He would strongly advise the withdrawal of that, amendment. It was a good idea to have two services, and he admitted the direct service wzs of the most commercial value. He hoped both amendments would be withdrawn.—Mr Sutter said the San Francisco service would increase in cost, and be refused to sanction the renewal of the subsidy.—Capt. Russell supported the resolution, aud thought if war broke out it would be of infinite advantage to the colony to have the 'Frisco service. If the service was to be renewed, he thought they should stipulate for a 25 days' servita,—Mr Fisher agreed with both amendments.

This day.

Mr Montgomery thought it advisable to have both services, and it would be amis* fortune for the colony if the 'Frisco service was abandoned, as it would give a monopoly to direct steamers.—Mr Newman thought they were paying too much for the service.-—Mr Beetham favored voting a direct sum.—The motion to report progress was lost on a division by 53 to 16. —Mr Montgomery moved that the contract be for 3 years, instead of 5. Agreed to- —Mr Sutter's amendment was put and „ lost by 43 to 31. The following ifr, thgf divison list: —Against: Atkinson, B'aU lance, Barren, Beetham, Bevan, Bruce, Cadmany Dargaville, Grey, Fraser, Hakuena, Bsrper, Hirst, Hobbs, Hurst, Joyce, Kerr, L#ke, Lance, Larnach, Levestam, Locke, J. McKenzie, Mitchelson, Moat, Montgomery, Moss, O'Rorke, Peacock, Pratt, E. Richardson, Russell, Samuels, Seddoo, Smith, Stout, Thomson, Tole, Turnbnll, Vogel, Walker, J. B. White, »nd Wilson. For: Allwright, Bradshaw, Buchanan, J. C. Buckland, Connolly, Cowan, Duncan, Fergus, Fisher, Fulton, Gore, Guinness, Hatch, Hislop, Hurst, house, Ivess, Johnston, J. S. McKenzie Menteith, Newman, O'Callagban, Pearson, Pyke, G. F. Richardson, Rollestou, Ross, Stewart, Satter, J. W. Thompson, Trimble and W. White. Pairs—For: Brown, Fitzherbert, Garrick, Macandrew, Holmes* Steward, and Bradshaw. Against: O'Connor, Buchanan, W. F. Buckland, Bruce, McArthur, Wakefield, and J. McEenzie. The original resolution was then carried, and ordered to be considered on Friday, and the House rose at 1 a.m.