WESTLAND ESTIMATES.

West Coast Times, Issue 370, 29 November 1866, Page 2

WESTLAND ESTIMATES.

The PfiOViKcrAL Secbetary in nioung that tho House do resolve itself into ComniiUeo of Supply cm fcho Estimates for Westland, said, Sir, I will not detain the Houso long by tho roniarks I havo to mate, but -will iirßl direct, hon. inombcrs ottonfcion to that portion of tbc comparative statement in which tho Wertt Coast expeudituro for tho past twelve months hus been dealt with. The sum of L167,73i 2s 8d was voted, and L 217.522 19s lOd expended, making an ovoi'-expouditure of £59,788, 17b 2d. This ovcr-oxponaituro has been incnn'cd principally for police, harbor works, hospitals aud other public ' buildings, all of which have been found to be absolutely necessary and unavoidable. Ib will be socn, however, that whilst thero has been this over-expenditure on the matters I havo named, yet many of tho show a considerablo unoxponded balance. I wish now to direct the attention of hon. members td the estimates for the financial year 18G6-7, and they will find that the Customs Revenue is estimated to produce L 45,000. This I consider to bo very moderately estimated, for the receipts from tho Customs during the past year amounted to L 40,416. Tho gold export duty, which last year produced L 45,247, is now estimated at L 50,000. Last year there was received from miners' rights, liconses, fees and fines, and publicans' licenses, the sum of L 22,19 8; this year they aro estimated to yield L29,000i Boatmen's licenses, auctioneers' licenses, and hospital fees, are set down at LlO5O. In all, the Government expects to receive L 127,975, to which must 1)0 added the sum of L 30,000 estimated to be received from the sale of land ; making a total estimated revenue of L 157,975. Against this there is tho total estimated fcxpenditure of L 157,489 125., leaving a balance to the credit of account of L 485 Bs. I must j now say a fow words with, regard to tho items of this proposed expenditure, and I may at onco mention that the vote for the Commissioner's department has been slightly increased, but not more than is warranted by circumstances. A sum of L 13,195 lias been put down under the head of sui'vcys ; and although it is hardly probable that the wholo of this sum will be expended, still it has been thought best to place a sufficient sum on the estimates for tliis purpose. The sum of 1/30,800 2s. standing under the head of administration of justice, including police, in round numbers L 16.000, at first sight appears to bo very large ; but when that comes to be compared with tho expenditure for similar purposes on other goldfields, it will be found to bo not so great as it at first sight appears to be. In Otago, for instance, the sum charged in 1863, under the head of police, was L 59.000 or L 60,000. Tho sums set down for public works and buildings have been estimated on what is thought to bo a reasonable scale, leaving at tho same time a sufficient margin for any unforeseen charges. Tho sum of LIO.OOO for now road* and contingencies may at first aighfc appear to be largo, yefc I think that erary hon. member will admit the extreme importance of developing the goldflelda by the formation, of wad* ; but that the whole of thi* lam will be required for thi* puxpoae it i» »xtr«melj difficult to forefctlL The Government aek » mm of 1.80,000 for the overland road from Chriatchurch. to the Watt CoMt, but under thi» head we hare included * large estimated expenditure on the road from the Arahura to Hekitika. The item* I under the head " Mi*oellaneoTu" have all been I judged naoe&sary. I may mention that, in framing these estimates the Government have been mainly guided by tho representations of the hon. members for Wettland, who, I think will bo allowed to bo the best judges of tho requirements of the district. It will be necessary for me to make a few remarks on the system of government which we intend to to initiate with rogard to the West Coast. The Government propose to appoint a commission of gentlemen who will enquire into the best mode of governing tho West Coa*t, aud we propose that commission shall be appointed immediately on the rising of the present Council ; and that they shall, during tho recess, enquire into those matters, and report to the Q-overnment in order that a full and well-devised scheme may be laid before the Council at its next session. The hon. members from Westland have from time to timo complained that the population of tho West Coast had expressed themselves greatly dissatisfied with the neglect of the Government of their interests. 'Now it is quite possible that the exigencies of tho Government in some instances may have caused delay, and in others insufficient information may have led to expenditure in advance of requirements, or not in accordance with them ; but, on the part of tho present Government, I can say that there has been no real negligence ; and Ido not believe that there has been any such, on the part of those who precoded us. And when the peculiar position of the East Coast in relation to the West Coast is considered, I think allowances must be made for any shortcomings in the government of Westland. I may, however, state that the Government have received much assistance from Mr Sale, to Avhom we have been much indebted. With regard to the debt due from Westland, the commission will also have authority to enquire into that matter, and to fairly adjudge what they consider to be fairly due from Westland to the east coast. I do not think that the present sum can be sustained ; there must be some alteration in it. It inny be that there will be an increase, and it may be that some considerable decrease will tako place j bub tho commission will enquire into the matter. Thex*o may be some matters which should be fairly charged to tho West Coast ; and there may be matters which have been charged which ought not to be charged to them. The commission will enquire into all these, and most likely will deal out even-handed justice; and I am sure that the hon. members for Westland will not wish for more. With regard to Gibson's Quay, a distinct promise has been made that that should be given to Hokitika, and a measure is passing for handing over that property to the Hokitika Municipal Council. With regard to tramways, I have already said that the Government will give such a guarantee as will justify the inhabitants aud tho promoters in carrying out and extending these modes of communication, as tho Government have a very strong opinion on this eubjoct ; and will, on overy occasion whoro good grounds are shown, give assistance to works of public utility, so as to develope tho resources of bho country. We wish to deal very fairly with Westland; and this commission will have power immediately after tho rising of tho Council to enquire into all matters, so that any grounds of complaint may be sot at rest at once. With regard to the sale of waste lands, j the commission will also have power to enquire into tho best means to be adoptod for I the disposal of such lands as they may consider advisable to be put up for sale. The Government do not wish to interfere with the real interests of the miners ; but if we can sell agricultural or other lands without interfering with their interests, we shall do ho. In the disposal of these lands, wo intend to avail ourselves of a recent Act passed by the Assembly during its last Session and to bring its provisions into operation as soon as possible. It is absolutely necessary that the lands should bo sold, and in the disposal of such lands tho Government will havo to decido upon the representations made to them by tho Commission. With those remarks I will move that the Houso rosolvc itself into Committee of Supply. (Cheers.) Mr JLJeswick asked -whether it was competent to raiso a debate upon tho whole of the Estimates now, or only on the West Coast Estimates. Tho Speaker 6aid that having searched for precedents in tho proceedings of the Imperial Parliament, ho was of opinion that tho discussion had bettor bo taken now, although the analogy was not perfect, because, in the Imperial Parliament thero was a Committee of Ways and Means, in which such a discussion should bo taken, but here they had only a Committee of Supply. Mr W. MoNiaoMERY— -Are the whole of

the Estimates, then, to bo discusied now, simply those for tho Woet Coast ? TUo PnoTiffcuL Seceetary— Tho wholo of tho Estimates. The Government have uo intention of burking enquiry, but invite tho fullest investigation and discussion on ovory item. Mr Beswick asked tho indulgence of tho House whilo he inado sonio remarks on tho estimates us brought down, which ho vrta provented by his position as chairman from making in committee. He had had tho honor of a Beat in tho House for four or fivo years, and although hie romarks might apparently bo antagonistic to the Government, he hoped that tho hon. gontlcmon who occupied tho Ministerial bench would not consider that those remarks were really made out of opposition to tho Government. As an independent member of the Houae he lield Himself free at all times to take any course which he thought it his duty to do. Ho believed he expressed tho general feeling in the House that tho estimates as brought down to the Council were anything but satisfactory. (Hear, hear.) ne, however^ congratulated the House on having them at last brought beforo them, after sitting a month, when they had been summoned for the express purpose, a 9 stated in his Honor's address, of considering the estimates. It would he more satisfactory, and ho hoped it would be the case in future sessions, that tho whole of tho estimates 6f rdceipts and expenditure should bo brought down at the beginning of tho session. It struck him, and possibly other hon. members also, that even yet they had really had 710 financial statement. He had listened with great attention that evening to tho statement of Iho hon. tho Provincial Secretary, in hopes that what he (Mr Beswick) conceived to be ] omissions in his former statement would have \ been supplied, and tliat a general comprehensive statement of the affairs of the province would have been made. It was true that the hon. the Secretary had read over the items of receipts and expenditure, which hon. members could have dono for themselves ; but they must have been struck with tho total absence of any explanation as to how the deficiencies as stated- in the estimates could bo met. Ho Would first glunce at the estimates of 1 ordinary receipts and expenditure. He found that the Government had estimated the revenue at L 74.450, whilo they proposed to expend a sum of L 97,353, showing a deficiency in the ordinary account of something liko L 22.903. He believed it to be the duty of a Government in, dealing with the ordinary revenue to cut their coat according to their cloth ; and he belioved all former Governments had aimed at that, and endeavored to cut down the expenditure. Last year tho estimates showed a deficiency of something like LlO,OOO, and this year it had actually reached nearly L 23,000. Ho would ask how could any private individual possibly get on who proposed incurring an expenditures of onethird more than his income. The consequence of thie conduct on tho part of tho GoTernmont would be, that the Governtueat of Canterbury would be obliged, like that of Southland, to •eek the protection of the Iniolrekt Court. The defintney wu far greater, howeT«r, than LSS.OOO, bewiMi although. h* found th* nut of LlO,OOO eitiniatwd to b« reoeived from hospital and charitable aid, h» did not balitr* that a nngU member on the Ministerial beach believed that ifc comld be raited. (Hear, haar.) Tk» actual deftcienor would be, therefore, at l«Mt LBO.OOO in the ordinary revenue. He hoped the hon. the Provincial Secretary could explain the matter. In looking over the estimates of the ordinary expenditure, he found one item which he had endeavored to cut dewn every seesion as much as possible . For the administration of justice a sum of L 20.000 j a-year was expended, including L 12,486 for police. When they considered that the wholo force consisted of fifty -four men, and ono woman searcher, they would find how large was tho amount which was paid. He could not conceive how it was possiblo that a sum of L 750 a-year could be spent on tho item of uniform for such a small force, and ho thought that there was a great chance of retrenching to a very considerable degree. As tho present Government had come into office with a great flourish of trumpets of cutting down and economising expenditure, he thought this a good opportunity for those hon. gentlemen showing their capabilities. With regard to the estimated receipts and expenditure in the department of Land and Works, he found the receipts estimated, at L 132.500, while the expenditure proposed was L 147,916, leaving a deficiency of L 15.000, and no explanation was given as to how that deficiency was to be met. In these estimates they found that the sales of land were estimated at LlBO,OOO, and pasturage rents at L 35,000, and that the account was credited with the full amount of the three-fifths, without making any deduction for the sum of L9OOO which fiad been placed on the ordinary estimates for immigration j it therefore ought to be deducted from this account. [The Provincial Secretary pointed out that in the revised edition of the printed estimates this had been done.] He (Mr Beswick) objected to the large amount which was put down for surveys for the current year — no less a sum than L 20,000. He did not wish to say anything further than that he considered it exceedingly expensive, and he could not conceive how the department, if properly organised, and if the surveyors in tho outlying districts did their work thoroughly, could spend such a large sum of money. He wished to say a few words regarding the Eailway and Harbor Works account. He thought it the most unsatisfactory portion of the scheme brought down by the Government. He could not understand how it was that the Government proposed to expend only a sum of L 271,184, while they proposed to raise L 450,000. He might allude to one item, viz., that of the recoipt of L2OOO from tho Timaru landing service, which ho understood had been handed over to tho Municipal Council; and he therefore could not see how the Government oxpected to realise any revenue from it. He did not see the use of realising the wholo of the debentures under tho Loan Ordinances, when only the sum of L 271.000 was proposed to bo expeuded. In looking over the estimated expenditure, ho was surprised to see a sum proposed to be expended on tho Northern railway ; in fact, he, and everyone elso, began to regard the matter as a myth ; no one beliovod it would bo constructed. It was true that a few j-ears since a sum of L 40,000 was placed on the estimates for the construction of the railway ; and in one of the late sessions, in reply to a question he addressed to the Government, ho received the answer that tho requisite surveys were not in a sufficiently forward state, but that when thoy were the line would be proceeded with. Of the various votes for this purposonot a single sixpence, however, had been expended upon it, while upon tho Southern Railway sums in excess of the vote were spent, and now it was proposed to vote a sum of L 92.968 for this portion of the hue. For the Northern railway the sum placed on the estimates wa3 L 12.000, of which the sum of L2OOO was set aside for tho purchase of land between Christchurch and Kaiapoi. He thought that the estimates wore drawn up without sufficient consideration, and he found that tho Govornj nient proposed to expend a sum of LlO.OOO l for contracts and engineering superintendence on land representing the sum of L2OOO. With regard to tho West Coast estimates, he would simply say that he protested against tho principle of allowing ono part of -the province to bo so soparated trom tho other as to have tho wholo of its revenuo oxpended upon itself. He should liko to know tho reason why Weatland ehould not contribute its portion towards the ordinary government of the province? With regard to tho large sum of money which the West Coast owed to tho Eastern portion of tho province, ho thought it was only fair that the Houbo should have beforo it Borne schomo by which the Wost Coast should be compelled to liquidato the debt. Mr J. S. Williams followod in the same strain, and said that thoy ought, in contemplation of tho Customs revenue being cut off or greatly diminished, to reduce their ordinary expenditure, and the Government ought to hare

iirepared some schemo for a general roduotUn 1 , or unless this was dono the province must como to ruin sooner or later. Instead of appointing a commission to enquire into the affairs of the West Coaafc, it. would hare been far better that one should have been appointed to examine into the Civil service of the province. What ho objected to oil the estimates was, tho large amount set down for departmental expenses, in tiio face of a largo deficit in prospect. There was one point which he wab aBtonished had been avoided by the hou. the Provincial Secretary in making his financial statement. In the Auditor's report ho found that on June 30, 1866, there was a balance against the pr'ovinco of L 82,216 duo to tho Bank of New Zealand. They had not heard how this sum was to be repaid, and he" presumed it must be paid at an early date. If c was much ostonished tliat the amount of the largo sum due from the West Coast had not been inserted in the estimates, the actual amount would certainly be a matter for adjustment. He considered it only justice to the East Coast that Westland should pay its share of the * departmental expenses of Government. The reason givon for this omission was, the proposal of the Government to appoint a commission to enquire into the whole subject -, and he never heard anything more amazing than the statement madfe by the hon. the Secretary, that this commission would be appointed. What was the use of a government but to govern ? The Ministerial bench had received two additionol occupants, and he supposed they were not there for mere ornament. If they could .notgovern the province, it was prohable they would find some one else who would^attcmpt it. He trusted the House would riot assent to the commission, for it -nas unconstitutional^ and merely a method adopted by the government of relieving themselves of a responsibility. * Mr Jollie objected to the Estimates, and considered that the Government had far better have considered the necessities of the outlying districts, and bare proposed to give money to the Road Boards, than to spend it in erecting bridges not absolutely necessary. Mr Leslie Thompson thought that the Government, in proposing to appoint a Commission for the West Coast, had proposed a vote of no confidence in themselves. Mr Buckley made a few remarks on the Estimates as a whole, and said that with regard to the cry for retrenchment, the Government were united on the question that reduction Tvaa necessarj. The question waSj however, how should it be done ? Six months of tho financial year had already expired, and no saving could be effected on the past. Eetrenchment could only be carried out in two ways : by reorganising the departnionts, and abstaining from public worts ; and it was for tho Council to say what works were to be carried on or not. A reduction in the former would be best brought about by appointing a Commission to enquiro into tlio whole ciril service of the province. A. notice of motion has already beon giron for that purpo*©, and would bo brought on at the next sitting. With, regard to what had been stated concerning contract surreys, it was his opinion that ifc was a more satisfactory way than employing their own officer*. It ought not to o* lost fight of, howwrer, that theie surveys would won oome to an «n£ With regard to the debt due from the Weat Coast, hon. members •eemad to hare forgotten that the greater portion had been incurred previous to the present Government taking office. The GoTernment proposed recouping the debt as soon as possible from the antes of land. (Oh ; oh !) With respect to the commission proposed to be apSointed to enquire into the affairs of the Weet oast, its object would be simply to examine into the working of the departments, and to make suggestions to ensure greater efficiency : their opinion would also be asked as to the sales ot the West Coast land, and other matters of administration. Mr Maskell objected to calling the Council together after half the financial year had passed. He thought that instead of bridging the Hurunui and the Waitaki, the money had far better have been handed over to the Koad Board. Mr W. Montgomery said that the Govern* ment had not- shown how the deficiency of L 22,000 on the ordinary revenue was to be met. The hon. member for Waimate had stated that the Government intended making good the deficit on the Land and Works department by the sale of debentures, which might not, however, be sold ; consequently the deficiency might not be met. He believed that the sum of L 104,000, which the hon. member had treated as an asset, could not be treated as such for this year. The hon. the Provincial Secretary said that the Government intended appointing a commission to enquire into the manner in which the West Coast land was to be sold — where and when ; he understood him also to say that the commission would consider the be?t mode of governing the West Coast. The Peovikciali Seceetaey — I said nothing of the sort. I said -the best mode of administering the affairs of the West Coast. Mr Montgomery — The hon. member is mistaken, for he certainly did say so, for he (Mr Montgomery) took the words down at the time. The two expressions, however, meant much about the same thing. He was of opinion that if the commission was appointed to enquire into the necessities of the West Coast, the Government were asking the Council for an expenditure which they did not themselves believe in. He considered that the estimates were drawn up in a very unsatisfactory manner, and they contained no mention of the amount which the Government proposed to guarantee on the money invested in pxiblic works on the West Coast. Mr Cassifs said that he considered in the estimates before tho House, the revenue of Weatland was under rather than over stated, and he pointed to the fact, because an increasing revenue was an evidence of the very great importance of the districts of which he had the honor to be one of the representatives. With regard to the items of expenditure, he wished to draw attention to the very large sum of L 30,000 put down under the head of the West Coast road, and he must express his disappointment at the sum boing ao large, for if it went on increasing in the same ratio,- that road would prove a most expensive experiment. What they wanted in Westland was not so much the West Coast road as thoir money spent in inland roads and bridges, so as to bring Hokitika in communication with the country districts. Then, with regard to the police, ho did not say that the sum was too large, but he must say that he thought the police had too many officers, there being about one officer to every two and a half men. The item set down for prisons on the West Coast might, he believed, bo reduced, if tho sittings of the Supreme Court were held at Hokitika every three months, instead of once in six months, as they were now ; and he might say that it was a monstrous injustice to keep men in gaol for six or even seven months awaitingtheir trial, as waa tho case at present. (Hear, hear.) There was another point also which he wished to bring before the notice of the Houso — the Provincial Secretary had not informed them in what mannor the Government intended to dispose of the town lands in Westland — this was a matter of the most vital importance, and one upon which he hoped to obtain a distinct expression. He trusted that the Government, whilst doing all in thoir power to open up the agricultural lands of Westland, would not do so at the expense of the mining interest — that they would not bring that intorest into conflict with speculators, and he hoped that this important subject would not be allowed to pass over to another session. (Cheers.) Mr Babff b&id that he fully agreed with the hou. member for Hokitika (Mr Ca6sius) • that the revenue to bo derived from tho West Coast waa underestimated. Tho hon. member then wont through several items of th" climated expenditure, said thafc with regard to the police, he thought they were too well paid and too wall treated, until, "in fact, they

fancied themselves to be gentlemen, and got above their -work. With regard to hospitals, he hoped soon to sco branch hospitals established not only at the Wainiea, but in other districts. As to the commission, ho considered it to be essentially a matter of detail, which that, commission had to enquire into, and he was given to understand that ono of its duties would be to revise the Goldfields' Eegulations ; and liis Honor iho Superintendent had promised that a Commission should bo appointed for the purpose of revising those regulations. He considered that tho Government were fully justified in appointing a commiesion of unprejudiced men to report xipon tho various departments of Westland, and in doing so he did not think that the Superintendent would be acting in an unconstitutional manner. The lion, member concluded by announcing his intention to move that a grant of LlOOO should be placed upon the Estimates, hi aid of the various religious denominations for erecting places of worship. Mr AYylde would bo glad to know whether the Govermnont intended to abide by the decision of the House, with reference to the Half-million Loan. Mr Delasiaix asked what were the intentions of the Government respecting the overdraft at the Bank of New Zealand. Ml 1 MAtTDE said that he was. reminded of old times, when he heard the lion, member for Maudeville (Mr Beswick) attack the estimates} especially as was his wont, he attacked the police estimates. No doubt that item was large, but at the same time he objected to see such a reduction made as would interfere with the administration of justice, and the various duties which the police had to perform. With regard to the tfemarks made about the Customs revenue he did not think thm> was any chance yet of that being taken away. When that day came, provincial institutions would receive their death blow. He thought the only mode of bringing about a reduction in the Government expenditure was by appointing a commission such as that proposed. He agreed with the remarks ihat had been made by an hon. member as to the late period at which the Council was usually summoned. This state of things, however, would not be allowed to exist longer, as the Audit Act provided for that. He was glad to hear from the hon. tho member for Hokitika that the receipts for Westland had been under-estimated, and coming from such a reliable source he felt the Government had the, greater chance of getting in what they kiiticipatecl. The hon. member (Mr Barfl) had stated that the police" were too w"Pll ]$al& ; he (Mr Maude) only knew that frequent complaints were made to the Commissioner by the force of being underpaid ; and he knew it to bo a fact that men joined the force, and after being drilled at the expense of the colony, left at the fire t opportunity and joined the police 1 in other provinces. If he were to •tate his own private opinion, he should say that he thought it defirable that they should have one general polioe foroe for tie whole colony. The hon. member then explained the duties of the proposed West Coast Commiiiion, which, were to enquire into the working of the several department* of that portion of the Province, so that the revenue might be expended in the aost judioioiu manner, and aa a medium by which, all grievances would obtain prompt redrew. This Commiaiion would also be able to point out what landi it was desirable for the Government to offer for 6alc. Mr Beight said it might perhaps be convenient to the House if at that stage of the debate he added a few words to those which had already been spoken by his colleagues, with a view to clearing the way for hon. members who might yet take part in the discussion, by disabusing the mind of the Council of certain misapprehensions which appeared to him to prevail with reference to the temper and the claims of the West Coast people. He was not then going to discuss tho Westland estimates in detail, as he thought such a course would be most inconvenient. The proper time for doing so would be in committee of supply, and he might say that he would then have to express his dissent from some of the criticisms which had been made upon the Estimates before the Council. What they had then to do, however, was to consider the broad general principles on which the financial proposals of the Government were made. He thought the House had greatly misunderstood the proposal of the Commission on Westland affairs, which the Government had promised to appoint. For his own part he was desirous of expressing his thanks to the Provincial Secretary for the proposition, and to the hon. member* for the Heathcote (Mr Maude), for an explanation of the objects of the Commission, which ought to disarm the House of all opposition to it. It was wished to give to the large population on the West Coast some tangible control over the expenditure of their own money, and this proposed Commission had been suggested as the most practical mode of meeting, for the present — until certain political changes could be effected — a demand which all the membersof the House would surely admit to be a natural and legitimate one. His colleague* and himself represented a constituency of some forty, fifty, or sixty thousand strong, hard:working men, who were engaged in a productive industry, and who contributed a large revenue to the State. They had come from free countries — had brought with them the antecedents and traditions of freemen ; and was it unnatural that they asked for some controling power over the expenditure of their own money ? How stood tho case however now? Yielding a revenue of L 50.000 from the gold duty, as much from the Customs, and half as much from licences J||and other goldfields sources, they had never had the opportunity in any single case of exercising the slightest control over the expenditure of any sum of money however large or however small, or of influencing the construction of any public work whether important or trivial. They had the recollection that very much of 'their money, expended by the authorites on the West Coast, had been expended uselessly, and in fact wasted and thrown away ; and they had no confidence that the same thing would not continue to be done bo long as the same system of irresponsible administration was perpetuated. Allthcbcfhiugshad been pressed upon the attention of the Superintendent, and no doubt the proposed commission would do something to satisfy public feeling for the present, and prepare tho way for a more satisfactory settlement. He regretted that any member in the House should speak of this measure as an abdication of the functions of Government by the Executive. IL was simply a concession to the people of the West Coast, and would be accepted by them a& such. He would now pass on to another matter, upon which, also, he found that a good deal of misapprehension prevailed — he meant the debt alleged to bo due by Westland to that part of the province. On behalf of his colleagues and himself, he protested against the assumption that they had any wish to repudiate any debt that might be equitably owing. What they wanted was 6imply to get (he amount of Iho debt adjusted, if any debt wa* clue. It wan no use tocontinuc talking about a debt of LlOO,OOO or LlOi',ooo, and to go on repeating year after year on tho Estimates fauch an item as he was looking at then, of L 30,000 for repairs to tho West Coast road. He would remind the House that there were two sides to thi6 question, and he wished to put tho matter before thorn from the Westland point of viow. Ho did not ask them to reply to his arguments or go into tho discussion then, much less to assent to his representations. But ho asked them to hear the case as tho pcoplo of the West Coast put it. (Heai-, hear.) Thoy admitted that Westland had derived some benefit from tho road, the construction of i\ Inch was the cause of the heavy claim made against the district ; but they contendod that the preponderance of advantage had been altogether on the eastern sido. The West Coast had benefited by the reduction in the cost of meat, owing to the amplo supplies that had been drawn from that part of the province -, and he was not one to under-esthuate the importance of that boon.

It wnß a very well known fact that in various parts of the goldfields there was land that could not be profitably worked because provisions could not bo placed on the ground at cheap rales. It w»b this fact that rendered it of such great importance to them to spend all the money they could on the construction of tracks. "Whatever lessened the cost of supplies to tho digger was undoubtedly a benefit to tho whole district. But then it must be borne in mind that this road had been of imnicnso advantage to the pastoral interest of tho province. Ho found it admitted on all hands both in that House and out of it, that tho opening up of the markets of tho West Coast had been the salvation of that interest, tho most important on that side, at a time of enormous depression. Ho held, therefore, that whilst tho benefits conferred upon Westland had been greatly over-estimated, those accruing to the other side of the provinco had been quite as much uuder-estimated. In tho decreased price of meat alone did Westuind enjoy any appreciable advantage, and that it would have enjoyed equally from the construction of a mere track that stock could travel along. That was the view of tho^c whom he represented. Others in the House might look at it from a different point. But what they wanted was that the question should be equitably adjusted, and the amount of debt properly dve — if ail + were duo at all — being ascertained, let an' arrangement be made for settling it. Thoy wanted to repudiate no fair and honest obligation (Hear, hear.) If any amount were charged against them by consent after a due hearing of the case, they could not agree to recoup the money at once, because the pressing nccessitj' of the district was the opening up of the country by tracks and roads to facilitate the operations of the miner. But by a gradual and easy system of liquidation they were prepared to satisfy any claim that could be established against them. Let that be understood, and lot them hear no more of this perpetual cry of the "West Coast debt. (Cheers.) Ho would refer only to one point more. It had been said by one hon. member that he could not understand why the Wc&t Coast accounts were kept distinct from those of the East Coast, or why the whole of the West Coast revenue should be spent on the district, instead of being paid in to the general provincial treasury. But he would like to ask that hon. gentleman if ho was prepared to grant all the conditions that were necessary to give proper effect to his own suggestion. Was ho prepared to igive Westland a representation in that Council equal according to the population and wealth of the district, to tliot enjoyed by the Eastern constituencies ? Was ho prepared to give a corresponding influence to Westhmd in the Executive of tho province? Its population might be computed at forty or fifty thousand men, and the revenue was greater than the revenue raised on that side. But the Westland representatives were only a small band of five men in that House of forty-four members ; and so long as such an arrangement lasted, he (Mr Bright) contended that it was eaaenfcial to the interests of the West Coaafc that its own revenues should be reserved to it. If they irere to be thrown into the common cheat, l«t the district hare a common and equal influence with the other side in tho Provincial Council. Ho would repeat that all Tub constituents asked for, was to be dealt with, on open, jmt, and equitable principles. They wished, to repudiate no obligation — they aaked for nothing that was not their proper due. He had endeavored to put their gase to the House on its merits, and lie relied .ujpon the candor and spirit of fair play of the Qbuncil to give it the consideration it deserved. He had said so much because he was anxious that in continuing the debate hon. members might dispossess their mmd 5 - of the false ideas that prevailed. (Cheers.) Mr Murray Aynsitey was in favoi 1 of the accounts with Westland being amicably adjusted, and the amount found to be due being paid off by instalments. Ho should, however, be glad to know how the over-draft at the Bank of New Zealand was to be paid, as he saw no provision for it in the Estimates. The debate was then adjourned