PARLIAMENTARY

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1456, 14 August 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

,OHITED PRESS HIBSOCIATION. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. . liijhe House yesteulay Sir G. Grey stated hp had received the following telegram from Tawhiao" lam prepared to send two. of my people ~to '■ Wellington, and they will carry my words and messages with them. What do you think of it I Reply." Sir Gi Grey said before replying lie to ascertain the wishes of the 'Government with regard to the matter, as he would not; like to! do anything to ombarass them in any way. ; it would be well if theseip'ersona came, down, It could; do no;harm, and . might do good. At the same timo 'lio wished, it to be quite understood in what light the Government regarded Tawhiao. They looked on.liiiii as a great, tribal chief, and werti quite willing; to consult him on all matters relating to his own tribe, but they could not recognise his,so-called authority as •King, nor would they consult him' about matters relating,to tribes over which- his only authority: was that., which he claimed as .King. ; '. On a motion to go- into Supply, Sir o.' Grey moved as an amendment, That the Premier of the colony should not be a manager or director of any Sank or Company, or receive any Balary, fees, or emoluments from anysuch Bank or C'pmpauy. Ho pointed out. that the present Premier was •solicitor to the Bank of New Zealand,' and- dwelt at great length on. the enormous and irresistable power.which thus in that gentleman's, hands/ " "Mr ' Rolleston said Sir &. 'Grey had greatly over-estimated the political' power of tlm Premier, and as for that gentleman's connection with any Rank ho did not see they had anything to do with it .unless it could 'be shown that, his public diities were sacrificed to or liuide sub-servient to his private interests. It would be very dangerous til disqualify, men fronr political positions because of tlioir commercial •connections.' '•

Messrs Fish, Bathgate, Joyce, Tiirnbnll, and Suddon supported-Sir'G. Grey's ameudiuent, Mr Montgomery thought it should be made general so lis Jo apply to all. Ministers of the Crown. . .

Mr DeLautouh supported the original proposal, and Mr J; Bocitt also spoke 111.favor of it. After .some further discussion Sir G. Grey's amendment was negatived by 44 to 26, iuiii the House went into' Committee of Supply, In Committee of Supply, the public works /uud immigration estimates ; ■Class 1, Immigration, £79,706. Considerable discussion took place over the various items.

Messrs Hutchison and levastah opposed all further immigration, and the latter moved a reduction of the vote,

. The amendment was negatived and the vote passed.

Class '2: Public works departmental vote, head office, £6060, passed vote, head office, North Island, £3947, .Mr Turnbull 'took exception to an increase of £l5O, in the Inspecting Engineer's salary, • Mr Johnston explained that this /officer had been about;to leave the Service, and was only retained by the increase. He was a ; most valuable "officer. ':

Messrs Fish arid others strongly opposed the increase. Ml' fuRNBULL moved to strike it out, but the motion was lost on a division by 30 to 26, and the voto psssed as printed. Vote, Head Office Middle Island, £4145. '

Mr J. McKenzie moved to reduce tho salary of tho Engineer in charge by £IOO, 0 Mr Fish asked if Ministers were aware that, this officer took consulting practice, , ,

, Mr, JpiiNSToN said he did not know it, .and!,would not allow it.

The-motion for a reduction was lost by 44 to 8. .■MI" Duncan then moved to reduce it hy <£so, but it was negatived on voices.,.

" Head Office, Middle lisland vote, as printed, class 3, railway, The following votes were passed without alteration : Kawakawa, L 1600; Whangarei to Kamo, L 5050 ; Kaipara to Waikato, L 75,000; Waikato.to Thames, L8O,O0O; Wellington to Napier, LI 15,000; Bunnythorpe Gorge, L 101; Wellington to Foxton, L 3600; Foxton to Neiv Plymouth, L 84,000: Nelson toßoundell, L13,000j Greymouth to Nelson Creek, L29,000j ty'eymouth to Hokitika, L 6,000; Westpoit to Ngakawou, L 4,000. A long discussion took place on the vote Picton to Hurunui L 55,000, Messrs Fish, Levastam,' Captain McKenzio and others maintaining that the sections from Picton to Awatere, and Hurunui to Pahau, wero not ■merely extensions of the Northern Trunk line, as the route of that line was not yet settled. • i' : Mr Johnston defended the extension of tlie line to the Redpost and to the Awatere, no matter whit route was adopted as the trunk line.

Mr Montgomery urged the stopping of any northern extension for this year at least.

Messrs Pearson, O'Callaghan, Dodson, and others supported the vote as it stood, and ultimatoly it was passed as printed. A. motion to report progress boing lost, the following votes were also jmKscd:—Hiirunui to Waitaki, with branches, L 162,000; Canterbury interior main line, LI 1,000; Waitaki to Bluft/with branches, L 241,000; Otago Central,' L 230,000; Invercargill to Kingston, LI 1,000; Western railways,. L2D5,000; contingencies and expenses, ' L 30 5; expenses Railway Commission, •1>500.; Glass 4, suryeyji of new- lines of railwaysthe following Votes'; werepassed: - North Islaild, ■; ■Middle Island, L 4,000?' ' | '■ Progress Was theu repo'rted, and tlie House.rose at 2,25. '