THE PURCHASE OF DISTRICT RAILWAYS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2343, 10 July 1886, Page 2

THE PURCHASE OF DISTRICT RAILWAYS.

[By Telegraph.]

The following report was presented to Parliament yesterday by the Purchase of District Railways Committee:-" Your Committee having been appointed to enquire into and report whether any member of tho Legislature negotiated for, or claimed or received any commission or other remuneration for promoting the passing of the District Railways Purchasing Act, 1885, or for negotiating the sale or purchase of debentures issued or to be issued by the Government, have the honor to report as follows:—They first of all took the evidence of Mr J. Steward, the member for Waimate, regarding whom unfavorable 'repoitsjhwe been in circulation in connection with the sale of certain district railway debentures. They have also taken the evidence of Sir 'J. Vogel.Mr J. C. Buckland, and Mr Peacook. They have perused eorrespon dence between Mr Steward and the Official Liquidator of the Duntroon -and Hakateramea Railway Company, and the correspondence between Mr Steward and the Rotorua Railway Company. Your Committee have agreed to the following resolutions: (1) That while the evidence adduced does not warrant your committee in reporting that Mr Steward was directly influenced by any pecuniary consideration in ]ii 3 efforts to secure the passing of the District Railways Purchasing Bill through the House, they are nevertheless unable to concludo other than that he considered in all probability he would be able to bring about a sale to the Government orthelnsuranceAssocia. tions of the Waimate and possibly the Duntroon and Hakateramea Railway Debentures, and thus secure the receipt by him of a large commission on tho transaction. (2) That Mr Steward, in concluding the negotiations presumably attached importance to his influence as a member of Parliament, as, in hip letter to the Hon B. Campbell of date September 28, 1884, soliciting that gentleman's assistance in obtaining authority to sell the Duntroon and Hakateramea Railway Debentures, lie says "1 have influence in two different quarters, which will enable me, I think to get a bettor price than anyone else would." (3) That it is manifest from the evidence of Mr Peacock, a member of the House of Representatives, and Director of the Rotorua Railway Company that the Board appreciated the position, and tho consequent influence of Mr Steward as member of Parliament in dealing with the Government for the sale of the Company's debentures, and that the payment of a Commission was apparently a secondary consideration to that of securing his services in the conduct of the negotiation for the sale. (4) That your Committee are of opinion that while Mr Steward has avoided any. technical breach of the Disqualification Act, they unanimously regard the transactions referred to as calculated seriously to reflect upon and impugn the integrity of any members of Parliament engaged therein, and to giw rise, aa has leen the case in this to public scandal. (5) That' it may be fairly assumed that had the Government dealt directly with the Company the amount-of. commission might havo been saved to the colony, (6) That it is greatly to be regretted that neither Mr Steward nor Sir J. Vogel, as appears by their reipecfcivo evidence, recognises any impropriety in a member of Parliament aoting as a paid agent in making a sale to Government.