PARLIAMENTARY

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2353, 22 July 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

(UwjedPmss'Amooiation.). legislative' oounoil. _ The Committee on the Oaiuaru station site petition reported that the prayer of the Council and burgesses against a port.(in of the esplanade being taken for railway purposes was reasonable,. aiid, should bo considered by the Council, The Hutt and Petono Gas BUI, and the First Offenders Probationary; Bill were read n first time. .'•.... '\ ' The Counties Bill wati further considered in Committee, Clause 157 dealing .with special rates, was amended eo as to provide that special rates' shall not' exceed three farthings in the pound in capital value, . A number of clauses were agreed to, and the Council took their dinner adjournment at I) o'clock. '•■ In the evening sitting of the Council last night, the Counties Bill was resumed in Committee and a number of alterations made. Progress was reported, and the. •Council rose at 9.30 p.m.

HOUSE OF KEPKESENTATIVES. Iteplyuy to questions it-was stated that lonct. service medals for Volunteers would shortly. be presented ; that Government could not introduce any legislation for application of unused surplus of Kaitangata relief fund to relieving sufferers by the volcanic eruption as it was not right that Parliament should interfere with money subscribed by charitable people ; that Hansard could not be sent beyond New Zealand like newspapers as every copy would result in a loss to the colony of three pence ; that no Bill would be brought in this session for abolishing grand juries.

_ Some discussion ensued on the question of granting permisjson for the purpose of holding a conversazione in the Parliament Buildings on Saturday oveninp week for organising a fund for the relief of guffeerrs by the volcanio eruption, _ Several members objected to tho Parliament buildings being used for that purpose. The speaker eventually put a motion for permission to grant the use of the buildings, which was carried on tho voices. Mr Macarthnr resumed the debate on the Public Works Polioy. He criticised the statement in detail, and. referring to the North Island Trunk Line sa\d it would take ten or twenty years to complete at the present rate of progress. Begardingthe much-discussed question of liabilities, it was not creditable to any Government that professed to have aminister of finance in the cabinet, Ministers were at variance as to the actual amount of money available. He contended that such lines as the .NapierPalmerston ought to be-pushed on at I once to aompletion to male thorn pay properly. It seemed as if anything that could not be got rid of any other way was to be thrown on the North Island Trunk lino. Mr Menteath thought that though the Government policf did not carry out their views as originally expressod, still it met the wishes of the great mass of the people. Borrowing should be continued, because the great mass of the electors felt the benefit of that course. Proposals this year were in thedirection of economy, but they would,have to go through a great deal of financial trouble before the Government'reeognised the necessity of f-e-organising their Local Government's scheme. .... "Mr J.. W. Thompson .contended that the Government policy was more acceptable than it would have been, simply because during the looess the country had been frightened at the magnitude .of, the proposals they were led, to expect. Ministers had been going about the country preaching all sorts of doctrines,, including' protection. _ He proceeded to review the professional speeches of the members'of the Government, and' was still speaking at the adjournment ■ •'-;<-. Evbsins Siuinij. •Mr Thompson continued by saying hi was, - sorry;- to fsee -Mr .Riohardßoii was beginning 'to', show an aptitude for the ingenious arrangement of figures. Tho Treasurergofc the credit for that part/ of it referring to liabilities.; They, ought to have more information about the line's on which ;• it- was.- proposed to? spend the money. He maintained tho'preseni was .no time to encourage immigration <rth w

than 'nton with capital. He inn eraui Mr Ormortd's statements' -ami,, criticised his votes, during the''lnwwo years. The Government was only to bring in' a- .email Bill : of: two clauses> to obtain 'that: geri.tloman-'sJsuppnii—One releasing bis property from taxation and tlm o|lwr allowing, hiiinto buy Native . land at bis own price' witli restruction.

. Mr: Whyte said Mr.Smith seemed to think' his special mission in 'the House was to pitch into Mr Ormond' and they were getting tired of it. Summing up the net- result-of-what;'they;had heard, about the linanoial position the monoy, in his opinion, a trillion would be quite : sufficient this yea-iv He wanted 1 to) know whetheranother'iloan would-be winted\ next year, for th« money in hand would not last two years atid if they had to face another loan they ought to know now. Mr Smith said Mr Ormond complained of the Government for not pushing on the Hawkes Bay lines but. it was owing to the action of'Mr Omimid himself !and Aft RussolUhat the contract had not been let a year ago. Members might com' plain about lines not: heing completed but they knew very well that if an attempt line there •would be an butery.frojn.'ihe'rest of the colony, • .' : >tr<-<-^(h . Mr Russell said he-was st|Bf: opinion that it was inexpedient to lavishly spend largesumsof borrowed money,, Ee-diidiked the way in which'the new loan was to be appropriated.' He objected; fltrongly .to tho Westport-Mangahuo line' as nut wanted even by themselves. Ho .asserted a' distinct promise .had ibeen, given, He contended it amounted to this that the new loan was already .half anticipated and the North Island 'trunk Joan wai heavily mortgaged They had continent liabilties on Native lands of unprovided for, and had bought/£500,000 worth of plant, rails, it wasneeded, Helaughe'd'dt'tfeldea of the Northern Railway being finished by He denied any carrying on the railway building with vigor. It was • disclosed in.the Public,WorkStatetnent. ■''Mrlvess'said' the'Miiiister'of' Publie Works had .the ex« peclad-cf ! Kim) 'He 'quotedVetetistia comparing our railways with the other colonies .showing the rates were mueh cheaper; in the latterl v ,, The same evils existed as in yeanrgone by,' indit was time for ah alteration. He regretted the Minister had not executed his promia* to Board of management. jHe supported the Loan'BiU. ■'• ; MjWiPere Buller had influenced his vote.':' 'The> principal reason, 'he supported Government whit die--, satisfaction with the iafce swerntuent, and Mrßryce said, "Let;U6 have onejbig luan&'nd;have done vwithit." The colony IcouldojinideripV the interest could be paid afterwarda. Mr.Scobie McKenrie consider^th» Treasurer had done more damajjythan any one else to the credit of He had deliberately set himself during the recess to instil the idea into peopje'e minds that prosperity could only be restored by a; .gigantic'-'loan. He itigmatiflod that t* an asroei. ous doctrine. A new system of publie works had been entered in ; and lines h»d been put onihe scheduieWqwtthat they had.never once dreamed.'-of: making, to the disadvantage, of railways, liie the Otago central/,which.hai.been com.' menced eight, years.'asjo'and'.was still lingoriug on. H« hoped goon see a change in Ihe personnel' of the ment and with an influx of heW ; id»MUH better direction,- ■-.- ■"'. ~;-,'!•:; ; -. After further digcußsida.^Mr Fuitoa moved the: the debtto till Friday, and the House rose at l&M. ==»