Parliamentary.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3258, 17 July 1889, Page 2

Parliamentary.

The debate on the second reading of the Legislative Council lioform Bill took place in tho Upper House yesterday and was adjourned until today. The Registration of Births Bill was read a second time.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Ministers said, in answor to questions, they hoped to be able this session to make proposals in connection with the West Coast settlement reserves. Provision was made in tho Charitablo Aid Bill for differentiating innocent children from criminal children supported by obaritablo aid, The Premier would bo glad to give an opportunity for discussion of the question of Imperial federation, but did not think tho question was ripe yet for discussion, It was possible that a Bill in connection with local bodies' audits would be brought in. It was not proposed to abolish the duty on sugar, . In reply to Mr W. C. Smith, the Pnmier declined to bring in a Bill to oompleto tho railway line from Eketahuim to Woodville.

The Colonial Secretary moved tho second reading of the Representation Bill, He said the Government proposed in it to revert to tho margin allowed to tho country districts before the Act of 1887, namely, 25 per cent. This deduction would only bo made from the four big cities and boroughs and town districts within a mile of them; and consequently tho deduction would not be made from small boroughs, as used to be tho case. The amalgamation of city electorates was also provided for, and provision was made for bringing tho city electorates to the rcquisito size. Each city would have three members,

Tho Bill was denounced by Messrs Moss, Taylor, Taiwhaiiga, Fish and Br_ Hodgkihson,. and Mr Yorrall intimated his intention of 'moving an amendment to the effeot' that' the Act of 1887 should bo repoaled, The debate wis adjourned until to-day. The Dunedin Street Closing and Licensing Bill was read a third time and pasod. The second reading was agreed to the following Bills:—Chattels Transfer, Fire and Marme Insurance Companies, and Law of Libel. The, House rose at 11'o'cioclc,'

Wooclyille ■ Bketahuna Railway'

In the House yesterday Mr Smill asked the Government if they wil bring in a Bill to provide for the making of the railway line between Eketahima and Woodvillc on similai terms to, those proposed in connectior with the piago Central Railway ?

'■ The Premier said ho would not. This line was ianorespect in the same position as tho Otago Central, for the district was well provided with railways, and everyone on tho main road was within, at the mos, 18 miles of a railway. The Government were of opinion that the 'line should uS u"i!?:token po poon as they saw,their way to get the money, but |t was jn nq way comparable with tli6' Ota'go Central, • whero half a million of money'was v lying' idle, while tho whole of tho interior of Otago -had no railways, He quite

agreed that it was desirable to complete this line as soon as possible. i)r Newman, who moved the adjournment of tho House, said the ' railway would pay well andimine. diately. It occupied a unique position in this respect, and it was the only railway in the Colony that would pay working expenses as well as interest. Instead of being a burden on the consolidated fund, it would be an advantage to tho Colony. Air Guinness; What will it cost ? Dr N ewmaii said 1145,000. No one knowing the capabilities of the district could doubt that the extension of the railway would pay. Mr Buchanan said that although he and Mr Beetham had for along time recognised that this extension • would open up one of tho richest districts in tho Colony—a distinct which would probably become a dairy centre of the Colony- they had refrained from forcing it on the Government, feeling that if every member did that there would be no end to expenditure of public money, Ho considered that comparisons between this lino and the Otago Central must be in favor of the latter; but if expenditure on. railways was resumed, he thought no Government ought to overlook tho EketahunaWoodvilleline. - Mr Tanner, recognising that when there was a surplus it was to be devoted to necessary works, thought that apparently the Government had dovoted their surplus to the Otago Central. ("No I") Then he understood tho question was (Cheers). In that case he urgeu this line on the consideration of the Government, Mr Monteath considered the real question was whether any railways wore to be carried on. He ridiculed tinkering with the public works policy, and said it was useless to carry on one or two lines—all must carried on or none," (Oncers,) He refused to advocate any exception iu favor of one particular lino because it affected his district. (Hear, hear.) Mr Samuel censured tho Governor ment for the new departure they had taken in connection with the Otago Central.

Mr J. 0. Brown expressed appreciation of the value of the line, and said the Wellington and Hawko's Bay members had been very remiss in not forcing it on the attention of the Government, Colonel Fraser asked what worso style of borrowing there could bo than mortgaging the trust funds of the colony to mako what was ai. niitted to be the most line in the Colony ? (Cheers,) Mr Seddon considered that undue prominence had been given to the Otago Central, and suggested that it was because the Otago members of the Cabinet ruled it. The Premier, after some furthor debate, asked the House to proceed with the'business, and deprecated wasting time in discussing on aside issue a question which would have to come before the House hi a formal way, Mr Smith warmly commended this line to the consideration of the Hou?ji as a work which would pay. The motion for adjournment was lost on the voices —Times,