PARLIAMENTARY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4176, 27 July 1892, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSEOFMSPEESENTATIVE3. TUESDAY, JDLY 26 The Speaker took the chair at 2.80 p. m, IMPREST SUPPLY. \ On the motion for the second ' reading of the Imprest Supply Bill for £278,600. Hon W. Bolleston asked if tho ' Premier would indicate when the Land and Income Tax Amendment Bill would be brought down, when the Public Wotlts Statement would be delivered, and for how long a period the Supply now asked for would provide. The Hon Premibr said the Supply would cover one month from the present time. The Bill to amend the Land and Income Assessment Act would be brought down this week; . but he could not say when the Publio Works Statement would be presented. Aftor some discussion, regarding the delay in printing, tho Bill was reads second timo, passed through Committee, reported to the House, and finally passed. • freights for produce. The Hon Minister for Publio Works, in reply to Mr Allen, Baid he rfbad communicated with tho JKailway on the subject of reducing freight rates on cheese, and also on milk sent to dairy factories. The Commissioners to conpifelpr the pafipr in ponnpetion with other requests for reduction ok altera? tion of rates, NORTH ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY ROUTE. Mr Dutbie put a long question to the Government, reciting the facts connected with tho determination ol the route for the North Island Trunk Railway, and closing with a reqiiesf to know whether the Government were prepared tore-open the question of route, and, if po, whether tbey oxpeot a more careful, exhaustive, or impartial consideration - of the subject. /I - • ■ ■<>

The Hon. Minister .for ■ Public Works replied thattho Qovdrnment wero awaroof the.faots mentioned iri the question. They wero hlso aware ihut steps were now being t'iken tii havo a-committee appointed to take further evidenceon the siihjeot of route. Mr Hogg, as ft Wellington country member, claimed to approach tins suhjeot with a mind fairly unbiassed. He atti'iiilcd tlio caucus a few days ngo, expeotiug to hear the; matter calmly discussed, bat lie confessed to astonishment at the attiiude of Wellington members; lliey rtnlied out of the room when they fouud they could not carry matters their own way. He dwelt upon the importance of having the fullest information before further money was expended, and referred to the Rimutnka and Gorge routes as samples of past blundering. He trusted the good sense of the House would defeat the attempt to burke enquiry into the merits of the rival routes, Mr Buohanan said that the evidence to be laid before the proposed committee was to bo evidenci! carefully prepared with a view to this. Committee being set up. After rending extracts from surveyors' reports on the Stratford route, ho concluded by stating that lie agroed with Mr Lake that the money in band should be spont in making roads and purchasing Native lands. . A lengthy disoussion took place on the subject, which was interrupted by the adjournment of the House at 5.30 p.m. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The whole of the evening sitting was devoted to the debato on the Financial Statement.