PARLIAMENTARY

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1601, 16 September 1885, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

Wellington, SeptemWr Vs. The Pott gives the following condensed summary of what happened on Friday night and Saturday morning :— After the division was taken on Captain Russell's amendment to reduce the public works expenditure by half a million, the House went iuto Committee of Supply. There was a long discussion as to the course to be pursued iv given effect to the direction of the House. Major Atkinson insisted on tlie Government taking the lead, they having accepted the dictum of the House. The Hon. Mr Richardson said he was willing to explain, as each item came up what reduction could be made without injury to the interests of the ! colony. Mr Holmes said he was quite : prepared to vote for the whole of the | reductions suggested by tbo Minister j for Public Works, even to the £150.000 for tiie East and West Coast railway. I In reply to a question, Mr Richardson j said that although he had promised to j indicate, where reductions could be , made he had stated thai Le would not vote for the reductions. Mr Hislop that the Government should state how the reductions i-ould be effected, and then move them, lie 01. joe ted to their abnegating their position as leaders of the House. It was absurd to go on as at present, and iv order to give the Government an opportunity of bringing f , ward some scale of reduction he would mote to report progress and ask leave to sit again. Mr Hursthouse told Mr Hislop to take a back seat for a session aud not pose as a leader of the House, as he had previously done. His motion was in effect a vote of want of confidence. The Premier, it was said, would resign if the Estimates were sent back. (Mr Stout—" Hear hear,") and they did not want him to do that. The fact was Mr Hislop wished to occupy the Premier's place, and he could not deny it. Mr Hislop, how ever, did deny it, whereupon Mr Hursthouse told him he was not worthy of the constituency who sent him there, as every lion, member ought to aspire to the highest place in the House. Mr Hislop replied that while he would like to be Premier of the colony, if he had the a l.i lity, he would not like to occupy the position the present Premier did. Mr Kerr, who had beon incidentally alluded to by Mr Hislop, here got npaud amid much laughter said he had never seen a more vindictive man to look at than that gentleman, Mr Sto-ii. Mr Richardsou had explained his willingness to state where amounts could be reduced without injury to the colony, and that should be sufficient. The committee were acting art unfair part. Haviug permitted the Supply to come | on, then they ought to abide by it and go on with the Estimates If they wanted the Government to take back those Estimates, they should have moved in that direction liefore going into committee. Major Atkinson said the Premier vaunted himself now, but he had stated that if Captain Russell's motion wei c carried he would resign. , The Premier : I said nothing of the kind.'' Major Atkiiißon : "You did; . 1 heard you myself." The Premier : "I did not." Major Atkinson : •* You did.'' Mr Q'Conor asked the chairman whether one lion, member could give the lie direct to' another member. The chairman remarked that Major Atkiu | son safdTie would withdraw the words used, huthecould not withdraw the fact, i After a lot of discussion the Minister for Publio Works indicated the direction in wliich a large amount ! could -be struck off the Estimates

1 without injury to the country. The items were — Hnntlv Branch. -2115,000; Hellenbville, '£20,000; Hamilton-Ore 'r'uston, L 11.000; | Napier- Wood ilk, L 65 ,000; Martou-Te Awamutu (main trunk), L4tf,ooo ; East and West Coast and Nelson, L 149.000; Picton Southwards, L 800 0; Livingstone Branch, £8000 ; Otago Central, L 25.00 0; Wairaea-Switzers, LIO.O-.O ; Additions to open railways, £20,000; i Total, L 875.300. I The Committee then proceeded to i the Estimates, and struck off without division or opposition on the part of Government, £11,500 from the vote of I L 12.100 for th- Hautley branch. f Helensville Norm wards, £20,000.— Mr Dargaville supported the vote j strongly, and Mr Hursthouse opposed it Ou a division b*.i:ig taken the vote was struck out t.y 51 to 81. The Hamilton and Cambridge vote, £14, 000, was carried on tht voices. On the item Napier- Woodville and Pal merston North, £114,000, Mr M € Arthnr opposed any reduction, on the ground that it was a special i:ase. Mr O'Calla-j-han opposed and Mr Bnchanan and Dr Newman supported the vote. Mr Sutter moved that it be reduced by £65,000. After considerable discussion, in the course of which Mr Fisher and Mr Bcetham pointed out that although they recognised the line was a paying one, they understood clearly that it most be sacrificed to the principle of economy approved by the ! louse. The Commitee divided on the vote, and the reduction was carried by s*l to BP. T te item Wellington—Woodville, £465,000, was carried on the voices, as was also the items New Plymonth Foxton, £26,300 ; and Wellingtou-Foxton, £1,000.