HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 217, 13 September 1899, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Ta the House this afternoon Mr Cadtnan introduced the Mining Act ISDS Amendment Bill which was read a first time.

The Premier gave notice of motion ■•that in future the House shall sit at half-past seven in the evening on Mondays until the end of tbe session. This is another indication of the early close of the session. To an hon. member who raised a feeble protest the Premier said, "Do you want to sit liere until after Christmas?" ANOTHER LITTLE SCANDAL. Tlie Premier laid on the Table of the House correspondence relative to a bonus oE £100 paid to Mr Shaw for felt manufacture. Mr Hutchison related the circumstances, under which a sum of £500 was voted in December, 1397, as bonuses for the felt industry. A deputation of two persons, one being- an ex-gaol warder, said the member for Patea, and the other a merry-go-round man, neither of whom had any experience in the felt industry, deputationed the Premier and made _:.i_h representations as induced the (lovernment to grant a bonus of £100. This was done upon the mere recommendation of Mr Emelius Smith, Secretary for commerce and industries, who, according to the member for Patea, was as ignorant of the felt industry as the two other persons. "It was," said Patea in his most melodramatic style, "one of the most flag-' rant jobs ever perpetrated by the Government." In passing I may remark that in thejaundiced eyes of Patea every act of the Premier is "a job" of more or less heinous character Mr Taylor of course backed wp his colleague par nobile fratum. The Premier, in an ironical style, congratulated the member for Patea on liis qualifications for the position of a "corner man." "What's a corner man?" put in Mr Monk in that innocent way of his. The Premier said the hon. member for Patea had only to blacken his face and make a bad joke to make a success as a corner man. From this point the Premier went off at a tangent into the Bun Tuck forgery, and threatened an excursion into the marine_ slander, the. mere mention of which is enough to excite homicidal mania. Practically the Premier's speech Avent to show that the member for Patea was completely at sea over the whole subject, and to justify the action of the Government in granting the bonus the paper was ordered to be laid on the table and to be printed. AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION. Mr Lewis asked the Premier whether he would afford an opportunity during the elections for discussing the question of joining the Australian Federation, and whether, if the expression of opinion is favourable, the Government will convene a short session of Parliament to deal solely with the question. The Premier in reply said he doubted whether justice could be done to the subject during the turmoil of the general election. More time for consideration was needed before committing the colony to any definite action. He could not say whether a short session would be held after the general election for the purpose of discussing the question. It had been represented that he was opposed to federation, but his mind was perfectly open on the subject, and he would express'a definite opinion when he had given the matter full consideration. STATE CONTROL OF LIQUOR TRAFFIC. Major Steward asked the Premier if he will take steps to ascertain the feeling of the colony on the question of instituting a system of State control of the liquor traffic. The Premier said it was necessary that the public should have a full knowledge of the circumstances, the bulk of the electors having given no consideration to it at present. Three questions were submitted to the electors, and to add a fourth would only complicate matters. Parliament would be in a better condition after the elections to consider the subject. THE AGENT-GENERALSHIP. Captain Russell asked the Premier under what terms the Agent-General holds his position, and whether the Government intends to re-appoint him fora further term of three years or any shorter term. In putting the question he said it was unwise that a high.official of State should be kept in the position of a hanger-on of the Government holding his office only from day to day. The Premier begged to assure the Lender of the Opposition that the Agent-General was not a hanger-on of of the Government, it was the Government who were hanging on to him. Mr Allen: "There is some one else." The Agent-General had expressed a wish to retire owing to business considerations, but was willing to earrv on the duties for a time, and the Government expressed its approval of the arrangement. The time had not yet elapsed, but the feeling of tbe Government was in favour of the Agent-General continuing in his present position. The existing uncertainty arose out of circumstances over which the Government had no control. The terms were £1250 a year. He would be continued in the office until he wished to give up the position end so long as he did justice to t}.n ■■■■■;■]< the Government had no desk- > make a change. ( -in Russell: "But the appointor run be terminated any day? If la? '• :s not wish to continue the matter lies with him." I

TELEPHONE AT DEVONPORT. I Mr Bollard asked the PostmasterGeneral if he will establish a telephone exchange at Devonport. The Premier said telephonic communication would be provided by the Government on the usual terms, namely, 6 persons paying £5 each (with the usual entrance fee of £1), i under an agreement, for 2years; Gd to be charged as a fee for anyone using the telephone. BRIDGE AT TUAKAU. Mr Lang asked the Government whether they will proceed with the bridge over the Waikato river at Tuakau. He pointed out that £500 was placed on the Estimates last year for this work, which had not been carried out. The Minister of Works said the matter was dealt with in the Public Works Estimates. PROHIBITION AT RAROTONGA. Mr Taylor asked the Premier whether he was aware that on the occasion of the visit of Lord Ranfurly to Rarotonga the Governor cancelled all liquor prohibition orders. The Premier in reply said the Government of New Zealand had no control whatever to interfere in matters of this character any more than they could interfere with the French in regard to the Dreyfus case, with Kruger in the Transvaal, or the action of tlie Emperor of Germany. He would recommend the hon. member to take a trip to Rarotonga and interview Queen Makea on the subject. It was well known that Her Majesty had a way of dealing with troublesome persons which prevented their causing trouble for the future. TRAVELLING STOCK. Tn reply to Mr Douglas Mac Lean, the Acting-Minister of Lands said the Government had under consideration the question of erecting paddocks on Crown lands for the use of travelling stock on the route between Hawke's Bay, Poverty Bay, and Auckland. LOCAL APPROPRIATION OF LICENSE FEES. Mr Meredith asked the Government if they will have the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Bill so amended that the administration by the controlling local authority may be defrayed out of the licensing fees before any allocation is made among the local bodies entitled to participate in the licensing fees. The Premier said that the question opened up a large and important subject. There was a great deal in tlie contention that, the license fees should go to the local fund, and that the Government should provide for the administration of licensing laws. The distribution of the funds among the local bodies on some defined basis would be more satisfactory than the present arrangement. He concurred with the idea that alteration was needed, and the matter would have to be dealt with later on; but it would be impossible to pass any legislation this session dealing with the subject. He had considered the matter, and looking at the question with all its surroundings, and knowing what was "•oing on in various parts of the colony, he did not think there was any time this session to pass amended legislation. He hoped somethingwould be done next session. ENROLMENT IN COUNTIES. In reply to Mr O'Regan, who asked the Government if legislation will be introduced this session for the purpose of allowing, the same facilities for enrolling in counties as have been provided in respect of municipalities, the Premier said he desired that the rolls should be as complete as possible, and while he thought it was too late in the session to pass legislation with that object he would make the necessary proposals at .an early date. PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. When .the House met at half-past seven the -Minister of Works (the Hon. Hall-Jones) laid on the table the Public Works Statement and the Estimates for the current year. The House then went into Committee of Supply on the GENERAL ESTIMATES, class three, Treasury Department salaries, £7555; friendly societies registry salaries, etc., £1230, were passed." On the item, Old Age Pensions Office salaries, £250, considerable discussion took place, but the item passed without alteration. Land and Income Tax Department, £20,596, passed. Treasury miscellaneous services, preparation of new Government code, £157. Mr Duthie moved that the item be struck out. Mr Taylor moved a previous amendment that the item, salary of Registrar of Consols, £50, be reduced by £1. This was negatived on the voices, and Mr Duthie's amendment was lost on a division by 29 to 25. Treasury miscellaneous services, £10,073, was then passed. Class 4, Justice Department salaries, £1830, Crown Law Office salaries, £2425, Supreme Court, £6181, Bankruptcy, £4327, were passed without Alteration. Resident Magistrates' and Wardens' Courts, £44,993, also passed. Native Land Court, £1305, Validation of native titles, £750, Criminal prosecutions, £12,500, Coroners' Act, £2500, and Prisons, £28,751, were agreed to. Office of Industries and Commerce, £ 325. Messrs Monk, Duthie and others opposed this item, contending that the Department was useless and the secretary's duties a sinecure. Mr Pirani moved that the item be struck out, but after considerable discussion it was retained on the voices, a division having been called for but not pressed. On class 2, Colonial Secretary's Department, £92,035, Mr G. Hutchison moved to report progress, and on this motion discussion was proceeding at 1 a.m. WELLINGTON, this day. After 1 a.m., Mr Carroll, being deaf to all appeals to report progress, the Left Wing, led by Messrs Smith and Pirani, set up a mild stonewall; but ultimately the Premier consented to go on to class 7, Stamp Department, £7840, and the motion to report progress was withdrawn. The item passed unaltered. Class 2, item Minister's salary, £400. Captain Russell protested against the item on the ground that it was never intended that the representative of a European constituency should occupy the position of administering native affairs. Mr Massey offered similar objection, though he said he would support Mr Carroll being appointed actual Colonial Secretary at a salary equal to that paid to his

colleagues. The Premier said he had power to confer the portfolio of Secretary upon any person he chose, and he urged that if he could take a man from the street and include him in the Ministry it followed that he had a pp.-feet right to appoint a member of the House. Mr Carroll caused a laugh by a witty apology for his administration. Captain Russell called for a division, when the vote was carried by 19 to 12. At 2.45 progress was reported and the House adjourned.