PARLIAMENTARY.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume IX, Issue 909, 10 July 1880, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE of E__PEESEkT_ITIVES fe

[PEE UNITED PIZESS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, Friday.

The Houso met at 2.30.';* * .- : J % f Sir George Grey presented"a petition from' 900 electors at the Thames submitting that they'viewed .with alarm, the! decisioffof the Committee >?-& the "'Ohristcmlrch* elections, and pi*aying that the finding that Sir Geo. Grey liad not been duly elected should be; expunged from the records of the House.'' •• l

Mr Barron gave notice that >he ;wpnld move that in view of the serious loss, the premature withdrawal of subsidies was-cer-tain to cause local-bodies which have made financial arrangements dependant on a continuance of the subsidies fixed by statute, •Government be.requested to raake.provision for the payment of such until the end of ISBI, in accordance with ,the 'Financial Arrangements Act, 1876. ... •

Mr Murray gave notice that he would ask whether in reducing the Civil Service salaries as proposed it was also intended to make corresponding reductions in pensions, more especially pensions payable to absentees.

Mr Andrews gave notice that he would ask whether the removal of the Railway Commissioners' Department to Dunedin was meant to be a permanent arrangement. Mr Hall said a reply had been sent by the North Island Railwaj' Commissioner to the Civil Service Commissibners' report. Replying to questions putIt was stated the Education report was in the hands of the printer, and would shortly be produced. • ' •

Government had not ordered Volunteer uniforms from England. They had sent for an estimate of the price, and from what could be ascertained the estimate was likely to be 50 per cent, less than they could be got for in the colony.

No instructions had been forwarded to Sir Julius Vogel to represent New Zealand at a meeting held in London the consider the 'question of Imperial unity. It was agreed, on the motion of Mr Hall, that the House sit on Monday in Committee of Supply,

Mr Hall explained that the Government had considered the resolutions of Mr Saunders, *and held that it bound them to make a I reduction of 10 per cent, in all salaries, pay i and wages, and this would be provided for in? an Appropriation Act; but while applying ihe rule generally there were certain exceptional cases in which it would not be right to apply the reduction, and these the Government would take the responsibility of excepting. As to wages the Government found that no injustice would be done iv applying the resolution, as* in most cases the wages paid by Government were higher than those paid by private employers for similar work. The reduction of 10 per cent;'would be made exclusive of the further reduction by the Consolidation of offices.

Mr Hall moved* that the vote for the Postal Department of the General Post Office be £1,000.

Mr Reader Wood proposed it bo reduced by £500.

Mr Maaandrew suggested that the estimates should be . passed in. a lump sum, adding that it was plain from what the Go- 5 vernment had stated that they considered? that the reductions were to be made just as they might think fit.

Mr Seddou'objected, contending that'they* should be discussed iteiri by'item; ' .-"••' f

The discussion lasted until tha adjournment at 5.30.