PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8581, 7 September 1893, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

By Telegraph, (from our special correspondent). WELLINGTON, September 6. THE ALTERATION IN THE PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. The Public Accounts Committee has whitewashed the Premier in reference to the error in the Publio Works Statement of last year. After recapitulating the facts at considerable length the Committee on the evidence finds that Mr Seddon did not alter the Public Works Statement, nor was he informed of the alfce.JE.tion until the .sth of October, during the debate on the motion .to *'go into then asked Mr Blow -for ah explanation of jtbe error which had been referred to by the Hon. Mr Mitchelson and the Hon. Mr Richardson, and was ihen informed that it was an error, and that he had corrected it. The report also states " that Mr Seddon was asleep when the Speaker put the motion to go into Committee of hupply, and consequently did not reply to the comments made in the House about the mistake. The Committee are of opinion that in altering the text of a Ministerial Statement after it had been .laid before Parliament, and without even informing the Minister of what he had done, Mr Blow committed a grave indiscretion. They consider that no alteration of any Parliamentary paper after it has been laid on the . table of the House can properly be made without the sanction of the House." An attempt was made in the Committee to include in the report a censure on the Hon. Mr Rolleston and the Hon. Mr Richardson for the terms used ,by them in the House iv characterising the Premier's action. The facts were too strong, however, for even a Parliamentary majority to carry such a proposal. THE OFFICERS OF THE HOUSE. The report of the Privileges Committee respecting the appointment of the Hansard reporters and the control of the officers of the House, finds—l. That in vikw of the resolution of the House in 1891 reducing the Legislative estimates by £1 as an indication that they should be under • the control of the. Government, there was no invasion of its privileges in the appointment by the Government of Messrs Gore and Russell to the Hansard staff, and in making the selection from the officers in the service, such course was in keeping with the Civil Service Act, 1886, giving as it did promotion to two deserving officers and at the same time making a saving in th«s public expenditure, seeing the services of these reporters are available for reporting Commissions during the recess. 2. The resolution of 1891 practically set aside the decision of 1862, and was in keeping with the report of a Committee of the House during 1888. The permanent officers of the House are ordinary Civil servants. Mr Speaker is not a Minister of the Crown, nor has he authority to vary the appropriation. 3. That there are several officers receiving large annual salaries whose duties occupy them from four to six months, 'while the Hansard staff are employed only during the session. There is no good reason why they should not be employed during the recess. By their employment the Government will be enabled to lessen the number of officers otherwise employed without affecting the efficiency of the service and without lessening the independence of such officers- during session or trenching on the privileges, of Parliament. 4. In the case of vacancies among officers of the House they should be tided by promotion, and in the case of Hansard reporters vacancies should be filled from the Civil Service with a view to encouraging civil servants in the use of shorthand. 5. That for two weeks before, during, and for one month after the session, the Hansard staff be under the control of the Speaker and the Printing Committee, and during the same period the officers of the House be under the control of tbe respective Speakers. 6. That the Government continue to have charge of the Legislative estimates." The Premier has promised Sir John Hall that the report shall be considered on Friday. THE RE-ARRANGEMENT OF PORTFOLIOS. The long-promised announcement by the Premier as to the Bills to be abandoned and the vacant portfolio was made by Mr Seddon this afternoon. He said that the Government hoped to bring the session to a close by the end of the month, and intimated that he had assumed the Native portfolio, and that Mr Cadman had rejoined the Cabinet as Minister of Mines and Minister of Justice. No sooner had Mr Seddon resumed his seat, than the Leader of the Opposition rose, and in a dramatic manner expressed his indignation at Mr Cadrnan's inclusion in the Cabinet. His speech was of a most damaging character, and so fierce was he in hu denunciation of the member for Auckland, that Mr Sedopn felt called on to express his surprise that Mr Rollestcn had not concluded W tabling a resolution of no confidence in Mr Cadman. A spirited

and exciting debate continued until the 5.30 adjournment was reached. Mr Shera said that Mr Cadman ought not to have been permitted to rejoin the Ministry till he haa been acquitted by a Parliamentary Committee of improper trafficking in Native < lands, and this hitherto pronounced sup- ] porter of the Government said he would t have to consider his position. Colonel . Fraser and Mr Taylor characterised Mr Shera's speech as emanating from a dieappointed aspirant for the vacant portfolio, J and Mr Taipua warmly denounced the ] manner in which Mr Cadman and Mr Smith , had acquired lands from the Natives for their own use. This dusky member expressed his regret that Mr Carroll had not been appointed Native Minister, and said « by assuming th*» portfolio Mr Seddon was 1 vicing with the Public Trustee in multi- t plicity in his public duties. r Mr Cadman was sworn in this forenoon, and assumes the portfolio of Mines and Justice forthwith, to which will be added Works as sooa as the session closes. As a already stated, Mr Seddon takes the port- E folio of Native Affairs. j THE FEMALE FRANCHISE, « The anti-female franchisers are in high 1 feather over the pending fate of the ] Electoral BilL It is asserted that the Hon*, - Messrs Reynolds, Stevens, Hart and Holmes will support Mr McLean's clauses conferring electoral rights on women, and that Mr ' Taiaroa will abstain from voting. In that a case the Electoral Bill will be wrecked on s the same rock as it came to grief on last , session, unless the House should determine to accept the amendment made, which is an unlikely contingency. The clause concern* * iug the electoral rights for women will be ] disoussed to-morrow. i THF MIDLAND RAILWAY. The West Coast and Nelson members of ■ both branches of the Legislature, together < with a deputation now here from Nelson, i met this afternoon to consider the statement by Mr Wilson, the General Manager of the Midland Railway, that unless the Company's modified proposals were accepted, the Company, would at once proceed to litigation. Sir R. Stout having given it as his opinion that the Corhpauy had no valid claim against the colony, it was decided to let the Company's petition now before the Public Accounts Committee take its chance. JOTTINGS. The Minister for Lauds told a Blenheim deputation, which waited on him to-day, ' that the Government were negotiating for the purchase of the Starborough run in Marlborough, and there was oonsidarable probability of an arrangement being come .to. He also said the Government intended to do their utmost to advance settlement in the Awatere district of that province. The Minister for Labour has given notice of the Shearers' Accommodation BilL The Premier says that the Government • will make extra ■ provision for Registrars of Electors, either by increase of pay or increased assistance. The G. W. Ell Empowering Bill has passed all its stages in the House. Mr McLean told the House that there are 30,000 acres on the Cheviot estate absolutely without water, . aud the object of Dr. Hector's recent visit to that locality was to look for artesian water. The Government propose to place a sum on the Public Works estimates for the improvement of the track between Milford Haven and Lake Te Anau. The reports from the Privileges Committee aud Public Accounts Committee are to be considered on Friday. The Premier intends to move that the first named report as to the employment of officers of the Legislature during the recess shall not apply to Messrs Stowe and Bottomley, clerk and clerk -assistant to the Legislative Council; Messrs Friend and Otter son, clerk and clerk-aßsistant to the House ; and Mr Rutherford, second clerk. ' Sir G. Whitmore's opinion of the Cheviot land (and he says he has he has been all over i it) ia that it is lour or five times less vaiu- , able than Hawke's Bay land, and that all the gush that has been written about the ' Cheviot estate is pure iustian aud rubbish. > Ealing and South Rangitata are to be ! connected telephonically. There were no more interested observers , of the liquor debate in the Council than ' Messrs Louisson (Christuhurch), Eurenfried (Auckland), and Martin Kennedy (Wei--1 lington), representatives of the brewing I interests, r Miss Finch, matron of the Mount View > Hospital, is petitioning Parliament for in- • quiry into her conduct while holding that , position, and asks for reasons for her dismissal. ~