HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9499, 19 August 1896, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday, Attoust 18. AFTERNOON SITTING. The House met at 2.30. COMMITTEE OP SUPPLY. The House went into Committee of Supply for consideration of the Estimates. Colonial Secretary's Department, £96,542. Minister's salary £400. Dr. NEWMAN asked the Government whether the two new Ministers were still unpaid or were receiving salaries. Mr GUINNESS ruled the question out of order on this vote. Mr DUTHIE asked for some information respecting Ministers' travelling expenses, Mr SEDDON said the question would arise later on. Mr EARNSHAW asked whether the Hon. J. Carroll was receiving full salary. He thought that the House should express an opinion that no Minister should hold ofHce"without receiving full salary. Mr SEDDON said that the Minister representing the Native race was not holding any office under the Civil list. The whole position had been submitted to the Law Officers, and the Government were advised in what they had done. Mr PIRA'NI contended that as Mr Carroll held the offices of Colonial Secretary and Commissioner of Stamps he should be paid full salary. Mr SEDDON said that the Government had been very careful, but as Mr Pirani had raised the question he would consult the Law Officers again. The vote was passed. Electoral department, £16,600. Dr. NEWMAN called attention to the unnecessary printing of electoral i*olls on the old basis. Ho also hoped that there would be appointed as Returning Officers in the coming elections men of • good standing, in whom both sides would have confidence. . Mr CARROLL said the Government would attend to this matter. , Mr SEDDON said that not a single complaint was male against the Returning Officers at the Inst election. ( In reply to Mr G. Hutchison, v Mr HALL-JONES said that the reason why the present rolls were printed was because there were numerous applications from people who wanted to see their names on the rolls. In many cases there was not a single electoral roll to be obtained. There would be no extra expense, as in some coses no alteration would bo required. Mr SEDDON said that by law the Government were compelled to have rolls ops'n for public inspection, and there were no rolls to be had in various places iv the colony. In some cases they aocepted tenders, and in others they gave a hxed price. They distributed the rolls amongst the various offices, and there was no case against the Government of undue favouritism. After a very lengthy discussion the vote was Das3ed. Audit Office, £5469. Mr MITCHEL&ON asked the Premier to give the House some information as to the appointment of an Auditor-General. Mr SEDDON said that he hoped to give some information on the subject in a day or two. The vote was passed. Regis trar-Geueral's Department, £20,145. Mr R. McKENZIE moved to reduce the salary of the Registrar-General (£400) by £50. He condemned the manner in which the census returns had been compiled by that officer. . Several members supported the reduction. Sir R. STOUT pointed out that this officer received only half the amount paid to the Registrar-General in New South Wales. Mr CARROLL hoped that the Committee would not reduce the item. The officer in question had most responsible duties to perform. Reduction lost on the voices and the vote passed. In reply to Dr. Newman, Mr CARROLL «4d that the AgentGeneral was appointed for three years. A lengthy discussion took place over the vote of £500, salary of the Resident at Raratonga, Cook Islands. Mr SEDDON explained that the appointmeot.wo3 made by the Imperial authorities, but the salary was paid by this colony. Hβ looked on the connection ot the island as of paramount importance to New Zealand. He held that great advantage resulted to the colony by the Island trade, and the Government were anxioua to extend that trade. The debate on the vote was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.